Rainy Lake, Minnesota fishing report 3-29-09

ROLL ON ICE ANGLERS!! ROLL ON!! I remind you "LATE ICE FISHING" is determined by weather, and not by the flipping of the calendar. Often times anglers are getting caught up in "Last year this time…" The heck with that. Every year is different, and until we start to honeycombe and pour fresh water into the lake we’re still fishing mid-winter patterns. LOTS OF ICE STILL BOYS!! I expect to be dropping the hammer on Ri-DONK-ulous sized slabs for at least 3 weeks. Don’t put your gear away yet!! As I’ve always said the BEST late ice fishing takes place when the majority of anglers are polishing up the boat. Who cares if the boat is all sparkly!! Get on the ice!! YIKES!! The fishing has been awesome with the exception of a couple fronts that sewed some lips shut. Big Eyes, Pike and Crappies are all putting on their "Smile your on IDO" face!!

So pick your poison when planning your late ice trip. Pike?? Eyes?? or Slabs. In trying to put together your plan of attack remember all fish are staging for the spawn. Locate spawning grounds and you are very close to locating your target fish. I focus most of my energy this time of year chasing slabs in order to follow those big girls to their spawning grounds. Something about those big papermouths, and I look forward to them shaking their freakishly big heads on the surface during the spawn. Active spawn grounds can actually be a bit tougher to pin down than staging areas as staging areas are basic deep basins for the most part while spawning grounds can encompass a lot of area. Here on Rainy that can mean manuevering your boat through "On Golden Pond" obstacles in attempts to locate Walter. It would be wise to educate your fishing buddy on Port and Starboard. I believe the Risk vs. Reward is worth it though. The table is set for a giant showdown of Man vs. Fish!! The 02 year class is eating good in the neighborhood, and packing on some impressive weights and tape measurements. I plan on fishing slabs and Pike until the conditions wont allow it. Then the boat comes out!! NICE!! LOOK OUT MONSTER GATORS!!

While chasing Crappies we’ve found the bigger slabs to be slightly seperated from the other fish. Much the same as Big bucks use seperate trails from other average deer. I feel strongly that Freakishly big Crappies seperate from the HO HUM 12-13 inch fish. I feel often times these fish show their dominance in the school telling the rest of the pack "Yo I eat first!!" Trust me when they decide it is lunch time you’ll know it!! James and I punched in right during the breakast feeding frenzy last week and put the In Depth smackdown on the bruisers. Many Many 14-15 inch 2lb crappies, and one taping 16 on the beans. Nice Job Holst!! A giant tip of the Daze Brim to Custom jigs and Spins for producing THE BEST Crappie Killers. Diamond jigs, Ratsos, Shrimpos, Flu-Flu’s…. Unbelievable!! Thank you for all the 15-16 inch fish this past week!!

Once again I find myself grinning ear to ear at the amazing fishing paradise I find in my frontyard. As a angler first and guide second I love the challenge of locating the biggest and baddest of the border country. Rainy Lake is much more than a fishing destination, but it is an experience. You will never be able to forecast fronts or bug hatches… Ma nature will deal you the cards, any you play what your dealt with. Even though my wood boiler is looking for a vacation I can’t help but be thankful for an extended crack at the Rainy Lake trophies on the Hardwater!! Take this trip out of the bucket list, and replace it with Fish!! Heck you know that bucket is getting heavy!! Let me help ya out!!