Well it’s finally here!!! Ice season is in full swing on SOME area lakes. This afternoon I was joined by fellow IDO Ice Pro Staffer Matt Grow. While out pheasant hunting this morning I noticed how many of lakes in the area were locked up tight and even a few fishermen on some bigger water lakes as well. We decided to hit a smaller lake that has some great panfish action. With a life jacket on, ice picks around the neck, spud bar in hand, and rope around our shoulders off we went.
We were greeted to an average of 4”-5” of good solid clear ice. Several chops with the spud bar and still no break though we gained confidence in getting to these early season panfish. Upon arriving to our spot we did notice that someone had already beat us to this spot, so we had pre-chopped holes ready to fish out of. It didn’t take long for the first fish of the season to be iced…..a dandy gill. Soon to be followed by several smaller sized crappies in the mix.
We did have to work for some of these fish. If you have had the pleasure of fishing with Matt he is a hole drilling machine, or in this case a hole chopping machine. If we didn’t see a fish in a matter of minutes we were on the move to another hole. The deeper basin of this lake held the crappies suspended over 23 fow, and the sunfish were a bit shallower adjacent to a weed line hugging the bottom very tightly. These fish today fell victim to custom jigs and spins gill pill and diamond jigs tipped with a waxie. Aggressive upward jigging to entice these fish to bite was also key to coaxing the bite.
This is the first time is quite a while that I have personally been ice fishing before Thanksgiving. Folks use extreme caution when going out on the lake this early, get your lifejackets, ice picks, and rope out…..Wear all 3 items, just incase you run into some thin ice. Check with local bait shops if you’re not familiar to the water your fishing. Although we didn’t ice many big fish this was a very successful trip for the both of us. We were able to ice a few different species of fish and most importantly we stayed dry. Good luck to everyone this ice season, we are just at the beginning so hopefully it will be a long successful ice season……..See you on the ice.
Sorry the quality of the pictures is not the best off a cell phone.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Few other photos…
Don’t forget the ice cleats…….
nice report cal! I am jealous!!! Is matty using an lx-3?
Just got back from a early ice lake we hit for Crappies in the north metro. Good clear 3″ of ice. People thought we were crazy, but my friend checked it out this afternoon while the sun was out and made some holes in our spot. I just cleaned 8 10-11″ crappies for brunch tomarrow before the turkey.
Yes Matt is trying out an LX-3.
Looks like a good time and a successful outing! Congrats on the good fishing, and as Luke said, I am a little jealous of the ice!
Thanks for the post Cal and Matt! That gets the blood pumpin’! I am coming up next weekend, if you guys want to join me give me a shout. I will take it easy on you guys this time, wouldn’t want to out fish you guys two trips in a row!
Nate Riddle
I can’t wait to get out too. Thanks for the update guys
Way to go Cal and Matt!
And somebody already beat you to you it? 
Looking forward to hearing more ice reports! 
I checked 8-lakes in Eden Prairie & Chanhassen this afternoon at Boat Ramps.
Bryant, Mitchell, Red Rock, Riley, Susan, Lotus, Ann & Minnewashta (Incl. Little Minnie).
All lakes 90%+ Ice covered, smaller lakes looking good.
3-guys were out on lawn chairs on Red Rock in E.P.
Tracks indicated someone had been on Mitchell and Little Minnie.
Here is 2-photo’s from this afternoon between 2-4pm
1st is Mitchell Lake in Eden Prairie, 2nd is Minnewashta (Little Minnie) in Chanhassen. 3rd is 2-guys on Red Rock Lake this Wednesday afternoon.
See the rest of the photos for conditions with report in captions:
http://picasaweb.google.com/WestMetroBASS/IcedIn_Ramps#
I checked Little Minnie/Minnewashta access #1 this morning, Nobody out but someone had shovelled off an area for skating and tracks indicated someone had been out fishing.
Let’s get to it.