Grindstone for Lakers?

[Spaten]

Anyone ever been to Grindstone (North on 35) for Lake Trout in the winter? A buddy and I are going to hit it for the first time this weekend with very limited info on where to go, what to use, etc...

I would be open to receive, and VERY appreciative of, any tips you guys can offer...

Thanks!

[coolhand]

Spaten

I fished the lake a few years back in the fall and only caught large sunfish. Picked up fish in deep water but did not try for them. I have fished Lake Superior and found that the lighter the line the better. You may want to try Salmon egg bags. Best info I can give you.

[Spaten]

Thanks for the info...but looking for more detail on this lake, this time of year. What should I use? What depth should I look for, etc?

[Moose-Hunter]

I tried Grindstone (Pine Co.) through the ice a few years ago without success. There's some great deep water structure out there so pick yourself up a map. The trout are going to be moving all over so it's going to be hit or miss at best. The lake has oxygen down to over 100' so your usable water column is quite large. At the time. I had no laker specific tackle so I used my heavy walleye gear with larger jigging spoons and 1/4 to 3/8oz. tube jigs. You may want to check the bait shop right there in Hinckley to see if there are any regs against live bait and maybe pick up some frozen Ciscos if they have them.

I've had "decent" open water success on the south end of the lake. Rainbows mostly but have caught a couple of lakers in the same area. I wish I could give you better info.

This lake is not a designated trout lake although it is managed as one by the DNR. A trout stamp is only needed if you intend to possess trout. BEWARE!! There are some HUGE pike in Grindstone...Not many, but they're there...

[Pete Riola]

I've been thinking about that lake too. If it was me I'd jig a glow tube as my # 1 bait and I'd go small with a Fish Call Rattle Spoon with a shiner head on it and I'd rip a Sonar too. Let us know how you do.

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

I've heard some good things about grindstone as well, and from dnr assessments it looks like there's a healthy trout population. Chunkytrout and a few of the other fellas on the duluth/ range forum have put together some excellent posts on laker fishing that might help ya. Try searching that forum for 'lake trout' and you'll probably have a full day's worth of reading . I think they mainly discuss burntside, but i would imagine that similar structure can be found in grindstone. Good luck on the lakers!

[AlexHeihn]

I am going up to Grindstone tomorrow AM for the last trout day of the year outside the BWCA... I have no idea where to start drilling holes. I though about trying right at the boat landing where there is a sliver of deep water and an extremely steep break. I figured I could deadstick for rainbows and jig for lakers at the same time! Does anyone have any other suggestions about where to try, what depths might produce, or if there are anyunderwater springs that might affect ice quality? Thanks for any help! Its much appreciated!

[jeremy232323]

i ll tell you that the krell survey man told me that there is not a hungry laker in that lake because of all the smelt i went down 3 days in a row with a buddy and caught 260 smelt most being 8-9 inches i also caught 3 rainbows fishing real deep 10 feet under the ice other than that i cant tell you where to catch lakers, and with the springs i wouldnt drive across the lake there was about 16 inches of ice last time i wnt, i will be down there on Wednesday if you want to wait till then i can meet you and wshow you where i catch smelt?? If you like them??

UNTIL THEN TIGHT LINES!!!!

[AlexHeihn]

Actually, I just got back. I was using a 4 inch white tube... then I tried an assorment of other things all tailed with a peice of smelt. I think I was going a little too big. I felt lots of pecks and slowly downsized. Right before I was about to leave empty handed there was a guy about 20 yds away who leaned out of his portable and asked me if I wanted a 13in rainbow.. YES!! I saw that he was using a rattle spoon and a minnow head. Alot smaller than what I had been using. I sat there for a couple more minutes and he gave me 2 lakers. He caught one on an airplane jig and the other on a rattle spoon both tipped with minnow heads. He gave me some spring spots too. Nice guy.Lives on the lake. Thanks for the fish stranger!!

[jltimm]

I caught some smelt out there last year,and it was alot of fun!What time you gonna be out there?I might be able to get out there tommorrow afternoon sometime?I fished for the smelt on the NE side of the lake in deep water also,and was wondering where you were having your luck?

[jeremy232323]

Hello we were out in the NE corner 2 we caught 40 between us we got there at 7 and left at 3 so it was real slow but we had fun!!

[jltimm]

Thanks alot for the report!I would like to get out there to try it,as they are fun to catch!They must have bit better whenever you had caught the bigger amount?Oh well,at least ya caught some for your effort!