Outdoors Weekly Fish Tales Archive

April 18, 2008

Anglers: Please note that ice conditions can change very quickly during the spring. And as usual, reports are sporadic this time of year. Please call the numbers below for an up-to-the-minute report.

ANNANDALE - B.J.'s Bait & Tackle, Bill, west side of Clearwater Lake, between the two public accesses, www.bjsbait.com (320-274-3730) We are looking forward to open water now. The shop is closed until April 19th.

BATTLE LAKE - Ben's Bait & Tackle, Josie, Junction of Hwy 78 and 210 (218-864-5596) Given the weather this week, the shorelines are a little cruddy; you may still be able to find a spot to get out. Please call the shop for the latest ice reports.

BEMIDJI - Bluewater Bait & Sports, Mark Cook, 1 mile north of the Hwy 2 & 71 Intersection, www.bluewater-bait.com (218-444-2248) Some of the accesses are breaking up pretty good; it’s looking pretty iffy on getting out. Not a lot of guys are getting out right now, and they are looking towards the open water fishing. Call the shop for the latest ice conditions.

BLACKDUCK - Timberline Sport & Tackle, Carl Adams, Junction of Hwy 71 and Blackduck Lake Rd. (218-835-4636) ) With the snow on the ice, guys are not getting out on it much. Most are waiting for the ice to come off the lakes now.

BRAINERD/NISSWA AREA - S&W Bait and Tackle - Home of Nisswa Guide League, County Road 77 just west of Highway 371, www.sandwbait.com (218-829-7010)

CHISAGO CITY - Frankie's Live Bait and Marine, Brad, Corner of Hwy 8 and CR 77, www.frankies.net (651-257-6334) We are between seasons right now, stop in and get geared up for the open water fishing season. We have some screaming deals.

CROSBY - Oars-N-Mine Bait and Tackle, Jesse Williams, 22640 Hwy 6 N (218-546-6912) Ice conditions are sketchy at best, and many of our anglers have given up ice and are waiting for the open water. This snow has put a damper on the ice removal, as it seems to be insulating it enough to hold the ice for longer than expected. The anglers who are risking it enough to make it out on the ice say that there is still almost 2 feet of ice on the lakes, and that once away from the shore the ice is pretty good overall. Fishing has been very good. Crappies and sunfish are very active in shallow water, less than 8 feet. Crappies on all lakes seem to be using the top of the water column; within a foot or 2 of the ice. Sunfish have been right below them all the way to the bottom. If there are green weeds, the activity is much better due to the fish being congregated in those high-oxygen areas. Small plastics are the ticket for both, otherwise eurolarvae for the sunfish. Be careful out there if traveling on the ice! We recommend foot travel only!

CROSSLAKE - Holiday of Cross Lake, 35610 Cty. Rd. 66 Crosslake, Lee (218-692-2708) With all the snow on the ice, nobody is getting out right now, nor do we suggest it. With this week’s weather, I think everyone is waiting for spring.

DULUTH - Fisherman's Corner, Scott, 7 miles north of Miller Mall on Hwy 53, www.fishycorner.com (218-729-5369) Anglers are still getting out on some of the lakes by foot and getting crappies. The main bite going on right now is loopers and steelhead down on the north shore for the guys fishing from shore. And the guys getting out on boats trolling for coho and doing quit well.

DULUTH - Marine General, 1501 London Road, on the edge of Lake Superior, www.marinegeneral.com (218-724-8833) Fishing has been great on the big lake. The coho fishing for the guys trolling off the north shore has been good. The water temp is about 34 degrees. They have been using crawlers off the bottom and spoons, they seem to be working the best, spawn is starting work too. Anglers are casting off shore for loopers too. The anglers who have been trolling are using small spoons and stick baits. The St. Louis River is open in the lower section, but there is a lot of floating ice. North shore ramps are open.

ELY-Babe's Bait and Tackle, 451 W. Sheridan St., Ely, MN, first business on the left as you are entering town of Ely from the west on Hwy 169, www.babesbait.com (218-365-6930)

FOREST LAKE - Mikes Bait on 8, Rich, 1/2 mile east of 35 on Hwy 8 (651-464-5150) Ice fishing on the lakes is pretty much done now. A few people are going down to the St. Croix and the Mississippi. We should be shore fishing in a week or two.

GREY EAGLE - Nancy's Bait & Tackle, Rex, 4 miles east of the Rock Tavern on Big Birch Lake, 4 miles west of Upsala (320-285-2405) The ice conditions are changing daily on area lakes. Please call for the latest info on getting out on some lakes still.

HACKENSACK - Swanson's Bait & Tackle, Jim Tuller, Hwy 371 on the north end of Hackensack, www.swansonsbait.com (218-675-6176) Because of all the snow and slush on the ice, no one is really getting out or able to get out. There is a lot of slush and heaviness on the ice, and it’s starting to break away from the shores a little bit.

KABETOGAMA-NAMAKAN - Gateway Store, Phil Hart, US Hwy 53 & Co Rd 122, 30 miles south of Int'l Falls-Canadian border, kabfishingreport.com (218-875-2121) Ice fishing came to a sudden halt as a result of the back to back snowfalls. Insurmountable slush clogged the lake trails impeding the close of the pike and walleye season on border lakes. Ice thickness to date will easily accommodate sled travel for crappie enthusiasts as the slush liquefies as the temperatures increase. Tube jigs, ratsos and small jig head tipped with a minnow or minnow head remains the favored presentation. Here’s hoping spring drops in and pays us a visit as we gear up for the May Opener.

LAKE OF THE WOODS - Area Tourism Bureau, Denelle Hovde , near Junction of Hwy 11 and Hwy 172 in Baudette, www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com (1-800-382-FISH) With walleye season now officially closed for the season until May 10, the anglers are gearing up for some fun action along the Rainy River with catch and release and of course, Sturgeon season opening April 24 – May 7. Anglers can keep one per license year (Fish must be 45-50 inches, inclusive or over 75 inches.) Immediately upon reducing a fish to possession, you must validate and attach your sturgeon tag and they must be registered within 48 hours. Birchdale is plowed and good for boats of all sizes. Shore ice is gone from Frontier and Vidas is also good for all size boats. The River is open now at the International Bridge in Baudette and working its way up River. With warm temperatures forecasted this week we could see a great spring fishing season.

LEECH LAKE - Anderson's Resorts, Tim, www.andersonsleech-lake.com (1-800-516-0077) A few brave souls were out this last week trudging though the blessed weather we received. Sunfish and crappies were active in Shingobee Bay. Perch were active on Sand Point, with some jumbos reported. Also people were having good luck in Agency Bay for some late season perch action. With warm weather in the forecast, we are looking for a great open water season.

METRO AREA EAST - Blue Ribbon Bait & Tackle, Oakdale, Josh, www.blueribbonbait.com (651-777-2421) The river is the only thing really going on in town right now with the lakes in total limbo. For some action, you can get some silvers and carp down by the plant on the St. Croix. The Mississippi water is really flowing right now and is pretty muddy.

MILLE LACS LAKE – Chris Kuduk’s Guide Service, www.kuduksguideservice.com (320-630-1761) You might be able to plank it and get out this weekend, but it will be iffy. Check with the resort owners before heading out. Call now and set up you

MILLE LACS LAKE - Malmo Market, Lynwood Elliott, State Hwy 47 and 18 East, NE corner of Mille Lacs (320-684-2295)

MILLE LACS LAKE – Johnson's Portside, Kelly or Steve, 1 mile north of Isle on Hwy 47 SE side of the lake, www.johnsonsportside.com (320-676-3811)

LAKE MINNETONKA - Wayzata Bait & Tackle, Tim or Bob, half mile west off I-494 on Hwy 12 (952-473-2227) The shorelines are not good, and there is nothing happening in the channels yet. Things are still in limbo. Check your reels now, if you need repairs or line re-strung, get in here now.

NISSWA - Dave's Sportland Bait & Tackle, Jason, 2 miles south of Nisswa at the Intersection of Hwy 371 and Cty Rd 77, next to Schaefer's Foods, www.sportlandbait.com (218-963-2401)

LAKE OSAKIS – Buck Point Resort on the N.W. corner of the lake, Brad, 115 miles west of Twin Cities on I-94W, take Hwy 3 North out of Osakis to Hwy 10 West, www.lakeosakisresorts.com (320-859-2530) The ice is going fast; there is still plenty ion the middle of the lake, but getting out there is becoming a problem. Please check out or area resorts website and make plans for your summer vacations now.

PELICAN RAPIDS - Park Region Sport Shop, Lee Brenna, Intersection of Interstate 59 and 108 in downtown Pelican Rapids (218-863-5740) A few people are still getting out on Lida from somewhere, but after the weather this week, the ice is very questionable. Call the shop for the latest report.

RAINY LAKE - Rainy Lake Tourism, www.rainylake.org (1-800-FALLS-MN) Fishing came to an end on the river for walleyes, it was an excellent run. The water stayed clear right up until the end. Get ready now for the sturgeon season.

RED WING - Ike's Bait & Tackle, Ken, 2109 Old W Main St, Red Wing (651- 388-2111) The water is flowing pretty fast now. There were a lot of big fish being caught out there. 3/8 oz. Ike’s hair jigs, in the brighter colors were working the best, and they were also biting on Ike’s sonars. The river is open down through Pepin now, as the first barge was pushed through. All accesses are open now on the river.

SAINT CLOUD - Stop Light Bait, 45 8th Avenue SE, St. Cloud (320-255-9689) Last week anglers were fishing from the shore on a few open spots on the Mississippi and a few lakes in the area. A few crappies were being caught and some cat’s on the river. We have nightcrawlers in stock. Most local ice anglers were heading to northern Minnesota to find safer ice. Locally the fishermen that could get on the ice caught sunfish and crappies. Last week, fishermen were still ice fishing on Sugar, Clearwater and Osakis. Some anglers were fishing on Mille Lacs for perch and crappies, with success. The glow jigs with the glow tails have been producing fish. Our store is a wild turkey registration station. New store hours are: Mon-Thurs 6:30 am to 7 pm. Fri 6am to 7 pm. Sat 6 am to 6pm, and sun 6 am to 5 pm. We still have freshwater shrimp in stock, eurolarvae, waxworms, crappie minnows and fatheads.

SAINT PETER - Hermies Bait, Brad, 43539 French Hill Rd. St.Peter MN 56082 (507-931-6875) Trout opener was last week; guys did pretty well in the ponds. Ice should be off the lakes this coming weekend. Try Bakers Cay for sunnies, and 2nd Point on Washington for crappies.

SOUTH CENTRAL MINNESOTA - Axel's Tackle Box, Axel, 2 blocks north of Hwy 60 on Hwy 13, next to Casey’s, on Lake Sakatah in Waterville, www.axelstacklebox.com (507-362-4444) Ice should be coming off this week on the Lagoon area of Tetonka, crappies and sunnies will be plentiful as other years early in the spring. Stripers have not been seen yet but possibly also this week toward the end. The Morristown dam area is being fished on the open water, crappies of pretty good size being caught, nightcrawlers seem to be working.

UPPER RED LAKE - White Birch Resort, Monte Sharbono, vacation@whitebirchresort.net (218-835-4552)

WACONIA - Mase's In Towne Marine, Cindy, corner of Lake and Elm, www.intownemarina.com (952-442-2096) In Towne Marine will be closed as of March 2nd until the ice is out.

WINNIBIGOSHISH – Walleye Visions, Tom Neustrom, 21622 Airport Rd, Grand Rapids www.mnfishingpros.com (218-327-2312) Please call for the latest updates!