Winter Break Ice Fishing

[Lisa Almquist]

I'm on break from nursing school right now and return on Monday. I've picked up a few extra shifts at the nursing home but have been trying to get out ice fishing and being with my family while I have some extra time.

Jim and I've been hitting Fish Lake (northwest of Duluth) a bunch of times in the last few weeks and are having a lot of fun out there! We've been using Hibanks ice road right to where we need to go. I've been catching crappies (and an occasional sunny or perch) and just loving being in my Otter. With all that's been going on, it's just nice to get back to what I love doing-I forgot how much I absolutely love ice fishing. I've only got a few pics with my iPhone but here they are:

Cute little guy!

Inside my Otter

1st Crappie of the Day

[glenn57]

well hello stranger. glad you could get some ice time. lotz of ugly slush deer river way. hope all is well!!

[Lisa Almquist]

Oh no! They got a ton of rain up there too huh? I was in the zone today. Had so much fun. You been out much glenn?

[glenn57]

not since the 3rd weekend of dec. 2nd weekend went to the cabin, 3rd weekend went with the clowns here on FM from the spearing forum to the 3rd river. that was fun, check out the pics over there under G-T-G recap. this weekend we are going to minnewaska by glenwood. earty ice we had the same mess with snow and slush around here as there currently is up north. the warm few days and the rain actually helped around here. they did not get rain by deer river all snow but 18 inhes that friday then another 6 on sat which put a lot of pressure on the ice. my brother said it was like an artisan well with water coming up out of the holes.

[Iambjm]

Should have been on Mille Lacs with the 8 inches of water we had to wade through to get to our shacks. I figure they got about 2 inches of rain in 4 hours on Thursday afternoon, followed by about a 40 degree temperature drop in 24 hours. Of course along with about 30 mph winds. Yahoo... another fun New Years Eve.

[Lisa Almquist]

Barb, that sounds not so fun! At least you had your fellow ladies to have fun with tho. We're heading back up to Fish today. It's a chilly one this morning.

[harvey lee]

Good to hear you got out for a bit. Soon school will be done and then one will get a few more days.

[Lisa Almquist]

That's the truth Tom! I'll be very happy to get back to normal! My last semester starts on Monday!

[harvey lee]

Good luck Lisa. It won't be long now.

[Lisa Almquist]

Thanks Tom! Are you heading up north for the Burntside Bash next month?

Spring Semester starts tomorrow and it's both good and bad. Good-it's my last semester. Bad-well I have to stop having fun and get back to the grind. I fished on Friday and Saturday up at Fish Lake and didn't do as well. It was still a better day on the lake than at work or in the classroom and I'm sad to have to stop fishing for awhile. I'm hoping to get some lake trout fishing in this winter also. I absolutely love ice fishing for lakers! It's quite a passion for me.

[glenn57]

well lisa, look at it this way.....one more semester then it will be work and FISHING!!!!!!!!!

[I_icefish_in_my_sleep]

Hey Lisa, it's been a while since I've posted. Had a heck of a time getting my password and user name right it's been so long.

I've gone fishing a few times, the fish are down there, but there just stealing minnows, not really biting, might have to start jigging instead of waiting for the fish to swallow the whole minnow, still nice to be out on the lake. Sharing a big fish house with the hubby. Rather have my own perm but the one I had the skids are coming off, so now it's a shed. I did get a portable with hand auger for Christmas, plus a sled, It's one of those pop out ones, it's nice for early ice. Will get more use out of next season. I check in but don't always type on here. I usually don't have much time. Sure do like to snoop and see what's going on though. Happy fishing. Diana

[Lisa Almquist]

Hi Diana! It has been a long time-no hear! Glad your out fishing even you don't have that sweet solo setup anymore but at least you're still getting out and fishing. With nursing school, I don't get out much either! Thanks for posting and put in a fishing report now and then so us chicks who don't get out too much at this point can be jealous of ya!!

[I_icefish_in_my_sleep]

Hey Lisa, Right now the fishing is so slow on Lake Bemidji that no one is talking if they do finally catch a fish. lol I think it's the snow cover, there is about 2ft of the stuff on the lake, the fish by the time they get to the shallows to feed are low on Oxygen and a little too lazy to gulp much down. If you can get to the deep water, you pretty much kill anything you bring up. I have a full day ahead of me today, first a yearly doctor visit then off to work till 10:30pm. It must be hard for you to be in school and think about going fishing. lol

The snow fall has been great for people who like their sleds, not so much for ice fishing. I heard there biting on Red. Haven't ever fished that Lake, might just try it some time if I could get more than one day off at a time. Happy fishing to all.

Diana