Rochester area fishing summary – 12/23

Almost all areas have between 4-8 inches of ice. There are a few spots with springs that may have less, so stay on trails.

Foster-Arends lake is producing some nice trout. Small minnows are working best.

Chester Woods is producing bluegills and crappies. Tear drop style ice jigs tipped with a waxie, ratso jigs, rat finke jigs are all working.

Country Club Manor pits are producing bluegills and crappies. Tear drops with waxies and other small ice jigs are working.

Willow Creek is producing panfish. Tear drops with waxies and other small ice jigs are working.

Lake Zumbro has had some people fishing it, but I have not heard what is getting caught. Since that body of water has current in areas, be extra careful there.

I have not heard any reports from the Gamehaven lake (boy scout camp).

The Mississippi backwaters are producing lots of fish. Sounds like you need to sort through lots of small ones, but can get some keepers. People are fishing all the spots – the Dike Road, Wilcox, West Newton, the Alma area, the finger lakes, the harbors, etc.

One of the keys to catching fish through the ice is to be willing to experiment with several presentaions until you find what is working. I would suggest having a variety of small ice jigs, some ratso’s and other subtle reaction type lures, some waxies and crappie minnows, etc. Fish different depths moving up and down the water column.

OK, that’s about all I’ve heard as of today. Let’s hear your reports! If we all share information, we can all become better fisherman and have a great ice fishing season.

Good Fishing,

Mike

And if you know me I have already checked out HOF to see if Mike has all the goodies in stock. And of course he does. To answer your next question-did I save you guys some? Well…., when you consider he has 20,000 ice jigs, unfortunately I have to say YES so no I don’t have them all as I couldn’t afford to buy that many. I was out there yesterday afternoon checking out the goodies and last weekend too. [and any other chance I get] So…., unless RHW was there, Mike should have 19,000 left. Lets see now, I have one more gift certificate for HOF left, [my girls love to spoil me with HOF gift certificates and we had a early Christmas on the 18th], so maybe I ”need” some more ratsos, and rat finkes, and, and, and, just so many things out there. And of course I forgot to get a spud bar last two times out there. [have to save a reason to go back there ya know] Gee Mike, whats your hours around Christmas this year? Both before and after Christmas as we may get gift certificates for HOF? I wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and many many fish during the New Year. And if you are equiped with lots of HOF goodies you will have.
Thanks, Bill

The north store is open today till 5 p.m., Christmas Eve 7-3, closed Christmas day, than back to normal hours:
Tuesday – Friday 7-5
Saturday – 6-4
Sunday 7-3
closed Monday

Good Fishing,
Mike

Yesterday my wife and I ran over to Cabela’s in Owatonna so I could pick out some warm ice-fishing clothes. Polartec I think they call them. Well of course I had to check out the ice fishing supplies and was I ever surprized. I approached the ice panfishing jigs display and then walked around the corner thinking to myself, there has got to be more. Nope, no more. Little ole HOF in Rochester has way more ice panfishing jigs and I mean way more………plus the popular ones we use in this territory. Geez, felt like I was cheating on Mike just for going over there to look, but not to worry, Mike has everything I need. HOF also has just as an extensive line of ice fishing rods and reels as the big boy. Well I at least got some nice warm
underware.

on the polartecs

Stopped yesterday at HOF and picked up some last minute stocking stuffers. Great selection. Really made my day when Jake stopped in. Got to pick on him a little bit. Thats almost as good as chacting a 10lb. eye. Heres wishing everybody a very happy and safe Christmas.
Art

Yep, that was the most excitment I had all day

Stopped out at the C.C. Pit’s today just to take a look. Ice seemed pretty darn solid (no auger to check actual thickness)……nobody fishin though (imagine that )

I also went with Polartec long johns this year as I am hopeing they are very warm. Have heard good things about them. Thanks, Bill

Welcome to the site Robert. Glad to have you with us. Please feel free to post all you want. Thanks, Bill

Hey rcr,

Welcome!

Good Fishing,
Mike

Yes rcr, welcome to the forum. I see that you gave Polartec a thumbs up. So give us a better opinion, do you like them, do they keep you warm? Kind of spendy, but worth every penny if they keep a guy comfortable.

Hey guys. I got out on the CC Manor pits yesterday from 2:30 to sunset. We got a couple dozen sunnies and one crappie, all on waxies. The ice thickness was about 5-6 inches. There hasn’t been too many other people fishing there, as I only saw 1 other set of holes. Oh, Jake, what time were you there? If you guys ever see a black harmony enterprises shack out there, dont be afraid to stop and say high. Thanks

Tony

Hey Tony, I was out there around 1:30-2ish . Guess I just missed ya.

So what’s the best way to walk into those pits now a days? The drainage ditch on the west side or can you get on through some of the new devolpments on the NE side?

thanks guys for the welcome, been reading the great info on this site for long time just never participated.

hey RHW, I bought my pair at Cabelas over two years ago now,
they are very warm during long periods of sitting in extreme cold weather and have been great during times when a guy does alot of walking, seem to maintain a good comfort zone

Hey jake. Yep, just missed you we got there at about 1:50. We parked by the Mayo parking lot on second street. (Don’t park in the lot, a cop yelled at us.) Oh, and I went out for 2 hours today at foster arends and got 2 8-10 inch trout, both on minnows. My sister had 1 on on waxies but lost it. Thanks

Tony

Hey Tony, were you on the north end of the lake with most everyone else? Becarefull as there are springs there. Thanks, Bill

Bill, I didnt see anybody else fishing on the pit I was on. I was on the west end set up on a point that comes out. Are we talking about the same pit? I know there are a bunch of them around, but I mainly fish the one that is the second one north of Second street by the mayo parking lot. Thanks

Tony

OPPS!!! My goof! I was talking to someone about Foster Arends and then read your reply post and was thinking of Foster Arends instead of the Country Club pits. Sorry. Thanks, Bill

Annie my son and myself got in the late bight on Willow. It took us an hour too find them, my son found a nice spot in 12 feet of water. Pulled in about 35 We only kept 12 to eat. they sure are some nice fish in there.We used small micro minnow and a small orange glow i picked up in red lake last year. Levi used a yllow micro we all used waxes, realy big ones. Hopeing to get to the river during the week. well all for now. Oh ya if by chance the fowl mouth ed guys that were out to the willow creak today grow up im sure you wouldnt talk that way around your wife or kids. When fishing Please dont be so rude or fowl mouthed !!!!!!!!

Thanks for the report. Sounds like you found a nice school of fish. The fishing in the Rochester/SE Mn. area sure has been good by the reports coming in. Everyone learns by everyone sharing so thanks alot for your report and everyone else who shares.
Thanks, Bill