Rochester Area Summary – 02/10

Lake Zumbro has slowed this past week. Most fishing is still happening across from Ryan’s Bay and some people are fishing across from Ponderosa. Minnows and ice jigs tipped with waxies are working. Ice is about 12-18 inches in most places. The accesses to the ice gathered a lot of water during the warm weather and may not be safe to drive over. Never go on the ice above Fisherman’s Inn – that is where the snowmobiles went through the ice.

Foster-Arends Lake is still producing a few trout and some small panfish. Minnows and ice jigs tipped with waxies are working best. Those fishing in a shack are able to see all the way to the bottom even in deeper water. You can see the fish, but can you get them to bite? Ice is about 12-16 inches in most places. Don’t forget the kid’s ice fishing contest coming up Feb. 12th.

Chester Woods is slow. It is producing some bluegills and a few crappies. Ice is 10-16 inches in most places.

Willow Creek is still producing bluegills. Best fishing seems to be in about 10+ ft. Small ice jigs tipped with a waxie is working. Ice is 12-18 inches in most places.

The Gamehaven Lake (boy scout camp) is producing bluegills and small crappies. Using electronics will help to locate suspended fish. Minnows and small ice jigs with waxies are working. Ice is 12-16 inches in most places.

Country Club Manor pits are producing lots of gills and crappies, although most of the fish are small. Minnows and small ice jigs tipped with waxies are working. Ice is 10-16 inches in most places. Be careful where you park as some areas are not legal.

The Mississippi backwaters are going well in some places. The harbors have been slow most days. Wilcox, West Newton, the Finger Lakes, the Dike Road, Winona, Alma, etc. are all producing fish – mostly bluegills, but there are some very nice crappies. Small ice jigs tipped with waxies or spikes are working, with minnows producing a few fish. Ice in most places is 10-18 inches.

Please help to keep our fishing areas free from trash. Maybe some of us can make it a habit to take a bag with us and pick up some trash left by others.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Was at McNally landing in Winona yesterday. Way in the back in the deep hole. Lots of little gills and I mean little. Did catch 8 decent gills and 1 crappie. Good luck
Art

Thanks for the report Mike. And thanks to you and Fisher for getting those poles done for my brother and I. You guys are seriously the best!

Art ain’t lyin…..Me and a buddy went to McNally today (mainly for a change in scenery from the airport circus )…….we sat there for an hour and never caught a fish over 3″!!!

Okay, maybe I’m exagrating a little, but we definatly didn’t catch anything even close to considerable keeper length.

Ice was still a solid 18″ .

Bartlett today. Wasn’t too bad for traffic. About the same bite. Kept 12 gills for a meal. Lot of small ones. 1 northern on tip-up, missed 2 hits on tip-up. 22 inch northern. Its still there. Still a good place to take kids. Pretty steady action. Jake, how many of them gills did it take to make a cracker sandwich? Good luck
Art

Cracker Sandwich …….no kidding……I almost felt bad adding them on the TFC………ALMOST

But quite frankly, I’m absoulty amazed at how consistant Bartlett has been this winter. It’s been kickin out fish since first ice. Even with the unbelievable pressure it’s recieved……..It’s almost scarry to think how many fish are takin from that lake every day

Lets see, TFC…119 – 3” fish huh?

So what’s Bills TFC up to this year???