Balsam Lake

[protrapper]

Anyone out fishing any place on the lake. The stumps should be o.k. now and kicking out some panzies. Like to hear a report.

Thanks.

[SPIN DRY]

I seen some guys out there yesterday but I don't know how they did. There only in the bays, the main lake as only a inch or so of ice on it. Good luck

[protrapper]

They going out all over the lake yet? I did see some guys in the bays in portabels the other day. Wanna get in on some slabs.

[protrapper]

I'll be fishing Balsam tomorrow and Big Round. I'll post how she goes. An yone been out?

[protrapper]

Fished Balsam last night. About 5 inches of ice over 28 feet of water. Good clear ice. School of crappies came through on vex, maybe a half dozen fish. They were just sniffers no biters. Packed up early. Three other guys out last night by Big Island.

Seems the bite has tapered off on the lake the last two years. I noticed last year that the pressure by anglers had gone up quite a bit. I'll try it again Wed. night.

[SPIN DRY]

You're right last year was the worse year I have had out there ice fishing. The pressure has gone up alot in the past years. I think it is because of the limits, you can only keep 10 in MN, and lack of snow more people can get out there. But on the other hand maybe they just moved to another part of the lake. Well that's my 2 cents haven't been out there yet, maybe this weekend. Were they driving 4 wheelers out there? Good luck

[protrapper]

Yes, there was sleds and atv's out there. You could be right there in another part of the lake. The spot I fish gets no pressure but me and couple friends. We fish off by ourselves. But there is alot of un-chartered water.

[SPIN DRY]

Thanks Pro, If you see a green Vinson 4 wheeler and a Eskimo fish house in tow stop by and say howde. You ever notice know one fishes the east end? Good luck

[protrapper]

I do really well on East Balsam in spring for crappies and gills. Got a two pound slab last spring let her go. I tried it over there last winter. Sight fished everywhere cause it's sp shallow and never marked, caught, or saw a fish. I should try it again though.

Never see anyone fishing on the backside of Big Island either. I see those guys down by the no wake channel going to East. What are they after? The only thing I caught down there where bass.

[SPIN DRY]

I do well in spring on east also. The guys by the narrows are after sunnies and crappies, there is a big flat that comes out there. I think they are fishing the edge of it. I use to fish the west side of Big Island by the a-frame, found that spot a couple years ago. Then word got out and I had bunches of people packed right in along side me. Nothing there last year. There are a couple guys that fish the back side, but it's shallow so I think they're after sunnies. I have a couple spots marked on my gps from this summer that I'm going to give a try this winter. Good luck

[protrapper]

Any fish showing up yet? Might hit the lake Sunday.

[SPIN DRY]

It's a tough bite out there. If I didn't live close by I would proabale not drive there. But I do, so I will be out there on Sunday as well, listening to the game. Can't catch anything sitting on the couch. Good luck

[Quickstrike]

people have had luck with bluegills in the shallower bays with some pike thrown in, but the walleye and crappie bite has been slow to non existant from what i have heard and experienced in my outings so far this year.

[protrapper]

Had good luck tonight, caught quite a few slabs, lost a few and released some really nice ones. Biggest was 14 inches she went right back down the hole. Caught her on a 1/16th ounce jigging spoon packed with maggots. Caught one nice 16 inch eye and some nice perch and one 9 inch gill. The fish were picky and tight to the bottom.

Seems the perch every year are getting bigger. I released all so hopefully next year they will be bigger. They were all around 9 inches. Not many guys out tonight. Less shacks out there than last year. Was nice to finally get on a good bite.

[SPIN DRY]

You are about the only one that I've heard of catching nice crappies out there. If you don't mind were you out deep? Thanks, Good luck.

[protrapper]

28 feet. And they where very tight to the bottom. THey started to show up on the vex later in the evening. I would say six oclock. Which I thought was late.

[rosspj59]

Protrapper, Thanks for the report. Might be headed up there this weekend for panfish. Have had good luck for sunfish there in previous years. I'll make sure to throw back all the perch I catch.

[SPIN DRY]

Thanks protrapper, that is late most times it right at dark 4:30-5ish. Nothing suspended huh? Thanks again, maybe I'll see you out there sometime. Good luck.

[protrapper]

I hear ya on the late bite. I usally hit them at dusk and then till 7 o'clock then bite would taper off. At first I thought they where eyes. I think with the lack of snow they still maybe be holding in weeds. East Balasam had really green weeds in it still. But no fish in them.

[fishingbuddy]

I would like to try Balsam this week end. Would you possibly give me directions on where to start?... [email protected]

Thanks

Dave

[311Hemi]

Any snow on the lake to bring the sleds to haul the portable out? I am heading the a cabin on the lake next weekend but don't want to bring the sled if there is no snow....

[protrapper]

Maybe 2 inches out there tonight. Don;t need a sled, you can drive every place.