For Fish Toys

[LaVoi]

Hi Fish- I was looking through the forums and couldn't help but notice you are from Winger. Well I'm from Mahnomen, and am a freshman in college attending the University of Minnesota Crookston. I am a young man though that truly eats, breaths and sleeps fishing. I would imagine you make your way to Union, Sarah and Maple plenty. I have never fished Maple, but have spent a few days the past couple of summers on Union and Sarah. I love summer fishing Union for the beautiful bass lurking in the shallows. But now it's winter and I turn my full attention to those eyes. Being I am in Crookston I plan on taking many trips to these lakes this winter. I have never fished these lakes on the hard water though. Do u know of any "hot spots" that you would be willing to reveal, especially on Sarah and Union. Oh, one more thing, I can't remember where I heard it, but someone told me that Sarah usually has an early ice out, does this also mean it is a late icer?? See ya on the ice, and let's hope for some subzero temperatures here in the near future, LaVoi

[Fish Toys]

Lavoi
I noticed you were from Mahnomen. I don’t fish maple very much. My brother goes there some times if he isn’t busy. They have a fishing dock on the north east side where quite a few fish are caught or on the East Side where the inlet by the rocks are. On Lake Sarah on the West Side from Farmers Union to the resort on the north end is good. Maple Lake is froze but I would think it is pretty thin yet. No info on Sarah. Now union lake is a different story. The very East End freezes first then the East Lake and after that the Middle Lake and then the west side. I have been in the boat on the West End when there were fish houses on the Middle Lake. We caught more fish than the guys on the ice tho. I found out that fishing the West End during deer hunting you could catch wallhangers! In the boat! This would get too long for all the stories I could tell about late fall fishing union! Unfortunately I haven’t had time these last two years to even get out fishing. Oops two times on LOTW during a slow period. Too much work and no play! You can email me and I’ll clue you in on a few spots so the whole world doesn’t find out about them. LOL Back to making saws. Good luck fishing and be careful especially on union.
Wayne “FISH”
www.icesaws.com
Ps check out the iceleaders state forum page.

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[minneman]

Lavoi, Since you hail from mahnomen you must have fished the lakes east of waubun a time or two?? I love that area! need to get up there more often!

[LaVoi]

minneman- Yes you're right. I have spent hundreds of days and hours on these lakes. Last winter I spent almost my entire winter on South Twin, near Naytahwaush. Other lakes like Elbow and Tulaby have seen my boat many times although I haven't done as much hard water fishing out there as I would like. I have been beginning to go more to the lakes around Detroit Lakes and Pelican Rapids though. I love that area too. Good Fishin! LaVoi

[minneman]

I fell in love with all those little lakes north of 113, peacefull, quiet, and sometimes catch some nice fish..

[Fish Toys]

LaVoi
Sorry I haven’t gotten back to you about the hot SPOTS. Had to do the Tanya Tucker show at the Shooting Star last night with the future better half! I’m sure there isn’t ice on the west lake on Union yet. Maple might have ice now that you can get out on. Either by the inlet or by the outlet. Gotta go for now. Be careful if you go out someplace!
“FISH”
www.icesaws.com

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[This message has been edited by Fish Toys (edited 12-02-2001).]

[Fish Toys]

LaVoi
Hey college guy did you do any fishing this weekend? I was going to take a tour and see if anybody was up on maple but figured I better stay here and work. Lake Bemidji was wide open on Saturday. I’m sure west union is open. This time of year before first ice the EYES bite on West Union. The only thing the public access is terrible there. Weather Bug says cool and a chance of snow for the week?
TTYL Geesh I still have to tell you about the hot spots on union!
“FISH”

www.icesaws.com

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[32 degrees]

Hey guys, just to give you a report for Maple. I have been out on Maple 6 times now with fairly good success. You can fish anywhere now and the crappies are biting pretty well off Breezy Point and off the Rocks. As far as the walleyes go its been pretty slow. Usually one or two a night. But most from 15-18 inches. Union was still open on the West end when I went by. Hope to be out there in a couple days. I have not been over to Sarah but I would guess someones fishing somewhere on her. Honestly I am not a big fan of Maple but I do like to fish Union and Sarah. I am just glad I only go to school up here. Just not enough lakes for a central MN guy like myself. Hope to see you guys out on the ice!

[LaVoi]

Hey Fish, No I didn't get out this weekend. Was really looking forward to it but my old man had me working at home. That's the problem with livin on a dairy farm, have to always make sure the work is done or taken care of before I can get out. But I am looking forward to getting a full day in this Sat. Probably on South Twin near Mahnomen, and then next week I'll hit Sarah, Maple and Union hard. TTTL- LaVoi

[Fish Toys]

LaVoi
Do you fish Bass Lake by twin lakes any? I’ve fished bass a few times and it was slow but nice big eyes! Years ago tho???? Bunman said there was some ice on west union and a bunch of open water. Yes being on a dairy farm is lots of work. 7/24 365 days! You have to keep the girls happy tho!
I’ll probably see Al at Winger imp and see if he has been out around Mahnomen. He is usually too busy to fish to?
Getting late and still have a bunch of painting to do.
Wayne “FISH”
www.icesaws.com

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[LaVoi]

Fish- Yeah I have fished Bass quite a bit. I use Bass and the twin lakes as my lakes to go to if I have a bad itch to get on the water being they are the closest to my home. The narrows right off of what they call McArthurs landing is always a very good spot on the hardwater. Your right, you won't slay the eyes but there is potential to hook some nice chunky ones out on Bass. It's also pretty good for crappies come a little later in the winter. You have to watch out on Bass though, cause there are springs that will keep some spots kinda thin. My brother was out there a few years ago right after New Years and he hit a thin spot with his car, he was lucky enough to be able to pin the needle and skip across the thin ice but once he got out he looked back and seen about a ten foot long spot of open water from the car busting through. But he was lucky not to put the car down there with the walleyes. TTYL, LaVoi

[Fish Toys]

I had about the same thing happen on west union one year also. There was a lot of snow on the lake and off to the right of Zeke’s landing by the point that sticks out we were driving and we felt the pickup feel like it was sinking and I automatically put it to the rugs and got out of there. The currents must have melted the ice from underneath. Average ice was over a foot.
You must be fishing now with this nice warm weather. I have to work because Friday was an excellent day with orders. Cleaned everything right out! But now I have to work all weekend.
TTYL
Wayne “FISH”
www.icesaws.com
PS need a fishing report to let me know if I’m missing anything?

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[32 degrees]

Guys, I went out to West Union today and where I was fishing on Thursday was now open water!!!!! Not good. Anyways, I ended up going to Sarah. Few snakes, couple perch, nothing special. I swear the calender says December but it looks like late March out there. There were a couple guys on the east side of Union. I think I will try there tommorrow. If there is still ice!!!!

[Guest]

LaVoi...

Parden my interest, but what is your major at the U of M? Fisheries I would hope, since you live, breath and eat fish.

Just Jazzing you! I am from Minnesota and still studying fisheries at UAF in Fairbanks, Alaska. I am not sure I will ever work fisheries back there again, I sure like it up here!

[LaVoi]

Fish- Yeah I FINALLY got out on Saturday. Went to South Twin, but didn't last long. There was that 30 mile hour wind that didn't feel to good out on the open lake. It was spotty 5-6" of ice, but I sure wonder what is left out there now. There was plenty of water on the ice on Sat, I can only wonder what it is like now. Hope for cold, LaVoi

[LaVoi]

alaskander- Well actually I was originally majoring in Animal Science, but I am dropping that next year, and transerring so I can get a double major in Fisheries and wildlife management. I don't know why I didn't think of doin that earlier. Yeah I have a friend that works summers in Alaska, working on the charter fishing boats. He absolutely loves it up there. I'd like to get up there sometime, see what it like. Maybe now would be a good time beign there is no cold in sight any time soon. haha. Good fishin, LaVoi

[Fish Toys]

LaVoi
At least you got out on the ice! With a wind like that the fish should have been just blowing out of your holes? I heard west union opened up. Really some strange weather. Ice like this is awfully dangerous. One drowning already and I spo’s there will be more? Working late tonight to try and catch up. I let my help go fishing for the weekend and I haven’t heard how he did. Hope he had loads of fun and some fish stories to tell. Been checking the state forums and it is about the same for ice all over the country. No ice to questionable ice? Devils Lake sounds like fairly decent ice tho? Keep me informed on the ice and the WALLHANGERS you catch! Looks like 32 degrees is out drowning some bait anyway? He is teasing us maybe?

Wayne “FISH”
www.icesaws.com

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[Fish Toys]

Geesh I’m working late again. I was out to Barto’s bait east of Mahnomen and the ice conditions there wasn’t that great either. Somebody caught and released some nice eyes on one of the lakes close by. Couldn’t find out which lake tho. A few people have been out around there but the bite is slow. Now they have a new supply of ICESAWS!
My hired man said there are lots of houses on Maple Lake. He heard it through some friends. No fishing reports from there tho? Apparently LaVoi must have fallen in the lake being he hasn’t been here for a few days. Probably studying real hard to get all A’s to get more time to wet a line?
Wayne “FISH”
www.icesaws.com

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[32 degrees]

Out on East Union the last two nights. Sunfish and crappies have been hitting like crazy. Caught a HUGE sunny on a sweedish pimple. I jiggled that bull for 5 minutes with a fatboy. I figured I would throw down the pimple and "BOOM!". Thought it was a walleye! The ice is still six inches where I was and getting thicker. When I drove by Maple I saw a few people off the rocks and few off breezy.

[LaVoi]

Well no I didn't fall through the lake, yet anyway haha. Your right bout the studying part, but I am afraid getting A's is just out of the question. Hopefully I can get out this weekend, sure wouldn't mind goin to Union and catching some slabs. So is all of Union froze yet, or is the east side still open?? Better get back to my work, LaVoi

[Fish Toys]

LaVoi
I emailed bunman on union and he said the west side froze over last night but it is pretty thin! 12 degrees here now. Should be helping if we don’t get any heavy snow on top of the thin ice. I know I won’t get on any hard water during the holidays. Family and of course WORK?
I better get to bed being I’m getting to old for all these hours.
Have fun during the holidays & Merry Christmas.
TTYL
Wayne “FISH”
www.icesaws.com

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[LaVoi]

Hey everyone- Planning to get down to the Erskine area tommorrow. Would like to get on Sarah. Can anyone tell me how the ice is out there. How thick, and most importantly, is it drivable? How has the walleye/crappie bite been. Would sure love to find some of em willing to bite. Thanks. Good fishin, LaVoi

[Fish Toys]

LaVoi
It sounds like you can drive all over on Sarah. A guy caught a 16lbr on Union yesterday. I haven’t found out for sure were the 25lb pike came from yet? Union or Sarah? You can drive on union also but there is some open water east of Zeke’s landing otherwise the ice there is around 16”. Some nice fish are being taken on both Sarah and Union. Ceasons bait in Crookston said the panfish bite was good on Maple and Union. Spo’s with all the fronts coming through the bite is unpredictable now? Have you caught anything to brag about?
The saws are still keeping me to busy to even think about slipping away to some hard water some place.
Keep the reports coming and good luck or in your case is it all skill? LOL!
Wayne “FISH”
www.icesaws.com

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[LaVoi]

How's it going you saw makin slave.lol. Well it probably feels like that anyway. Got out to Maple last night. A nice consistent crappie bite for a couple hours. Limited out on nice eaters. And actually yes believe it or not, I do have some fish to brag about. Went down to Sallie a few times over break. Any pike over 24" has to go back, and we got into some real nice ones. 16, 2-15's 12 and a few others in the 9-10lb range. Nothin funner than pulling up those piggies. I sure don't mind throwing those big guys back, can't wait to catch em again in a few years when they're that much bigger. Fill me in how you do if you ever get out of that shop and onto the lake. Good Fishin, LaVoi