Tonka Ice

Lots of people out fishing on most of the lake yesterday, I was not one of them, from my house I could see 4 wheelers and several houses in the cooks bay area. I have heard there is about 5-6 inches but I am not sure.

Doesn’t anyone else fish Tonka. I plan to hit it over the weekend depending on the weather.

I like hitting the humps in Cooks for the eyes before there gets to be to much traffic. There 4 nice rock piles that will hold numbers of fish with a bigger one mixed in. Just a matter of finding the time. I do know a couple people have managed a few eyes down closer to the islands.

Welcome Goatcheese!!!!

Thanks for the update and let us know how you did!!!

Well I made it out on sun for a couple of hours and fished for crappies in Priests did not catch any. Fished in 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, and 28 and could not find them. Probably 10-12 inches of clear solid ice couple of trucks out there but not mine.

Mike I know the humps you are talking about I got a 45″ ski there a couple of years ago bass fishing. Need a new belt for the sled and maybe I will try over there. I am pretty new to this end of the lake and am going to try and force myself to fish close to home before I go back to my old spots.

Anyone getting any crappies, mostly looking for a depth to start at, I get off of work to late to do the Walleye thing most nights. I think next time out I am bringing the auger and the vexilar until I find them.

I would lookin out in front of the channel to Seton for crappies. I’ve caught a few there in the past. My best crappie fishing on Tonka usually will come off Big Island on off Goose Island.

I talked to a friend that drove out to Big Island last night. He pulled his permanent out there. I’m not sure there is enough ice for me just yet…to be driving the truck anyway.

Where did he go on the ice at to start an adventure like that?

I will say that this is the best ice I have seen on Tonka in quite a while.

I’m hearing ice thickness is anywhere from 6″ to 12″. Small trucks and cars are running around Spring Park Bay. I’m going to try to get out Weds thru the weekend. Probably around the islands for walleyes but I know Carmen’s holds big crappies so I might try to track them down. Goose is already getting too crowded for me.

I’m guessing at Haskells in Excelsior. He didn’t say and I just cringed when he told me about it anyway. Too early for my pickup!!!

Was out last night – got skunked. Ice was 12″ in the SMithtown/Islands area and lots of full sized pickups zipping around. I was fishing in 18ft – walleyes must be deeper. Different spot tonite and maybe I’ll have something to talk about.

Thanks for the update Stan!

Kooty, are we still on for Saturday? We gots to get a good report going here!!!!!

Stan, are you going on Saturday? Anyone else? Maybe we can get a little get together going???

Sat is iffy for me – if I do go I will be taking some of the younger set to a little pond to catch panfish. Will be out tonight around Howard’s Point. Also Friday but don’t know where yet. Probably the south end of Crane Island. I’m not hearing of great success from anyone on Tonka so far.

Good luck guys. I’m going to LOW, again!!

Found an early ice crappie spot. No walleyes. Crappie action was decent size just a hair too small to be keepers – for me anyway. Crappies were in 20ft hitting small fatheads.

Boy I am really stinking it up out there. Fished Cooks and Priest again for Walleye and crappie on Sat. Did not catch any of either but with all of the traffic out there I am not surprised. Am going to give it another try tonight.

Anyone venture past hardscrabble? Wondering about the conditions of the ice?