Early Ice Fishing

[David Frank]

Does anybody have any information on ice conditions on any of the NE SD lakes yet? With this cold weather we are getting closer and closer to being on the ice. Anybody fished anywhere through the ice yet?

Thanks, Dave

[Tyler Holm]

Frank,

Wagner Slough. I'd stop and ask Mr Wagner himself and it's likely he will be glad to give you permission for the seasion. Its a nice short walk from the shore to the fish.

[aquafang]

This weekend will be a big one for icefishermen. the whole last week has produced some cold temps and they are going to continue. I would have made it out by now, but we were hit by the storm and lost power for a couple days. The house was a mess. All my ice fishing heaters in the house, campstove, extension cords to my generator outside the patio door with insulation stuffed in the crack where the cord comes in, etc....

I will make it out on sat. afternoon though for sure! I'm sure some of the sloughs in the NE corner of the state are frozen enough for foot travel. But, Waubay is a big lake and usually takes a little longer. I don't know though for sure, that's just my two cents. Good luck to all the goers this weekend.

Ty

[David Frank]

Any ice reports from Richmond Lake? Planning on getting out and doing some ice fishing somewhere Sat. afternoon, just not sure where. Got the auger running, and the gear ready to fish.... now, just need some free time.

Dave

[Tyler Holm]

Davo,

Talked with Gramps last night and he said he might be venturing out on the ice today. He didn't say where, but it might be worth asking him what kinda ice he found.

[David Frank]

Tyler,

I'll have to get ahold of ol' Holmer and see what he found. Hopefully the report is lots of ice and monster Eyes! Never hurts to do a little wishfull thinkin right?

Anybody else have any reports?

Dave

[David Frank]

Tyler,

Did you ever talk to your Grandpa and see where he went and how the ice was? The fellas were at richmond Sunday. 5 inches of ice where they were, not sure about the whole lake though.. would still definately be careful.. lots of springs in that lake making for some shady ice early. no luck on the fish either!

Dave

[Tyler Holm]

Dave,

Havn't talked to Gramps. I do know they went snowmobiling on Sat evening, but that's a different topic.

Richmond is either feast of famine. I've always struggled to be consistent on that body of water.

Glad to see you guys are making use of this cold weather. I'll be out this coming weekend.

[cold one sd]

Dave, I was on Richmond at the bass dock Wednesday evening and the ice was about 8". I could see the fish on my vex and they would come in to the bait and just lay there and mouth it. My son had his bobber go under about three times and they wouldn't hang on so he could get the hook set. With the cold front gone they might start getting serious though. We want to go to Waubay Lake this weekend, but I just talked to the Sportsmans Cove and they said there is only 3 to five inches of ice in the bays. Maybe it will be Richmond for us too. Tight lines.

[David Frank]

Thanks for the reports. I haven't been fortunate enough to even wet a line yet with school and all. Very busy week. Tomorrow is looking like the big day. Plan on hitting Waubay Refuge all day for some perch and walleye action. Hopefully it all works out. Everyone that I have talked to has had the same results on Richmond. Fish on the vex, few bites, no fish. Hopefully that will change in the near future too. Keep the reports coming.

Dave

[Tyler Holm]

On Thursday, Gramps ventured to the South end of Sand Lake right south of the overspill and said the ice wasn't good enough to be on. He then proceeded to Tacoma and found 4" of ice. They only fished for a half hour and never had a bite. They were fishing 6 FOW.

Good Luck this weekend!

[LOW Lover]

A buddy of mine has been out on Lynn Lake last night and all day today. About five inches of ice and no fish. He talked to some other folks they had caught one crappie and no eyes. Pretty tough first ice bite! Is this typical for first ice on these lakes??? I know guys are having a tough go of it around the Twin Cities.

LOW

[Tyler Holm]

3 years ago I caught my 2 fish limit on Lynn Lake when there was only 3" of ice. Both were nice eyes with one of them tagged. There were many others with similiar luck. Jigging Rapala was the ticket.

The Rochester, MN bite is hot and heavy right now. Almost all bodies of water are right at the 5" ice mark. Normally, first ice yields agressive and hungry fish.