Rochester area ice fishing?

Hi, I am new to Rochester and have never fished here before. I am wondering if anyone has and tips on which lakes or reservoirs are good for ice fishing. I have noticed the closest lake is Lake Zumbro, has anyone had good results ice fishing on that lake or any other lakes in the area?

I have spent endless hours on Lake Zumbro ice fishing and had only small fish to show for my efforts, it fits the need to icefish close to home, but for bull gills and such I would venture east to the Wabasha(dike road) area or north to Lake City or Red Wing area.

There are some other little pods of water around Rochester but they get POUNDED !

DONT forget upper pool 4 is open water ALL year around

Welcome to Rochester and IDO

JMHO Jeff

Welcome to IDO. Lots of great people and info to be found here.

The area ponds and reservoirs probably don’t have real good ice yet. KR7 on the City’s west side [straight out 19th street nw about 6 miles, lot and drive on the right]has some ice but I haven’t heard much about the other waters. Foster isn’t safe yet. Chesterwoods….maybe on the arm as you leave the parking area but don’t hold your breath. Chesterwoods can have some nice fish. Silver Creek on the city’s east side [ east on 4th street se to county 11, left there and two miles, on your right you’ll see the parking area]can have some nice fish show up. This is probably the best option if you want a sizeable catch of crappies and sunfish, but the big ones are getting hard to come by.

Lake Zumbro isn’t ready yet, but there are places where decent crappie and sunfish can be taken, but there again you’ll have to work for them.

Trumar maentions the Mississippi and backwaters there. Tons of opportunity exist down there. In addition to pool 4 you’ll find a lot of fishing in and around the Winona area.

Some might suggest the Faribault area lakes but I’d pass on those. Too much hype, too small of fish.

The Cascade Lakes complex in town is not ready yet and has some decent fish if you don’t mind sorting. If it were me, I’d wait until the ice sets up so you can move around safely and then hit either the Cascade complex’s lakes or Foster. The trout in Foster are catchable/keepable all year but special regs exist so check a baitshop to be aware of those and you need the trout stamp to keep those fish.

thanks for all the info. I actually live in one of the subdivions of Cascade Lake so I will deffinetely be hitting them up soon.

I think all of the puddles around town are set now. Have fun.

I absolutely pounded the crappies out at the Cascades yesterday and today. Caught between 50-60 between 3 guys today..lots of small ones but a few jumbos

Which pond?

The big one below the private pond.I have been fishing out by the main point

I’ve never fished cascade. Are u supposed to park in a certain area for ice access? Fished chesterwoods yesterday. Dead Sea for me.

I park over on interlachen street/neighborhood right next to the bike path and just walk from there never had any problems