Ice Fishing Report Updated Friday 2/5/04 – Jeff Sundin
Late winter movements are beginning to show. Heavier snow cover, lots more ice and fish concentrated in deeper water are the sure signs that the ice season marches on. It seems like we just started talking about ice fishing, but we’re already only a couple of months from open water. The snow cover is a factor on many of the lakes now and you’ll have to check with the resort and bait shop owners about driving on them. In some cases you are still free to move around, but in others we are depending on the roads provided by the resort operators. There are snow drifts and pressure ridges that must be avoided on almost all of the larger lakes.
Yesterday we fished on Lake of the Woods and the resort operators have moved a good number of the rental houses out into water of about 35 feet with more houses gathered up to make the move. Lots of fish are out there moving with the schools of minnows and the variety of species and sizes of fish amazed us. We caught Walleye, Sauger, Eelpout, Tulibee and Giant Perch. I’m always the first one to be a skeptic when I hear that about magnum size Perch, so I took some photos of these “Eye Poppers” to convince you this is for real. How about a “pound and a quarter” weighed on a postal scale? That’s one large Perch! Although the fishing was a little sluggish, there was enough action to keep each of us interested and hopeful that the next bite was just around the corner. Went you rent a house like we did, you hope for the best and take what the lake gives you. The majority of Walleye and Sauger we caught were in the 12 to 15 inch range and there weren’t any of the larger fish caught, we did wind up with plenty of fish for everyone to have a great fish fry. As a bonus, we got 15 nice Tulibees that are heading for the smoker. For some of us, these fish alone would be worth the trip up there.
Closer to home (for me), the Walleye and Perch action on Winnie continues to be reliable. The deeper water pattern is also evident out there and the fish are following the same pattern we’ve seen in recent weeks. Walleyes are using the tops and higher edges of the structures, while the Perch prefer the deep flats adjacent to the bars and humps. For the time being, feeding fish are keying on schools of young Perch minnows in open water. But, there will be an increasing number of Perch feeding on insect larvae in the soft bottom areas and the normal seasonal movement back to shallower water is only a couple of weeks away.
Northern Pike remain semi-active and are being caught in deep water while jigging or with tip ups. There are still some good fish moving in the shallows as well. Some of the folks spearing them are reporting good success, including some mighty big ones this winter. We’ve heard reports of several fish over 20 pounds and lots of 10 to 15 pounders have come in from all around the area.
Crappies are still doing fairly well in the area and fish are being caught early in the morning and late in the evening. Red Lake anglers are still reporting success and the fishing has become more consistent in the past couple of weeks. Most folks that head up there are catching at least some fish and the average size being reported is large. We’ve heard of some Crappies as large as 17 inches, with the average size somewhere between 13 and 15 inches. Crappies on several of the Grand Rapids area lakes are averaging closer to 10-12 inches.
For those of you who like to snowmobile, this is your best opportunity in several years. Plenty of snow and plenty of places to go! This has been a real boost for lots of folks who had cobwebs on their machines for the past few winters. Polish ‘em up and get out there.
Good Luck! Check Back For Updates!
TheEarlyBird-Jeff Sundin
Nice report Jeff, Gotta love those big perch.
great report jeff, we will be heading to LOW for the first time this sunday. we are staying at sportsmans lodge and using their shacks. any consistent bait/presentations that worked for you? thanks advance for your reply
Jeff: Last winter on Winnie we found the tulibee just loaded with worms. Not little perch worms but big grub size. Are the ones on LOTW like this?
That perch sure is a little piggie
. Very nice report Jeff. 
Sarge
You talking about the yellow grubs? Some years the ‘bees on Mille Lacs will just be dirty with them, the next, NADA. Not sure what causes them and why their numbers seem to rise and fall like that.
Excellent report Jeff!
Sumo perch and tulibee! What great way to spend a day on the ice!
LEt me know how good those smoked tulibees taste!
Nice report!!!
Good report Jeff
. That’s one chubby Perch you have on that scale 
Hawg perch!!!
Gotta love it!! 
Gator Hunter
James: These were not the little yellow ones in the perch. They were fairly large and white. The owners at Highbanks Resort tipped us off. Said they are always that way. A few in the perch I don’t mind, but these looked more like candidates for a Fear Factor show!!
Luckily, Winnie is one of the few lakes that have that problem. About ten years ago we cleaned fish for hire in the winter and those Winnie Tulibees almost made me lose my taste for smoked fish.
Lake of the Woods, Leech Lake and many of the smaller area lakes are a lot better. It pays to take a close look at Tulibees and Whitefish before you cook them and remove the grubs. A friend of mine fillets the fish into 2 halves, leaves the skin and bones in and holds the fillets in front of one of those high intensity work lights. The light shows through the fillet and reveals the location of any grubs. Kind of a poor mans XRAY.
Sarge is talking about grubs that are the size of cigarette butts. If you ever see one, you’ll never forget it.
I’ve seen ones the size of small jelly beans but NEVER anything approaching that size! Yuck. I’ll stick to beef…:p
Great report, I hope those LOTW fish start really going crazy about the 20th of
the month and the Red Lake crappies can start on the pm of the 19th. Hope to catch
some nice ones that weekend. Staying at a sleeper on LOTW. Steve
As long as you asked how the Tulibees came out. HMMMMMMM
If you happen to be coming through Deer River in the next 24 hours, give me a call and you can sample some. I don’t think they’ll last until the weekend.
Early Bird: If I wasn’t 5 hrs away I’d take you up on the offer. Love them smoked! You got the grubs right on. Smoked a bunch from LOTW a few years ago and they were great. Then last winter on Winnie we caught a bunch and had similar thoughts. Them grubs is big and ugly!! Was marking tulibee on the graph and camera 2 weeks ago up there but never made an attempt to catch. Let the pike have them! Thanks for the info.
Hey early bird how do you smoke those. What kind of solution do you to soak them
in and for how long? Might need to bring the portable smoker with me. Steve