Ice in the Rochester area

Any reports for the area? Just got this Wednesday off. Need to get out somewhere. Local ponds, Mississippi backwaters any reports? Thanks, Chuck

I am also looking for some ice reports, looking to get out this weekend some time, also was wondering if anybody knows a good fishable spot for walleyes within about an hour from Rochester. Any help is greatly appreciated!

I’m hoping to head out of Frontenac on the 27th, but will probably call 4 seasons first to see if people are fishing out there yet.

fishable spot for eyes around Rochester…. that’s a tall order! however lake Zumbro defiantly has some dandy walleyes. just hard to get on and even harder to stay on that bite!

The dike road backwaters and Wabasha Marina are going now Chirp. Closer to home Chesterwoods and Silver Creek are seeing people out and about but the ice is young yet so care is in order. I’d stay off the Zum for another week. They dropped the level as per usual but then we got heavy rain and the water rose. When it finally got to the winter pool level and set some ice one of the generators failed and went off line so the water rose again lifting the ice so that will mess with shoreline ice thickness in places. Its now way ready for motorized travel but foot travel might be doable, maybe try in front of Fishermans but be sure to spud your way out.

Silver Creek sounds nice. Supposed to be decent out side as well. Just picked me up some tungsten jigs Tom. Now just need a hand auger

Thanks Tom, can always count on you for some local info.

Jack Patschull wrote:

Silver Creek sounds nice. Supposed to be decent out side as well. Just picked me up some tungsten jigs Tom. Now just need a hand auger

Tungsten is good, Jack. Now….go to the ice fishing board here and post for a used ice hand auger. More people will see it asked for there right now and there is generally someone who will help out.

I forgot to mention Cascade Complex Lakes….the big one and the one immediately off second street. They should be good for a walk now and the crappies off the point and in the narrows on the big puddle should be very willing participants. With this warm-up the short walk should be enjoyable.

In Goodhue County last Friday I found 6-7″ of ice. The top 2-3″ was a brittle, kind of re-frozen slush, which had a tendance to be broken through, but I thought everything was safe for the most part. That was prior to plummeting temps. Sat. and Sunday, so I’m guessing area ice is even better now.

Oh and Jack, as for as a hand auger goes, like Tom said make a post in the ice fishing board and I’d even go in the General Discussion board as well. You may be able to find someone that has an old hand auger that they don’t need now that they have a power auger.

If nothing else, if you’ve got an “outdoor money” fund, you could probably get a hand auger for $50 or less. A few years ago I got an Eskimo 6″ hand auger for Christmas for between $40-$50.

Jack….Check out that “man cave” place in Rochester out on 19th St NW. Its out there a ways past West Circle Drive on the right in a sort of strip mall. They sell all sorts of good, used equipment.

Was about 7″ on Silver yesterday. Lots and lots of tiny fish.

Tom, any idea if all the dredging on Cascade has messed stuff up or is it still ok for fishing? I caught crappies there in the past – all pretty small. Just curious if it’s worth checking out again.

4 Seasons Sports in RW has a post in the “Sponsor’s Showcase” forum saying they have 25% off hand and power augers right now. They’re located. I’m not sure on their prices but it might be worth taking a look.

Ice Auger Blowout Sale!

Jack,
Go see Jeff at Sportsmans Rack. The last time I was out there he had 3 or 4 hand augers for sale.
His email address is on his website.
Or better yet head over to his store on the west end of town. If you’re looking for used outdoor equipment .. Jeff’s store is awesome.

shockers wrote:

Tom, any idea if all the dredging on Cascade has messed stuff up or is it still ok for fishing? I caught <strong class=”ido-tag-strong”>crappies there in the past – all pretty small. Just curious if it’s worth checking out again.

I think if a guy stays up-stream in the lake from where the dredge is at things will be ok. The current should keep the dirt cloud moving with it and away from points up-stream of it. There is so much activity on that complex the fish almost seem immune to noise. It would be nice if they’d get things in order there and let it all settle down.

bitzenguy wrote:

Jack,
Go see Jeff at Sportsmans Rack. The last time I was out there he had 3 or 4 hand augers for sale.
His email address is on his website.

This is the place I was referring to Jack. Here’s the website link for you.

http://sportsmansrack.com/

I think if a guy stays up-stream in the lake from where the dredge is at things will be ok. The current should keep the dirt cloud moving with it and away from points up-stream of it. There is so much activity on that complex the fish almost seem immune to noise. It would be nice if they’d get things in order there and let it all settle down.
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Good to know. What’s your take on the size/potential size of the crappies in Cascade compared to, say, Silver. As I noted, previously all crappies I’ve seen coming out of Cascade were pretty small. But maybe that’s changed as I haven’t been there in a year or so.

There’s a gentleman who posted an auger for sale for real cheap and even said he’d prefer pickup in Rochester. This might be a perfect starter auger for you.

Mora, 7" hand auger

shockers wrote:

What’s your take on the size/potential size of the in Cascade compared to, say, Silver. As I noted, previously all crappies I’ve seen coming out of Cascade were pretty small. But maybe that’s changed as I haven’t been there in a year or so.

My past experience was that I could garner a few eater sized fish from a day’s catch at Cascade if I wanted to settle for 8 1/2″ crappies as eaters. The fish in Silver Creek went untouched for several years before the fishing started out there so the crappies had plenty of time to get large…and they did. Pike too. But it was like a “mini” Red Lake when those big crappies were discovered and the numbers got whittled down fast and in a season. I do think the genetic backbone of the crappies in SC is different from what is seen in Cascade and can grow bigger because of the genetics. And I am not certain if Cascade may not have a forage issue too….tons of sunfish and bass dine at the same table as the crappies there. I have a hard time believing fishing pressure at Cascade lends itself to the smaller fish.

I have seen some quite large crappies come from the lake immediately off second street from under ice. There is a large spring in that puddle that seems to keep the bigger fish nearby but it can also thin the ice and I have also seen wet people come from that area on more than one occasion over the years. That possibly could account for the meager numbers of larger crappies seen caught in the complex.

It will be interesting when the whole complex gets cut loose for fishing as several other “new” puddles will be tied into it. A couple of those I know first hand have some real pig sunfish in them.

I think if someone wants to get into numbers of fish without getting too hung up on size Cascade is in line with that. SC is a better lake for size but the numbers can be much few….maybe not as a rule but I wouldn’t go to SC expecting a pile of fish.

Well said, Tom.

There was an article in tonight’s Post-Bulletin that Lake Zumbro is NOT safe for any travel yet due to unstable water levels. Its sounds as though this may be an issue for a while yet. I’d suggest just hitting local reservoirs until they issue an all-clear on the lake. With the current and wandering springs that lake is one you do not want to go thru ice on.

Made it out on the Wabasha harbor today. 3.5 to 4 inches of ice. Caught perch and bluegill. Lot’s of little ones. Thanks for the replies.

Was at Cascade Lake off of second street in Rochester last evening. The ice was not as good as I was thinking it would be. Was able to get out on 3 inches and a lot of slush. A few spots were less than 3 so be careful. The bite was pretty good, and the crappies seem to be getting a bit bigger.