I will be hitting the ice for the first time this season. Buddies are already out there set up and smacking the fish….In my ice house. Being a good friend has to count for something right??
Ice is thick, fish are biting, weather is perfect what else can ya ask for??
Good luck to all those venturing out this weekend! Lets see some pics!
Hello Tim,
Ice conditions around Duluth are coming along nicely. The St Louis does not have ice yet on the main channels but I know people have been out on rice lake (be careful around the access to as usual) island lake and fish lake.
I do not know if people are going out to the islands yet on fish but a call to Tim at High Banks Resort can verify that. Out there can be a good first ice location for walleyes.
Island lake is where I would go if i were you. Only thing is i have not been out there and don’t have first hand ice info for you. I have buddies who have fished it, but it is a large reservoir with moving water so i would be hesitant to cross a main section of the lake. There are lots of areas and back bays that are deeper and have walleyes in them. If you are not familiar with this lake PM me and i can fill you in on more specifics.
Thinking outside the box, allouez bay on the SLR may be worth checking out 
Fished rice lake from 430pm to 630pm turkey day..iced two 14″ eyes in thd first 10 minutes,and had one bend my hook in half..then nothing..shut off right at dark..good 6″s of ice..there is a 200 yard long pressure ridge just past the island…I really want to hit up 131st on thr st.louis..but might give her another week..
GRANT…do you think 131st w would be a good spot to start for early ice on the st.louis???
Its hard to say without knowing the patterns of the fish right now because i haven’t fished it yet but on average yes this is a very good area. I like to be in the 12-13 foot depth up around boyscout.
Usually once all the yahoos start fishing the harbor, I will migrate up here where there is way less fishing pressure and noise. Lots of pout in that area if you like them as well.
Looks like fun! I’m guessing we’ll be able to hit the ice around Christmas time here.
We’re making our maiden voyage tomorrow. Heading to East Central Minnesota. Hearing 4-6″ from local bait shops.
how thick was the ice? I’m driving up early tomorrow morning. Are you going out again this weekend? I’m going solo so if you’d like to join up I’d enjoy having someone to fish with. Thinking about trying island first and then rice as a back up.
Tim
A solid 6″s…there were a couple wheelers out on rice..just go straight out from the landing..dont go left by the damn..my cuz and i might give the st.Louis a shot…but who knows,we may end up at rice..heres not much for structure out there..i was about 50 yards before the pressure ridge..talkd to another guy at the landing and he had three keepers..that 23″ was the biggest eye ive ever pulled out of rice through the ice
Quote:
that 23″ was the biggest eye ive ever pulled out of rice through the ice
And how did it taste? 
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