Thread: It won't to long now

The small lakes and pot holes skimmed over last night.
If we get some more cold weather the big lakes will be next.

That's pretty cool. I've been a little confused about the icing up here. I've seen snow flurries, ice on my windshield, and ice on the pavement but haven't seen any frozen water snow/frost on the grass.


Anyways, it was neat to leave Minneapolis yesterday morning at 28 degrees with snow on my rooftop and driveway and fly down to Charlotte, NC and walk out of the airport to 70 degree weather

You guys convinced me finally. I just ordered my GAMMA ice line for this winter, now all I need is some more Hot Sauce for the reels.

For our freshman here, it is often cold enough that normal lubrication in reels gets very stiff to almost unuseable in the winter. Most of us "winterize" our reels, when we use the same ones on the ice that we do in open water. Also different local lakes will freeze up at different times and to different degrees. Here deep in the Metro, Isles and Nokomis will be frozen enough to fish on sometimes almost a month before Harriet and Calhoun. Of course smaller, shallower bodies freeze up before larger deeper ones. So be careful.

And don't put away your PFD either.

Originally Posted by no1son

You guys convinced me finally. I just ordered my GAMMA ice line for this winter, now all I need is some more Hot Sauce for the reels.

Ordered it the evening of the 14th and it came in the mail today. Right now they are shipping free, too. I have been getting my GAMMA on line direct from the manufacturer and the service has been very good and always speedy. Quality product and superior service. Gotta like it.

Thought we were going to get some early ice. It gets in the 20's at night, but now they are talking 50's all week. No ice. Might have to get the boat back out..

There are still boats going out around here. Some night fishers, I expect for walleyes considering the lake and where they were on it. They will continue to be out until ice stops them, too. That lake also has some real slabs but they are hard to find at least in the daytime. Nearly every one of the best crappies I have seen off that water came after dark.

Originally Posted by no1son

There are still boats going out around here. Some night fishers, I expect for walleyes considering the lake and where they were on it. They will continue to be out until ice stops them, too. That lake also has some real slabs but they are hard to find at least in the daytime. Nearly every one of the best crappies I have seen off that water came after dark.

Hey no1, do they use underwater lights? Lanterns? etc. Wife & I had a blast this summer catching Crappie/ underwater lights.

Originally Posted by no1son

You guys convinced me finally. I just ordered my GAMMA ice line for this winter, now all I need is some more Hot Sauce for the reels.

For our freshman here, it is often cold enough that normal lubrication in reels gets very stiff to almost unuseable in the winter. Most of us "winterize" our reels, when we use the same ones on the ice that we do in open water. Also different local lakes will freeze up at different times and to different degrees. Here deep in the Metro, Isles and Nokomis will be frozen enough to fish on sometimes almost a month before Harriet and Calhoun. Of course smaller, shallower bodies freeze up before larger deeper ones. So be careful.

And don't put away your PFD either.

I don't know many of the lake names yet up here. I just googled those - they're a little south for me. I travel by Medicine Lake every day - seen a few boats out there during my travels. Looking at the map, the closest lakes to me look like Diamond Lake or Foster lake. There's a Lake Itasca close on the map but looks private. I noticed a little icing on Mill Pond in Anoka as I came through there the other day but it also looks like they've drained it into the river or a dam broke or something - the water's way down

Medicine is a very good lake, pike, bass, bluegills,crappies, walleyes, but for me a little outside of my general stomping grounds. On the way to and from work note where the boats tend to be. At this time of the year that is an indication where to start after ice up, if you want to give Medicine a shot. IIRC There is also a bait shop with a boat launch right on Medicine (on the SW corner?).

Stop into that Cabelas right there in Rodgers and have them point out some local waters for you.

It will be awhile before the lakes freeze up here in Minnesota.I'm in the NW suburbs of Minneapolis....near Robbinsdale.I can't wait....am really getting the ice fishing ITCH!