The walleye are starting to show their smiling faces in my fishing hole finally!!! I guess after spending sometime checking the lake conditions, and just getting back in the swing of things….it feels good to be back out on the lake.
The ice conditions are improving slowly with the snow cover that we currently have on the lake. Even with the sub zero temperatures we have seen a slow improvement in the ice depth. The reports have been 7-10 inches from the lake guys staking roads out of Hunters Point. Yet the area I spent my time on was around 7 inches. You really need to get your hands wet in order to get a good measurement as the the water floods above your hole around 1-2 inches. The area that I was fishing yesterday afternoon was a rock structure south of the Lakeside 2 mile. I ended up fishing out of the Otter portable in 26 fow with some rock below.
One thing that I have notice this early ice season is the amount of schools of bait!! At times in the mid-afternoon time frame you will have the lower section of the MarCum colored with schools of perch!! Yesterday I caught a 12 inch perch that tasted pretty good in the fry pan last evening! These schools of perch are possibily effecting the bite also. Looks to be plenty of feed in the lake right now. I have been using a 1/8 oz. fire tiger go-devil and have also caught fish on the orange/yellow colored go-devil!! that color has been good for me the last few years!!!
I have also caught a number of smaller walleye in the 12 inch range. This is a good sign to see in our lake! The slot fish that I have caught have been in the 16-17 inch range. I have yet to put anything big on the ice….I hope that changes this afternoon!! The hot time for me has been from 3:45pm to 4:30pm. I have spent time later with very little action. I might have to go a little shallower to find some active late evening biters?
If you are planning to make a trip up to Mille Lacs. Please check with a resort before you make your way out on the ice. Make sure and get the most current ice conditions and be safe out there.
Good luck and catch some fish!!!
Nice report Bob. Thanks for the update. I hope to make it up there soon.
John
Thats what I like to see…thanks for the update Bob. I don’t hit the ice until Friday
Great Report, Bob! Glad to see lines are tight for you!
Good stuff Bob. Thanks for the report.
Thanks Bob! Are you using the wheeler or sled to get around?
I’ve been told that sled is best but a wheeler will work although slow going. About 12″ of snow on the ice.
Was out on Sunday, caught alot of small eyes, one pig just over 29″. Heading up this weekend. Was on 2 and something mile….
Sweet report Bob.
Thanks for the report Bob.
Great report Bobber! Can’t wait to get up there this year!
Nice Report!!
Thank you for the update will be up Friday AM for the day. Plan to look at some perm houses as well.
nice mess
Nice work Bobber
I hope the fish will be going this weekend.
Wallster ><((((>
I found it a little slow today at sundown!!! I’m heading out to the flats tommorrow!! I’ll report back on how it goes…..
Glad to hear you got to “stink up the pan”
big g
Nice report Bob..
Kids and I will be up Saturday with Ritter!
Great report Bob, I’ll see you this weekend.
Jami
Scott and I will be up on Friday – Sunday.
Great to hear that they’re on the chew