FTL 2nd Annual Get together on ICE????

Anything in the works for a 2nd annual FTL Ice fishin’, chili eatin’, b. s. in’ on the hardwater event planned? I’m hot on the trail of a good school of white bass right now!!!

I bet you are …
Good idea…. we should be looking at setting up something. I’ll be talking to Smitty about this asap. Dave Hoggard

Say Boys !! Been talking with Leinieman about a Otter Round-up. Threw a few questions out, alot of response but nothing concrete yet. Lets get this going !! Should be centrally located, with accomodations near a good lake !

Who, What, Where, When ???

Reply on this cookie.

Hows that Boss ?

Richard (Smitty)

Keep a tight line !!!

hey hawger,
cannon river or tetonka sound good. it would be less of a drive from rochester, and should be bigger fish then last year. had alot of fun at last years.
just my 2 cents
jigger2001

I like Cannon too… fun… but, I want to respect the guys that came down from “up North” last year… I wonder if some place in the Twin Cities would do for us.
What do you guys think?
Dave Hoggard

There’s a lot of good lakes in the Chisago area that should give up #’s of fish

Prior lake is another that would offer multiple species. Let us know when you finalize something, if I’m free that weekend, I’ll try to make it.

I’m game for a little ice fishing. Any lake will work for me as long is there is plenty of ice. I don’t know the lakes in the cities area at all. I hope I’m avalible for whatever date is chosen. Anyone know when those real large ice fishing contests are in the cities. Maybe we could get enough fishers together to win a good prize.Are the contests on White Bear? Steve

The big one is on Forest Lake each year in Feb. I’ve fished it 3 times and never caught a fish. I’ve never been on Prior in the winter. Any tips on good spots to check out?

I would recommend tetonka for a south mn lake….I haven’t drilled a hole in it yet, but it holds some nice fish…if you can find them!! It is one of the bigger waters and is among the cannon river watershed! Cannon Lake hold numerous snowmobile races and those events themselves pretty much take up most of the lake…..as well as shutting down the fishing for the remainder of the ice season.

What about Minnetonka? Gull Lake in Brainerd? Mille Lacs? Leech? Ottertail? Have flags will travel!

How about the time frame…..the weekend after new year’s sound good?????

I think we’ll have a game-plan today!
I have asked our EFN Pro-Staff associates Mike Finke and DeeZee (Steve DeZurik) to pick a metro lake and date.
FUN
Dave Hoggard

Done deal… Yahoo! I am ready for the “Otter Round-up” 2cool!
Guys, we are on for Saturday, January 25th. This is the 2nd Annual FTL Get-Togeather.
I spoke to Mike Finke… he says that “South Center” Lake puts out lots of crappies and gills during the day and he could guarentee more fish would be caught this year.
It should have good ice by then for parking.
The city of Forest Lake offers plenty of hotels and eaterys for everyone as well and is less than 10 miles away.
Mike can you fill us in on where this lake is exactly and what all it has to offer?
Any of you other guys fished it before?
Dave Hoggard

All right guys. Since I’m giving up my best metro area panfish lake I hope lots of you will be there!! South Center is located right on Hwy 8 next to the towns of Lindstrom and Center City. It is a 830 acre lake full of crappies, bluegills and pike. It also holds a good # of walleyes due to stockings every other year. The lake has 2 deep basins with one going down to 109′.

For directions take I35 north 18 miles out of the cities from 694 to Forest Lake. The lake is 15 miles from I-35 east on Hwy 8 and is located on the south side of the road. The 2 best ways to access the lake is either off Glader road on Sunset Point or off Grand Ave. I will let everyone know as we get closer which is best.

Lodging:

Forest Lake
AmericInn (651) 464-1930
Country Inn & Suites (651) 982-9799
Forest Lake Motel (651) 464-4077
Hitching Post Motel (651) 464-1900

Lindstrom
Lakeview Motel (651) 257-6291

Restaurants:

Forest Lake
Perkins
McDonalds
Famous Dave’s
Burger King
Arby’s

Lindstrom
China Panda
Chisago Lakes Golf Course
DD Mulligan’s
Dairy Queen
Dinnerbel Dining
Hardee’s
Subway
Swedish Inn
Tea shop

Chisago
Bunkies Bar & Grill
Local Café
New Spot
Olde Town Inn Dinning & Pub
Trapper’s Family Rest
Wagon Wheel Café & Pizza

Check out http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=13002700 for more info.

If anyone has any ?’s, let me know here or in a PM. Also look for more reports on the lake as I will be out there quite a bit the next month.

I can’t wait!!!!

By the way, Frankies is located at the stoplight in Chisago to get your bait. You may want to hook up to a new Ranger or Lund while you are there.

Great Pick Guys!

It’s about as “Guaranteed” as you can get. It’s a lake that just keeps pumping out the fish, year in and year out. I can honestly say I have never been skunked ice fishing this lake.

Looking forward to the day….it’s now on the calendar!

Jon J.

Great job guys! Looking forward to it again this year.

Ok I’m ready to catch some fish. Sure sounds like a deep lake. Any eelpouts in there? I want to see Mike Little try one of those. I’d be happy to help out wherever needed. I missed the first FTL get-together and plan on being at this one. Please let me know what items are needed and I’ll see if I can round some up. Steve

Bluegills and Dairy Queen!! I am in!!!
Chris Beeksma

Hey leinieman,

I’ve never heard of ‘pout comming out of the lake, don’t mean they aren’t there! It’s a very consistent panfish lake in the winter. Mix in a few pike, a possible walleye and a probable bass and it will keep ya interested.

This is open and FREE to everyone who shows up to put a face with a name! Should be fun. Hope to see old friends and meet new ones out there!

Jon J.

Food….
Leinieman how about a menu? We’ll be doing lunch at the “Otter Round-up”. You guys want to pick something to bring on the menu or add to it… jump right in here.
Menu:
Hot dogs
Buns
Chili – Hawger
Hot peppers – Hawger
Chips
Shreaded Cheese
Chopped onions and pickles – Hawger
Mustard – Hawger
Pop

I’ll bring a cutting board and knife… napkins & plates.

How about a head count so we can guess for food… I’ll start here in this thread. I’ll be bringing two guys with me.

This came from FTR site…
What are the ice conditions on the lake now? Just in case some of us wanted to venture up there over Christmas and check out some of the spots?
Mike, can you check and post us?
Dave Hoggard

Howdi Dave! I think your list sounds great. Hot Chili or Chili dogs are great on the ice. I have a very large bottle of Tobasco sauce that I’ll be carrying. One thing we will definitly need is a count on who’s coming. Maybe several of us can do a pot luck chili and we can mix on the ice, that way it’s not too spendy for one person, it won’t be too spicy,or not spicy enough and if it is no one will know who to blame. We will need a outdoor cooker like one of those turkey deep fryers and kettle. I have an extra propane bottle (full). I also know someone at LOL Nope, that’s not laughing out loud this time how about (Land of Lakes) that I can come by enough cheese. Have Cheddar will travel. Once we come up with a count of folks that may show up we can finalize things some. So whoever is going to come please stand up and be counted or is that sign up and be counted.
Here’s a question if I buy a ice house license how long is it good for?

Here is an updated South Center report . Things are looking good for the get togther. a fish house license is good until Feb 28. A little tip: to be legal you have to have your address or driver’s license # in 2″ letters on the outside with the shelter tag. What I did is use a black marker and put my info in 2″ letters on a plain pice of paper and had it laminated. Then I stuck my shelter tag on it. Works slick, especially with the Otters as they have a plastic enevlope that it can slide into.

Do you need a license on a pop up shelter? In Iowa you only need them on a pemanent shelter that you leave on the ice 24/7.

Again, I’m not the expert but my dad fishes MN ice a lot and complains about portable registrations so I’m quite positive that it applies to them as well. Last year he had a MN resident buddy register the clam as his own and that my dad just uses it. It’s cheaper for residents and………..well…………….dad’s been known pull a stunt or two if he doesn’t agree with the politics. Personally, I think MN could take a lesson on the portables from surrounding states. If they’re that hard up for money, an extra 25 to 50 cents on every fishing license would do the same trick and save the fisherman a bit of hassling with detail. Permanent shacks…………….so be it, but portables?

Sorry for the tangent there guys…………..just sort of happens once in awhile!

Yep, you’ll need a tag/license for a pop-up too, if you are in it or not. MN is that way if it is on the lake period.
Dave Hoggard

Are we there yet? Can not wait!
I’ll have my Jiffy power ice auger with… for all to use .
“Hoggie”

Just wondering how many folks are planning on being at this event?
I’ll be there. Steve

We’ll need a head count from you guys… “Hoggie”

Hook and I are planning to attend.

” Have Otter will travel ”