Faribult/Waterville Area Lakes

Any news on some action and ice conditions out that way? Lots of anglers that way, but never any reports.

I haven’t been down there at all lately. Normally I hit French or Shields. Shields can be a good producer of some dandy crappies!!!

Fishing has been tough. I was out tonight on Cannon and caught 14 walleyes in a little over an hour. I actually got tired of catching the 9-10″ cigars and packed up and left. There were 2 separate areas of open water. ATV’s were breaking through on the shoreline and planking to the ice to get small houses off the ice.

Not much activity on other Faribault lake that I know of, some walleyes and crappies on Circle, but size is not great.

Elysian was good before 5,000 people from the 5 state region put enough pressure on it to seemingly shut it down…there’s also 3 separate areas of open water. A number of people have fell through walking.

So until there’s a good freeze up making access possible to deeper water or the entire lake….reports and fishing will be limited.

That’s about all I got on the area…go further north until you find better ice!!!

TGIF

Thanks Brian. Keep us posted.
Thanks, Bill

Thanks for the update TGIF!

I fished Friday on Tetonka, somewhat slow, a few crappies and one 23″ eye. There was about 3/4 to an inch of water on top of the ice which was 5-6 inches, but had some open cracks. It began to rain as I was leaving and began raining rather hard…maybe looking at receiving close to an inch of additional rain over the weekend. My ice fishing may be on hold for awhile.
TGIF

Anyone know of ice conditions on Mazaska????
open water, total inches????
thanks.
Jack..

Don’t know about Mazaska, but lakes to the west have had boats on them. I heard on lake to the west did not have a speck of ice. Fish are being caught by shore fisherman in January…go figure.

TGIF

Brian, do you know which lakes have had boats on them?
Thanks, Bill

I was on Tetonka and french today 6-8 inches of ice in the spots we fished…lots of big perch and had a couple big bull gills as well come to the hole with a stray walleye amd couple of crappies on deadstick crappie minnow rod also all in all a really nice day fishing out there…know where your going and enkoy the day..also wear cleats the ice is very very slippery

Those 5.00 cleats you can buy that fit over your boats are the best investment a guy can buy for 5 bucks. They work great and save many a fall thats for sure.

Thanks, Bill

ps. Hey Erick, are you signing back up for Walleye Searchers? Meeting is this Monday night Jan. 8th at O’Neils Pizza Pub next to Gander Mt. in Rochester at 7:00. A bunch of us are showing up there at 6:00 for supper. We all throw money in to buy the pizzas. See ya there.

Bill I might have to swing up that way..working on finacials right now to get a different boat so I just might have to do so sir….I was wearing ice cleats out there yesterday but the heater got them all full of slush and in the process of packing up the fish trap it froze to the cleats causing a slippery walk back if someone got us on tape it might be worth some money sending it in though but bring on the cold temps let get some ice rolling everywhere so i can hit some backwater haunts up!!!

There were 2 boats on Elysian that I seen, could have been more. I heard that the water was open to the public access on Cannon, but had not seen it first hand….too much going on in the last couple days for me to get out there.

Thanks Brian. With this cold front coming in I think it would change that. Sounds like two bodies of water to stay away from for ice fishing.
Thanks, Bill

The ice is starting to get a little thicker on Tetonka the east end has about 12 inchs on it. But still stay clear of the willow point area north. Still some good walleye action to be had in 15 to 17 feet of water on tetonka evening seem to be the best.Elysain ice is 6 to 10 inchs but they are starting both aeration systems so check with local bait stores before heading out.thats all for now good fishing.