April 5th, 2012.  Devils Lake North Dakota.  There is still 30 inches of ice on a lot of the lake this year. 

2 hours ago, sully420 said:

I don't think South Dakota will happen this year for me ice wont be out by apirl 26th. Im thinking about going to Iowa a lake called Brushy Creek lake. Has anyone heard of it?

I see it on YouTube . Looks great to me!

Looks cool too me as well. Never really finished a reservoir or an impoundment before. Looks tailor-made for some pre-spawn fishing with all the creek channels and flooded timber

Don't look at the forecast.... 30's again this weekend. Jeeeeeeezus. 

2 minutes ago, punch said:

Don't look at the forecast.... 30's again this weekend. Jeeeeeeezus. 

Shhh - if you ignore the forecast, maybe like the 3-7 inches of snow we were 'suppose' to get, it'll go away and we'll have major meltage.

Now my best shot at SD smallies looks to be early May, if at all. Bummer

5 hours ago, Jmhalvo said:

Now my best shot at SD smallies looks to be early May, if at all. Bummer

I hear ya, I cancelled my reservation last week and the guy just laughed and asked me if I wanted to ice fish instead.  It’s got to be hurting the local businesses over there to some degree although there’s rarely anyone fishing before mid May outside of the big well-known walleye lakes.  Walleye is king in SoDak too.

 

I love golf and walleye fishing - - keeps thousands of the unworthy away from my favorite bass fishing spots!!

With all of our cancelled fishing plans for this spring, I think whoever suggested a Minnesota BR get together had a good idea.  At least we could share ideas, or commiserate... 

 

... maybe at least have a casting contest inside the Braemar dome or something 

This weather is brutal!

29 minutes ago, gimruis said:

This weather is brutal!

9.5" in my backyard already (it was clear ground yesterday) and it shows no sign of slowing down.

Looks like SE MN got missed. Heading to Whitewater State Park next Sunday for 3 or 4 days. We should be spared a gully-washing runoff. Trout fishing should be good.  I know this is a "bass" site, but the way we fish for trout, it's very similar to bass fishing. Jerkbaits, rapalas and spinners on medium-light gear is standard.   We cover a lot of water, sometimes a few miles of stream and catch numbers of 13-15" with a few going 16"+.  The scenery is some of the most beautiful in the state and it's a great way to bridge the ice fishing season to bass season.  If you've never tried it, put it on your list.

25 minutes ago, rascalP said:

Looks like SE MN got missed. Heading to Whitewater State Park next Sunday for 3 or 4 days. We should be spared a gully-washing runoff. Trout fishing should be good.  I know this is a "bass" site, but the way we fish for trout, it's very similar to bass fishing. Jerkbaits, rapalas and spinners on medium-light gear is standard.   We cover a lot of water, sometimes a few miles of stream and catch numbers of 13-15" with a few going 16"+.  The scenery is some of the most beautiful in the state and it's a great way to bridge the ice fishing season to bass season.  If you've never tried it, put it on your list.

I'll second that. I usually fish the Root River in SE MN this time of the year just haven't been able to make it down yet. Trout fishing is awesome down there, even if the bite is tough because of the awesome scenery.

There is still ice in Minnesota it so annoying

1 hour ago, DB-fish said:

There is still ice in Minnesota it so annoying

Welcome to MN - the state that's had snow every month of the year except July. We're past the average ice-out date for Minnetonka, and with 2-feet still in some places it's going to be a while before it's gone. Be patient and this too shall pass.

 

If past years are any indication, next year we'll have an earlier than average ice-out and the ice-fishers will be complaining that the season was too short.

It’s hard enough to stare out the window for 6 months of winter thinking about everything you want to be doing the next 6 months on the water.  It’s even harder staring out the window in years like this for 7 months wondering how the heck you’re going to fit all that into only 5 months now!

Fear not!  Spring is coming, the 10 day forecast has every single day at 50 or above and several days of 60!  Long range forecast even says 70's by the weekend of April 28.  I was outside yesterday and even though it was only 43 degrees, when I was in the sun it felt like 60.  The sun is very powerful now.

This may be my new rig this year... 

 

On 4/18/2018 at 8:34 PM, punch said:

This may be my new rig this year... 

 

Looks like a nice sled to tow behind your Snowmobile. Looks like it should fit your Ice Auger fine, but where do you fit your Ice Shack?

On 4/18/2018 at 8:34 PM, punch said:

This may be my new rig this year... 

 

Looks great!

I'll get some more pics of the Skeeter once I pick it up, but looks like a done deal. I can't wait to gut all the electronics and rig it the way I want! I'll be looking to sell a Helix 5 and a 859ci HD if anyone's interested, hit me up. 

 

Also, on another side note.. if anyone needs an expensive flippin stick I have a NEW never used Tatula 7'6 heavy flippin stick that I'm looking to sell. Shoot me a mesasge. 

Was out today fishing pool two, lots of ice in the back pockets of the Mississippi. Maybe one bite, but it was great to be out fishing. 

On 4/21/2018 at 12:36 PM, punch said:

I'll get some more pics of the Skeeter once I pick it up, but looks like a done deal.

Don't forget to post photos in the "show us your ride" thread!

 

Hey MN Fisher whats the word on Tonka?  How much ice still out there?

4 hours ago, gimruis said:

Don't forget to post photos in the "show us your ride" thread!

 

Hey MN Fisher whats the word on Tonka?  How much ice still out there?

Yeah for sure, I got some HDS gen3 units to slap on it.. can't wait. Hopefully get it this weekend. 

7 hours ago, gimruis said:

Hey MN Fisher whats the word on Tonka?  How much ice still out there?

We're starting to see some melting around the shoreline, but I'm still seeing people on the ice. It's still going to be a bit before we have open water on even the smaller lakes/bays of 'Tonka even with the 60s and 70s predicted for the next week.