Balsam Lake Ice Reports

[protrapper]

Anyone been out or know the ice conditions??
Thanks..

[SPIN DRY]

The bays are froze, they're out fishing in those. But the main lake is still a little thin, haven't seen anyone venture out yet. Good luck

[protrapper]

Thanks for the update. I plan on fishing there sometime here soon.

Good Fishin,

Trapper

[SPIN DRY]

I'll be out there this weekend. With this snow cover now I'll be able to follow someones tracks. I'll keep you posted. Good luck

[protrapper]

Was down around that way so I hit my old haunt. The fishing was fast and furious for the the first hour then it really slowed down.

Kept dozen crappies to eat and thru the rest back. Most where 9 to 10 inches with a 12 incher mixed in. I was fishing in 25 feet of water, eurolarvae, and green glow fat boys did the trick. The fish where up 15 to 20 feet from the bottom.

Good Fishin,

Trapper

[SPIN DRY]

How much ice, and were you out side the bays? I was on Long pretty slow, Lot's of small sunnies. Good luck.

[protrapper]

About 8 inches or so of ice. I don't fish any where near the bays. I found a spot few years ago kinda out in the basin. There is a hump and the crappies are coming through pushing baitfish up against it and ambushing them on the top.

[SPIN DRY]

I think I know where you're at maybe I'll see you out there some time. I fish Balsam alot in the winter. Good luck

[protrapper]

Yeah stop by and say hi. I have a fish trap pro and will usally be by myself or with a buddy.

[SPIN DRY]

Was out off big island Sunday evening. Nothing. I guess that's why no else is out there. {he,he} I have a green Eskimo [ santa brought it early}, and 4 wheeler. Good luck

[protrapper]

I also have noticed there are alot fewer people out there. last year though I thought the crappies turned on a little later in the year. Maybe was just me. But there are more and more people pounding the lake in the winter. I am taking a retired guy out there tomorrow morning for some sunfish action. I caught alot of big bulls there last spring in a spot and I going to see if there still in the area. i think will be drilling are hearts out.

Good Fishin,

Trapper

[SPIN DRY]

I know what you mean there seems to be more and more people every year. I 'll be out there again this weekend, just in a different spot. I had about 9-10 inches of ice. Good luck

[protrapper]

Brought the ole-timer out there today. We fished a spot where I brought him in the spring and we hammered the big gills, but not today the wind was crazy and the fish where very picky. We were sight fishing them and boy they were negative.

[SPIN DRY]

Was out Sunday evening. Listened to game out there. Very windy, hard to walk, and only a few Perch. Good luck

[protrapper]

Fished 12-26. Caught 5 nice crappies two where 12 inchers. That was all the action I had there. They bit for about 30 minutes from dusk till dark then that was it.

Good Fishin,

Trapper

[SPIN DRY]

Fished last night 7 perch, 3 crappies all around dusk, nothing after dark. Good luck

[protrapper]

Are your perch decent size? I used to get some nice ones out of there and nothing now. They bit right before dusk on minnows. I get some nice one out of Deer Lake now.

[SPIN DRY]

No not really, but mixed in with 3 crappies they worked. The perch hit waxies, the crappies hit minnows. I was off Big Island. Good luck.

[protrapper]

Anyone driving cars and trucks out yet?

[SPIN DRY]

Just in the bay I haven't seen anyone out on the main lake yet. But there's a foot of ice out there. Good luck

[protrapper]

Fished out there a few nights ago. Crappies came through early. Caught 4 big ones lost a few light biters. Bite was over in 20 minutes. Drove out from town to over by Paradise. Fishing is getting bad need to find another spot on lake I think.

[protrapper]

Any reports aint been there in a while?

[SPIN DRY]

I haven't been out either. It's been a tough bite out there. Proable try it Sunday. Just can't seem to stay off that lake. Good luck.

[Hammer-Smites]

Pro Trapper -
Do you live close to Balsam? I've spent many hours on that lake and used to stay up there summers (Ward's Resort) with my folks. My dad guided on the lake in 70's.

[SPIN DRY]

Went out this afternoon, still slow. Not many house out there and the ones that are there are all over the place, one here one there. Still though there's the big bunch over by Paradise. The contest is Sunday 8-3, $5 to enter. Good luck.