Finally with the strong winds and some warm temperatures earlier the lakes in Northern MInnesota are ice free.
Red Lake lost its ice on 4-23-02. The crappie fishing is second to none for the next month or so. This is a great chance for anglers to land some trophy fish. There may not be many days left in the Red Lake population, so if you haven’t made it up here for those slabs, your missing the opportunity of a lifetime.
Winnie lost its ice on 4-21-02. The fish are starting there spawning rituals already, meaning the entire lake should be open to fish come May 11. In the last few years, the DNR have closed certain parts of the lake for the spawning fish. I don’t see that being a problem. The DNR started stripping fish in the last few days, for those of you that have not visited the stripping of walleyes of their spawn, it should happen for the next ten days or so, and it is something worth seeing, especially the number of 8-10 lb fish.
The crappie fishing on Cutfoot can be great this time of the year as well, get the boats out and get them ready for May 11.