IDO get together this hardwater season?

nhamm wrote:

Could make a sweet hub city on the water as well. My cot fits perfect in mine with room for 2 rattle reels.

Sorry bud….To dam old to be doing that stuff

BigWerm wrote:

Thoughts on Mille Lacs? Close enough to the cities, setting up for one of the best bites this winter, and I’m sure getting a resort on board would be no problem. Just a thought, I’m down for wherever, and I’d vote late January or first weekend in Feb.

Of course for obvious reasons I would love to have it at Mille Lacs, however I suppose it would be decided by a majority. Considering too that it looks like there are some from “skonny” that are planning it. I haven’t ever done the Wabasha/Lake City backwaters areas so I’m liking that idea.
So far, most that have preferred a date seems to narrow it down to the first weekend in February. Any arguments??

I would vote Mille Lacs as well, but will travel wherever to accommodate more people.

Would love Millacs, but I have to keep it to a day trip this year. Too many projects and shows happening in that time period.

Please, if most would like Millacs – do it, I’ll just look forward to next year…or if we get something going with IDO locally. I’m just set up with way too much work

Mille lacs, Florida, River as long as its not 2-4-2017

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Mille lacs, Florida, River as long as its not 2-4-2017

Argh…! Since you started this thread I think you should be able to attend. As Nick suggested, is Friday the 3rd a possibility for the majority? Or do we nail down the previous Saturday, last weekend of January?
Gotta lock the date, then we can decide where, and who brings the “thirst quenchers”.

I like the Wabasha / Lake city back water idea

I’d enjoy Mille Lacs. I’m thinking no later than the February 4th date or late January. The ability to rent sleepers would be a nice option along with portables.

Sorry eelpoutguy! I just saw that the 4th is a no go for you. I’m open to anytime except the weekend of Jan 21st.

I was at Cabelas tonight “Christmas” shopping and after going to the ice fishing show I’m getting pretty fired up to get on the ice!

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>eelpoutguy wrote:</div>
Mille lacs, Florida, River as long as its not 2-4-2017

Argh…! Since you started this thread I think you should be able to attend. As Nick suggested, is Friday the 3rd a possibility for the majority? Or do we nail down the previous Saturday, last weekend of January?
Gotta lock the date, then we can decide where, and who brings the “thirst quenchers”.

Sorry, anytime but the 3rd and 4th for me. Please don’t let that be a deciding factor for the GTT.

I’m good with the 3rd/4th or pretty much anytime really. Backwaters would be great for me since it is close but I’m willing to travel. It’s been a few years since I have made one of the GTG. I think it was St. Croix and James was showing the LX-7.

Fisherpaul wrote:

I like the Wabasha / Lake city back water idea

I think this sounds cool too. never fished there so it would be fun

Damn, I’d even try and make a backwater GTG! I say that’s what you guys do, I want to see some pictures.

I would love to attend if it was in the backwaters or ML. Unfortunately, Fridays will probably not work for me. However, if it’s in the backwaters I may be able to take a half day and attend.

If you guys pick Wabasha-Lake City area I can assist the organizer with some contacts. Know the owner of the largest hotel in Wasbaha, know the owners of the sporting goods dealer/bait shop in Wabasha and Lake City. Also have couple good contacts with some diehard local fisherman who can help with what is happening reports.

Backwater and Mississippi River ice fishing can be great or fickle based on now much snow, ice and current there is. Dissolved oxygen can be a factor in finding backwater panfish. As far as the river ice thickness and current can limit the spots you can get to, using common sense and caution is a must as current can change ice thickness rapidly.

From Wabasha you can reach miles of productive fishing spots on both sides of the river and your fishing opportunities run from jigging walleye and sauger, to tip up fishing for northern pike to bluegills, crappies and perch depending on what you want and where you go. It is really not much different than fishing a good lake with the exception of dealing with the challenges of current. I have at times had to actually drill an extra hole as much as six feet down stream of the hole I dropped my lure down in order to see it on the locator. Most often you try and fish the slack out of the current edge of the seam but when you have to be tight right on the current edge it can make for some seriously challenging but fun fishing.

Totally up to you guys because I like fishing lots of different kinds of water, fish and places so I will try and go with whatever the majority of you guys like. My personal choice for what it matters is the Walker area, I would like to see that area again but with a focus on not just Leech but the many surrounding small lakes. I would like to learn more about how to approach and fish those new bodies of water and having IDO members trying different lakes, techniques and than sharing those reports over evening beverages and dinner would be an awesome way to add to ones ice fishing knowledge bank.

IDO staff please chime in, is there a date and place you would like to explore?

Okay, we’re trending towards Wabasha/lake city backwaters. Gotta set the date…how about Saturday January 28??

For the Wabasha guys, do any of the wing dams just above the Parkside Marina get enough ice to fish the sand humps between them? I’m a sucker for winter wind dams when the locator lights up like this

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Depends on flows and ice thickness, not often can you trust it.

kingfisher55 wrote:

IDO staff please chime in, is there a date and place you would like to explore?

Please accept my apology for being slow to jump in on this thread. The rest of the IDO crew and I are running wide open right now… filming TV shows, sports shows, prepping gear to transition from open water to ice, etc.

We’re unable to plan what some call an “official” IDO GTG this season because the guys and I are simply out of weekends during the ice season to do so. We’ve committed to far too many projects outside of our filming of TV shows (sports shows, special productions projects, etc.) to the point where we just aren’t able to find an open weekend that doesn’t already conflict with… something.

Hi James, thanks for letting us know. Understand how it can get very busy for you guys, not easy having to catch all those fish . Anyway that is to bad, maybe next year. Really enjoyed last years event, learned a lot and had fingers crossed it would be possible to try and get to another event like it this year.

Good luck this season and be safe. Look forward to seeing the new shows.

Years of high water typically make for a good backwaters bite don’t it? Change my vote to Wabasha area. Always wanted to catch Catfish Hunter.

Either weekend works for myself. Set a date and just make it happen.

I’m liking the 28th idea. Doesn’t matter what chunk of ice I have to stand on.
Beer taste just as good if I’m on Mille Lacs or Lake Pepin.

The backwaters around Wabasha can be extensive, depending on what the weather hands you. Most are accessible by foot with parking not a problem as a rule. I’d advise against any ideas of fishing wingdam ice because its not safe out on the channel, which will likely be wide open. There’s plenty of fishing without taking chances.

Crappies, perch, sunfish can be expected with size probably being determined by how much water you are willing to cover. The backwaters can get hammered and if any decent bite starts up word travels faster than light. Community holes will usually hold smaller fish but by turning your attention to water even a short distance away from hubs of activity you can often find some very nice fish, especially crappies.

I don’t ice fish any more but I’d drive down to say hi and see how everyone is doing. Actually if a couple of the ring leaders wanted to meet a couple weeks prior I’d be willing to show them some of the better areas to target.

I’d be interested depending on when the official unofficial date is. Mille lacs would be good because lots of resorts that need help and lots of sleepers for rent(meaning no problems getting from the fishing and drinking to a place to sleep). Just food for thought. St Croix and Mississippi river backwaters sound interesting to but id be worried about ice conditions but it sounds like we have some really knowledgeable people about the area so that shouldn’t be a problem.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

I’m liking the 28th idea. Doesn’t matter what chunk of ice I have to stand on.
Beer taste just as good if I’m on Mille Lacs or Lake Pepin.

So…just to keep this project on task, shall the date be Saturday January 28?
Unless there is an outcry of objections, I’m setting January 28th, Saturday.
You’d think I’m a project manager (which I’m not) or a team lead ( which I am), but before we hash out what beer and bait choices, or location…need to set the date!
Thanks James for checking in and updating that this will be the official “unofficial” IDO GTG for 2017.
Moving on now…!

Move it to Gull Lake, I’ll be up there if there is ice. Otherwise I would vote for the Miss. river backwaters. Wabasha south. It’s warmer from Wabasha south.

The weekend of January 28 seems to be the best weekend for the majority of folks. I’m allows open to fishing new waters so the Wabash area would be cool but mill lacs would be sweet as well as it should be great fishing this winter.

If this is dumb question sorry, but with being a backwaters area and the almost flood level stage the river is at in my neck of the city, is it safe to assume their will be safe ice at that time down there for easy travel and good fishing holes? Don’t know how those areas react to rising/sinking water levels for ice and fish

nhamm wrote:

Don’t know how those areas react to rising/sinking water levels for ice and fish

Usually the backwaters will freeze up and you may get some angled ice along the shore. Its not uncommon to see by the ice conditions that t6he river has gone down and the ice lower with the water level. But its not as dramatic as what you will see common the main channel.

Never hurts to have Plan B, and have a few locals make the call in the weeks prior to the event.

So far, I’m good with Friday 27th and Sat the 28th. Worst that could happen is pull the boat and fish open water

Why not do a 2 day or 3 day event, 27th, 28th, and possibly 29th morning. This gives guys coming from further away a little more fishing time. I might even have a spare room or two for people to sleep.