With the StrikeMaster Kids Clinic being rescheduled to February 3rd, the Favorite Wife gave me the nod to make my at least once annual trip down to the Zumbro River and to see some “old” friends HOF and Dan Thiem. I brought along my verbally abusive (to me) friend and IDO member PeterT.
The truck said -20 when we arrived. Felt kinda, well kinda like winter in Minnesota. Crisp air, clear sky. What a great day to be on the ice, at least if you had a fish house and a heater! That’s when our only problem of the day began. I screwed on the one pound propane bottle on the sunflower heater and had liquid propane dripping on my hands. I’m telling you, -20 is nothing compared to the temp of evaporating propane! Eventually I headed of to town to find a heater, leaving Peter in charge of the portable. I came back about 2 hours later, nice and warm from the truck ride only to find out that HOF said it was slow and it was time to move. He had 5 dandy crappies while I was gone. I think Peter was starting to get cold as I’ve never seen anyone jig so 
uncontrollably before.
We move to spot number two looking for some gills. I had the Marcum set up in the middle hole so we could see both jigs using one flasher. That worked out very nice in 24 feet of water. It seemed like we always had fish in the hole, just couldn’t get them to bite. I commented that this would have been a good day to have a camera down there to see what was really going on. I kicked myself for selling my Marcum 500 in the classifieds too early this year. Of course the new camera came on Monday. Natch.
We were using purple Ratso…yeah, I know it’s the secret panfish bait, but since SOMEONE talked about the Custom Jigs & Spin product on a recent TV show…the word is out. The only good thing is they didn’t say anything about tipping the Ratso with a waxie. Please don’t spread this around…otherwise everyone will be using them.
Light line, a spring bobber wasn’t a must, but darn close to it and a good light action rod and reel helped with the light biters. From what I gathered from Mr. Sunfish himself (HOF), the cold snap slowed the bite, however if the Zumbro fish follow their normal routine, they will be snapping faster this weekend when the temps start to rise again.
HOF left us sometime around 1 pm and right after he left I watched a fish on the LX5 swim right past Peter’s bait and “tippy tap” on mine. Nice ½ pound bluegill! I said to Pete, HOF would be proud! Peter ended up with a few fish, I had a couple and with HOF’s donation, the Favorite Wife and I had a nice meal of pannies. I guess I have to tell the truth, the FW watched me eat 10 sunnies and crappies and she had tomato soup and grilled cheese. Hey! I don’t have to share, she didn’t catch them! Actually she doesn’t care for fish much…which is alright by me!
Mike, we had a good time down there as always. I know Peter wants to head down there again as long as I have some heat along!
Maybe I can free up Pete and we can make it to the Rochester GtG that’s coming up on March 8th. If I’m lucky I’ll get Stuart and Dean to come down too. Did I hear panfish fry at Everts??
Don’t let the cold weather keep you from getting out and enjoying the great Minnesota outdoors! After all, it’s only about three more months to the kick off of the open water season at the Sturgeon Excursion<< !!
What secret ??????
and what, no cookies ?
Nice job with the Crappies and Sunnies..
Jack..
Nice report Brian.
Actually, the hot bait has purple on it and is a Custom Jigs product….it just doesn’t have any plastic on it. And it has a small “headlight” of glow on the front of it. And its not found in stores. Well, maybe at HOF.
And if you were attempting to vent the red outhouse, you needed much larger equipment. More in the line of a backhoe. Use a gas mask though…..
I believe Mr. Catfish has shown some old age signs here. He was actually using a Custom Jigs Ratso in purple. I was using a Custom Jigs Diamond jig.
It was a slow day Sunday and true to form, the bite picked up considerably yesterday. Try, try again!
Good Report BK!
Come back soon! 
Nice report BK, Wish I could’ve joined ya all. Next time I”ll make it out for sure. Although it was warmer where I was.
Sorry to hear about your heater! Had one do that to me a few years back, No fun there. Take care & I’ll see ya at the GTG.
Nice report BK. Thanks for the report and pics. Its hard to beat those two jigs from Custom Jigs and Spins on that body of water in the winter. In fact its hard to beat their jigs on any body of water.
Thanks, Bill
Very nice suprise to see you all out there. Very sunny day and cold! That little heater you were using Brian didn’t seem like too much help fighting off that below zero temp.
Don’t worry about trying to punch holes next to my haicenda. Just come inside and fish.
Great report Mr. K
It sure is a bugger when LP freezes
Been there, done that
Great reprot Brian.
I fished Sat. morning and it was -12 when I got to the lake. Only managed 3 crappies, one was only 5 inches. 
This is how most of my ice trips have gone this year. 
Maybe I need to head North a little ways. 
Sounds like a chilly, but fun trip. Thanks for the report
I kept Doug busy last wknd BK, Sorry but honey do lists come first!! Look forward to meeting you at the GTG. MissKelly
Welcome MissKelly!
Looking forward to seeing the good looking one of the Mr Musky house!
Tyler, thought I would see you hole jumping out there? I knew I wouldn’t see CT…he’s not a weekend stick.
I’m almost ready for Wigwam!
Got the FD’s snowmobubble, the portable and the flat bottom boat all on the trailer…
Now I just have to find my heater…
quote: Did I hear panfish fry at Everts??
I”m in !
MissKelly,
Welcome to IDA…..
Am hoping to hear of some GREAT Reports from you and Doug up on RED…
Jack..
Is the ice safe enough to drive a dodge ram 1500 from the ponderosa to the ryans bay area? Or would you recomend a 4 wheeler to get around. I sure would like to fish the lake I grew up fishing on.
The ice is 16-18 inches and full size vehicles have been driving on it.
Nice fish guys. Did you get all the BS out?
ahhh…nope.
Just returned from Lake Zumbro. Here is my report. Just 5-6 bites. I fished an area that is a large flat about 22-23ft deep between ryans bay and rattle snake hill. I moved 3 or 4 times managing to ice 2 crappies the length of the bottom of a 5 gallon pail. I only fished for 5 hours. fish were caught on rocker style tear drop purple in color with a silver back tipped with a crappie minnow.
Thanks for the update Perchhead!