The smaller bass taste better….. or so I’m told. Maybe Mike told me that!

Last time I called it was a few years ago and it worked then??? Probably another bright idea for a budget cut…..

Wow! Great work – nice fish guys.

Count me in – Thanks sponso rs!

OK….What if I have my MN liscense but am a WI resident. Than I can fish – Right?!? That’s how I would take it.

WOW! Way to go guys!

you’re good to go. 4-6 inches on pretty much all of them. So far the fishing has been very sporadic. Good luck. Tell us how you do.

Thought about trying Cranberry for bluegills – maybe I’ll soak a sucker while I’m at it. Last time I was there we were catching walleyes in the weeds in about 3 feet of water. I’ll hit the rivers and try to catch a few smallies and maybe troll for some ‘skis.

Jigs – Bass jigs with tails fished s-l-o-w-l-y. Good Luck — Pax

Sgt Rock is absolutely on with the Petenwell advice. Awesome lake!

Drop the filler spool in a 5 gallon bucket, 1/2 full of water and start reeling. It’ll twist and turn every which way and WALA! – No more line twists. OR – Put the line on any way you want then take the rig to the lake or river and swoly let out all the line (with NOTHING) on it and reel it back up – that is the absolute best way.

Same old crap – Lots of small crappies and ‘gills. Since everyone can drive out there, there has been A LOT more hunyucks and rude people. Had some guys set up no more than 6 feet from me yesterday! Then later a guy drove his minvan no more than 8 feet from my portable and just sat there and stared at me! What the hell is going on?!?!?—-Pax

Just a couple miles north, northeast.

look for crappies next time you are there. May take a while to find them but they are decent.

I think you better use a tape measure instead of guessing ice thickness. More like 8-10 inches there. Was there a couple days ago. ————Pax

We were out on Tuesday too. That was about the lest amount of boats that I have ever seen there. We managed about 50 suagers with about 8 ‘eyes mixed in too. Saugers were best in the 18-24 foot range and the ‘eyes were shallower. Clown colored fireball jig tipped with a minnow. Caught them all the way from the dam down to the “Y”.

They haven’t turned on the aereators yet. Ice was still good last weekend. There were a few other people out there last weekend too.

Small — You have to sort through 100 fish to find ten that you are willing to keep. Still can be a good time though. Then the people start lowering their standards because that is all they catch there and pretty soon they are going home with 5 inch ‘gills. I’ve seen it too much there.

Where were you thinking of heading? I drove around yesterday and checked ice conditions all over norther St Croix and Southern Polk and most seemed good. Around 3 inches on most of them. I like the smaller lakes most of the time so that is what I checked mostly. Went up and looked at Wappo too. There were a couple guys out there as well but I didn’t pop any holes there. I’ll be out this week everyday so I’ll let you know what’s going on. That warm weather just melted the snow on top yesterday – then it re-froze and added another 1/2 inch last night.

Pine Lake just north of Baldwin. Drove around yesterday in Southern Polk co and there were a fair number of people out on the smaller lakes fishing. Even saw one group using their power auger already! Most look good. There were a couple guys out on Wappo too.

A few have been out on Wappo and Bear Trap. Not too much ice though from what they told me. For now I think I’ll stick to the smaller lakes. Went twice last week and it was good fishing. I’ll be out this week a few times too. Let you all know when I have a chance. —-Pax

That is where I went ice fishing yesterday. They were biting. The crappies were normal – biting like crazy but the size really lacks. I hope people throw more back this year so they can grow up a little. Won’t be long before tons of people are there because about 3 vehicles saw me out there.

I just picked up another strikemaster. Now I got the new lazer mag ultra express 9 inch. The motor has a compression release valve on it for easy pulling starts. Also has a lot more compression (i.e. more hp). Still have a strikemaster lazer mag 8 inch from last year and love it.

I’d love to help – but I cannot. I’ve been trying Holcombe for a year now and have yet to put anything together. Last weekend there were a number of boats under, by, and around the silver bridge by Big Swede’s. Sorry, but that’s the best I can do for you. —-Pax

Great report Stillakid! Bass have started cleaning the beds on Rice Lake in the shallow bays. Water aroung New Richmond area is averaging about 62 degrees now on the main Lake parts. I’ve been bassin’ and they have been somewhat cooperative but I have yet to catch a northern. Anyone else noticed this? ————-Pax

I really don’t go after walleyes but 15-20 days per summer (I hit the river all winter). but all I ever do is use the fish finders for quite a while and find potential school or locations and slip bobber and/or jig or sometimes drag a bouncer. I will be the first person to tell you I’m not a walleye genious. I usually go for bass/ northerns 90% of my time. Let’s face it – walleyes are NOT a gimme in this area. BTW —-Fished Horseshoe (n of Turtle Lake) and got quite a few bass – 2 over 18 inches and lost a couple decent northerns. Hardly saw anyone out either day. Saw a lot in the taverns at night though!

I’ve caught some huge bass on both while fishing for muskies. Bone has been better for me when actually targeting bass. Last I knew it had special regs for bass.

Magnor in Richardson, Sand by St Croix Falls, or Cedar down By Star Prarie. OR the Croix I suppose we’ll have a lot of our western neighbors over here since your opener isn’t for a couple more weeks. Not complaining – the tax $$$ don’t hurt. Good Luck —–Pax

Good luck – I can think of a few other lakes I’d try for eyes before Wappo.

Sorry – We’ve never done well early in the seaon on Wappo either. Usually just wait for a few weeks until the water gets up into the mid sixties. What are you looking to catch???