For many years I would hand drill all season, up until 2 or 3 years ago. I’ve used my Nils by hand up to 36″ of ice, I can’t recall ever fishing anything thicker but maybe I have. I still hand drill a lot but usually when the ice gets thicker I run the Nils on a cordless drill setup but I bring the handle along just a in case
As you and others have noted, Whitefish are jerks. I’ve fished them with an underwater camera and watched different fish in the same school respond differently to the same baits (or some respond and others don’t at all). You are using the same kind of things I’ve used.
Maybe play around with bigger/smaller versions of the same things? I’m a huge fan of having a small wireworm a foot or so above a small spoon or jigging rap so I’ve got 2 presentations at once. A panfish jig is always worth trying too. A tiny minnow is worth a shot too
Maybe check nearby for more cooperative individuals? I’d probably start with checking the nearest shallower flat to where those fish are. Even if there are fewer Whitefish, if they are more active it will probably be more productive.
Good luck, I know how maddening they are
Yes, Smallmouth Buffalo. Nice catch!
Yeah it looks like a tank for sure
Aaron, can I get a ruling here? This one looked different than the shortheads we usually catch, but I’m not sure. Maybe it’s just a big shorty?
I knew enough to take a lip pic.
I’m not Aaron, but that is a big Shorty. Head length to body length ratio and fin shapes eliminate the other red-tailed redhorse in MN
Most of our lawn is completely cutover to perennial native flowers – which is a whole different ballgame. The remaining lawn is “bee friendly” in the way that I haven’t done anything to keep the weeds out. A resource that might be worth looking into is this: https://bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l
This is the email I got last night from the MN DNR mailing list:
MN Department of Natural Resources [email protected] via service.govdelivery.com
Mon, Mar 16, 5:32 PM (15 hours ago)
to me
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources header
Minnesota State Parks and Trails: COVID-19 Response
Minnesota State Parks and Trails remain open to the public. We are closely monitoring the situation related to COVID-19 and adjusting our operations as conditions change. We recognize the importance of nature in helping to relieve stress during this time and are committed to providing a safe environment for our visitors to enjoy, while ensuring we protect the health of our staff and Minnesota’s communities.
Beginning March 16, 2020, we will implement the following changes to operation of all 75 state parks and recreation areas across the state consistent with guidance provided by the Minnesota Department of Health:
Move to a 100% self-pay system.
All Minnesota state parks and recreation areas have the ability to collect permit fees and provide visitor information (e.g., maps, park rules, brochures) through our Self-Pay and Information Kiosks located near state park entrances.
Visitors can purchase a day or annual permit beforehand through the reservation website (visit mndnr.gov/reservations). Camping and lodging reservations should be made online through the reservation website or through the reservation call center (866-857-2757).
Close all state park offices, visitor centers, and non-essential buildings until further notice; bathrooms and group centers remain open.
All state park offices will be closed to the public, including information desks and nature stores. The public will be able to get park information and purchase park permits through the Self-Pay and Information Kiosks. Camping reservations should be made and paid for online or over the phone using the reservations system.
All bathrooms, shower buildings, and vault toilets that are currently open will remain open to the public, and we will reopen currently closed vault toilets where feasible. We will ensure our cleaning protocols meet best practices established to address COVID-19 concerns. Bathrooms and shower buildings that are currently closed will remain closed to the public until further notice.
Group centers that are currently open to the public will remain open, with social distancing measures implemented. Currently closed group centers will remain closed until further notice.
Suspend all naturalist programming and events.
All naturalist programs and public events will be cancelled until further notice (including visitor center programs, outdoor events, and school group activities). We will consider if there are some programs/events that can be re-started or changed to accommodate social distancing. Over time, we are hopeful that we can find ways to restart programming.
For more information, please visit mndnr.gov/covid-19 or contact the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 888-MINNDNR (646-6367). For the latest information on COVID-19 in Minnesota, visit the Minnesota Department of Health.
TL;DR: state parks are open, most buildings will be closed. For camping, I believe most aren’t open yet anyway
I’ve left it in the fridge and I’ve canned it. I prefer fridging it now, tastes better in my opinion.
Anyone getting any fish up at the dam? Bit early yet, walked up there yesterday and didn’t see anyone catch any, 4-5 boats out
Didn’t seem to be much going on up that way Sunday afternoon either
I get giant river Redhorse like that every year in the Namekagon along with average sized ones. I’ve always liked fishing the sucker runs. Normally its the kickoff to open water fishing for me.
More of them in the Nam’ for sure – they are protected in WI but fishing up there will turn up some even while targeting other species.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>tonys wrote:</div>
Beautiful River Redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) – those are not a common sight on pool 2 and a great sign of quality habitat. Most of the Redhorse in pool 2 are Silvers, Goldens and Shortheads which are less sensitive to water quality and habitat issuesI caught an almost identical Redhorse from the same area on Saturday. It hit a 4″ purple/chartreuse Moxi. I identified it as a River Redhorse also. Thanks for the confirmation & info.
Yep, If it is a Redhorse with a bright red tail and it is larger than 20″ on pool 2 it is almost certainly a River. There are a few Greaters around as well but I’ve only seen a couple on pool 2 ever.
Beautiful River Redhorse (Moxostoma carinatum) – those are not a common sight on pool 2 and a great sign of quality habitat. Most of the Redhorse in pool 2 are Silvers, Goldens and Shortheads which are less sensitive to water quality and habitat issues
double post
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Dusty Gesinger wrote:</div>
I thought snakeheads were capable of breathing air along with alligator gar and some others.Would you say this is a snakehead or a dogfish?
skull shape looks spot on for Bowfin (Dogfish, Amia calva). Snakeheads have longer, flatter, narrower skulls with the eyes further forward and more on top of the head.
The Anal fin is easiest place to look for a definitive ID (long on a snake, short on a bowfin)
Can’t take Salamanders (including Mud Puppies) for bait MN per the MN fishing regulations (pages 31, 36). Just an FYI.
That’s a White Sucker, not a Grass Carp
Purslane is decent, I’ll eat some occasionally but kind of a pain to wash up and pick the little leaves. Amaranth I’m more likely to eat since the leaves are bigger and it grows way better than leafy greens in the heat, same for Lambsquarter (which I prefer). I’ve heard the name pigweed used to refer to both amaranth and lambsquarter at times.
So you can’t use a cast net or even possess one on the WI side of the river, which is a pain but does anyone know if a WI resident can get a cast net permit to use on the MN side of the river? With a MN license? Or on say pool 2?
12″ is the law in WI. no max in MN. so legality would be dictated based on which side of the state line you are fishing on. that said, I’ve landed Sturg to 52″ through a single 7.5″ hole. A single 10″ would fit most Sturgeon, a single 12″ would make it easier though I think a saw would be the only way to make a 12. Or just fish the MN side and make a hole as big as you want
It’s a Silver Redhorse. See the head and mouth shape. Also, I count 15 dorsal rays. I’d link a good resource for ID but this forum deletes the link when I post…
Thanks guys – I joined that facebook group, they finally accepted my request so we’ll see if the owner frequents that
This video was shot a couple weeks ago when the Bluffs ramp was open, the bay with the ramp was locked up last week Thursday but may well have opened again with the warm weather the last couple days. Prescott is my go to ramp when everything upstream starts getting to annoying to bust ice on
Looks like a box elder tree? compare the mushroom with Hypsizygus ulmarius (Elm Oyster) which is a pretty common find this time of year. Chicken of the Woods is an orange/yellow shelf mushroom with pores, not gills.
Sounds good, I’ll be down there. Should be two of us in my old olive green closed bow 14’er. Been quite a while since I’ve fished p4 so it should be fun. I’ll be interested to see what you guys find over time – I will say I’ve ran into a lot of young Lake Sturgeon in other tailwaters at times (they were everywhere last time I was at Whitman dam), but that’s just anecdotal and most of my Sturgeon fishing is in Lake St Croix.
So how did it go? I was bummed I couldn’t make it. Hopefully a bunch of fish got tagged and I can meet them later…
Thanks Diane! Good to know, it looked important so wanted to make sure I got it back where it belonged. Sounds like interesting work you are doing! Native fish and mussels and all that are super interesting!
cool stuff! Anybody know what these receivers at the trib mouths look like?
I caught a rebar contraption near the mouth of the Croix with my anchor. It had a black PVC tube with the #17 on it.
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Got my first 5’er the other day on the Croix
20161110_190927.jpg
Maybe try posting this to some of the MN based facebook groups? You might get a wider audience?
Nice! Good to see the fish are still going good. Gonna try and find my own December sturgeon this week
