Lake Cenaiko Thread

[so haaad]

A lot of years they also stock fish the week before the winter opener. I think it's just too small of a lake to maintain many survivors.

[JBMasterAngler]

So going there again this winter would be a waste of time?

[magic_minnow]

A lot of folks say that "they've been hooked" and thats why they wont bite. But the reality is, like mentioned above, its been fished out. Sure there are a few out there, but most of em are gone. 500+ people, 2 days...thats all it takes. JUst remember to come out OPENING day next time. See you at Grindy JB?

[strait-meat]

A lot of folks say that "they've been hooked" and thats why they wont bite. But the reality is, like mentioned above, its been fished out. Sure there are a few out there, but most of em are gone. 500+ people, 2 days...thats all it takes. JUst remember to come out OPENING day next time. See you at Grindy JB?

are you serious? 500 people? I mean if that were the case it must look like a zoo. I love to fish but with that many people is it that fun?

[JBMasterAngler]

Hmmm, I'm not one to fish among a crowd, so maybe I'll wait until the opener lands on a weekday...even then I'll probably wait until the day after.

I'll probably hit up grindstone in 2 weeks, going up north this weekend for some real streamer action

[so haaad]

Opening morning at Cenaiko has almost got a carnival-like atmosphere. I'm not one to fish with the big crowds either so I usually stay away. But it is kind of fun just to experience it.

[turn_in_poachers]

I hate this lake. I'll be out bright and early next opener............. selling hot cocoa and donuts.

[twon]

This opener was busy as ever and I'm sure that many took home fish but I have a hard time believing that it was fished out... Trout are one of the most finicky fish I have ever targeted and I wouldn't be suprised if it wasn't just slow. I've still marked fish but no takers lately.. Still beats a good day at work

[Zenit]

I love it when people say this lake gets fished out opening weekend. Keeps the tourists away

[fishuhalik]

jb, i also don't like the crowds usually, but you have to go with the right mentality. It's more of a party than real fishing. The fish are dumb and they'll still bite with all that activity on the ice. Most everyone on the lake is real nice, and it's the only time where I don't get mad if someone drills a hole 15' away from me, cuz I just drilled a hole 15' away from 8 other people.

[JBMasterAngler]

After spending last weekend up north fishing for trout, I'll find it real hard to ever go to cenaiko again...it's like going to a casino here after you've been to las vegas, why bother? Both days had the lakes all to myself, a nice trout with some little ones, peace and quiet

[Zenit]

Suit yourself. No one is twisting your arm. Jeebus.

Some of us actually like having the option of not having to drive 3-4 hours or more north on the weekend - yes, it is a nice treat to get away a couple of weekends a year to chase after lakers and 'bows, but that isn't very practical every weekend.

FWIW, there were maybe 5 or 6 shelters on Saturday morning, when the bite has been the best lately. Most were fishing between 6-10 feet of water, although there were a couple of shelters out in the deep water (30-35 feet); they had one rainbow when I went over to say hi, said they had seen a couple other marks on the flasher 5-6 feet below the ice. Somewhat surprising, but to be honest I never fish deep during the hardwater season.

I hate doing someone's homework for them, but I am kind of tired of the "experts" posting here about the lake getting fished out opening weekend - my guess is these "experts" just don't know what they are doing, and would be better served running off to Moore Lake or Linwood and catching crappies or sunnies if they expect constant action without having to work for their dinner. There's not as many rainbows left in Cenaiko as there was opening day, but if you know where to fish and are willing to do more than drill three holes, [Note From Admin: Please read forum before posting again. Thank You.] I did just fine Saturday morning, and I was only out there for three hours.

Here's a hint - look for weeds in the north end. If you're drilling holes in 6 feet of water and see sandy bottom, move closer to the north beach, use the big rock as your nav point - if you see bottom weeds in 2-4 feet of water, that's where you want to be- button up the shack, ditch the flasher and spring bobber/ice buster, start sight fishing. Anything will work - Genz Bugs, Genz Grubs & Hexi Flys 10/12 with waxies, Pimples, small Chubby Darters #3, all have worked lately.

Same can be done on the SE side, but the weed line is harder to find and the drop-off is more severe.

[sbro73]

Well put Sean, I see alot of people taking you advice today. From my window,cars have been heading to the lake non-stop. Maybe you deserve a cut of there action!

[Fish_Phishburne]

I hate doing someone's homework for them, but I am kind of tired of the "experts" posting here about the lake getting fished out opening weekend - my guess is these "experts" just don't know what they are doing, and would be better served running off to Moore Lake or Linwood and catching crappies or sunnies if they expect constant action without having to work for their dinner. There's not as many rainbows left in Cenaiko as there was opening day, but if you know where to fish and are willing to do more than drill three holes, [Note From Admin: Please read forum before posting again. Thank You.] I did just fine Saturday morning, and I was only out there for three hours.

Here's a hint - look for weeds in the north end. If you're drilling holes in 6 feet of water and see sandy bottom, move closer to the north beach, use the big rock as your nav point - if you see bottom weeds in 2-4 feet of water, that's where you want to be- button up the shack, ditch the flasher and spring bobber/ice buster, start sight fishing. Anything will work - Genz Bugs, Genz Grubs & Hexi Flys 10/12 with waxies, Pimples, small Chubby Darters #3, all have worked lately.

Thanks for doing my homework for me. You obviously know what youre doing since youre the expert of this lake.

[sbro73]

Anybody been having any luck, lately. I live so close, but have no time to get down there.

[jigginjim]

After the first few weeks of fishing pressure, I wonder of any fish are left in the lake?

[strait-meat]

Bump to the top--who is all going? I will be out there early with my son and a friend and his son. They stocked the lake about a month ago with 1000 rainbows and 200 brookies. should be a good opener--a little cold but it is the winter in MN. good luck to all who go out.

[Zenit]

For those of you going out to Cenaiko this weekend, you may want to read this article before heading out:

http://www.devilslakejournal.com/features/x703877660/It-was-terrifying

The reason I mention this is that the lake is up, and I mean WAY up, this year, due to the fact that the river is so uncommonly high for this time of year. As a result, you may want to bring a pair of hip waders, because every access point to the main body of ice is thin, slushy or both; the lake keeps rising and even though there is good ice generally in the middle of the lake, the boundary ice is not at all safe. For the same reason, I would be very wary of expansion cracks, such as the one that caused the vehicle to go into the drink at Devil's Lake.

I usually like to get out there as early as I can, get set up, have a cup of coffee and visit with friends that make the trout opener at Cenaiko an annual and fun event, until the appointed time to wet a line comes. This year, because of the ice conditions, I'm going to wait until after sunrise to head out on the ice.

[fishdreams]

Has anyone walked out on Cenaiko recently?

[dmichaelm]

Drove by Sunday. There was hazard tape from where the dnr stocked on the 27th.

I will second the above post that the lake is clearly several feet high. The ice at some points did look a bit sketchy, and I would bet that 2in of snow will conceal some of the bad spots. Be careful when stepping off shore...you could be knee deep in some slush.

[Zenit]

I did today, and if I didn't have my hipwaders on, I would have gotten soaked to the waist.

Once onto the ice, the ice is in good shape, 10 inches or so, but I only walked out off of the north end (by the big rock that serves as the hiwater mark measure for the lake.) People going on the lake from the south beach or the east side, be very careful, it goes from 2-4 feet to 16 there in a hurry.

The safest place to access the lake is probably the right by the fishing pier; I walked down there, didn't walk on, but it seemed solid there, at least better than the shallow north end was. The lake drops off precipitously right at the end of the pier, just 20 feet left kitty corner from the dock (as you are looking out towards the lake) is the deepest part of the lake (36 feet during normal condx, probably over 40 now), so again, be very cautious and keep an eye out for expansion cracks, and steer clear.

Never seen the lake this high or the ice this weird in all the years I've fished this lake, which is pretty much since inception...I'm hoping this won't deter anyone from coming out, Cenaiko opener is a blast, you get to meet all kinds of like minded folk and the bite is usually good - just want to make sure everyone is careful out there, especially those trekking out and setting up before sunrise.

[lispeej]

I apologize for my ignorance. Is this the cenaiko lake by the coonrapids dam?

[Zenit]

yes.

[crappiegetter]

I so wanted to fish the opener this year there, I live so close but when booking the friends get together getaway I forgot about the opener. Is the fishing there any good the weekend after or would it be better to give it a try during the week after this weekend? I fly fish for them during the summer only had a few hit the fly and they are fun to fish for but not enough during the summer to keep going after them.

[Nate McVey]

Thanks for the heads up Zenit, might be a lot of people that venture out there for the first time and wouldn't know the difference in the water level. Be careful out there and catch some fish....