The 2017 ice fishing season continues, with the ice thickness varying greatly between lakes. A few lakes still have about 5 inches of ice, while many other lakes have 10-12 inches of ice and Upper Red Lake has between 12 and 15 inches of ice.
The shoreline ice on most lakes is thicker than the mid lake ice, so anglers have to expect the ice conditions to vary from spot to spot on the same lake and watch out for areas with current or springs.
Anglers that know the history of a lake often have an advantage because they know what areas to watch out for on the ice.
For example, Lake Bemidji usually freezes up last around the north side of Reise’s Point and has an ice heave along Diamond Point most years, with current areas near the inlet and outlet of the Mississippi River.
Anglers are able to walk on most lakes, with enough ice to drive snowmobiles and ATVs on many lakes and resorts on Upper Red Lake are starting to allow smaller vehicles out of their accesses.
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Anglers are advised to stay close to the marked roads and not go wandering too far off the trails. Anglers wanting to stay more mobile should be using snowmobiles or ATVs and personally checking the ice conditions.
All species of fish have been actively feeding at sometime during the day. Upper Red Lake is still producing good numbers of walleyes for most anglers in 8 to 12 feet of water.
Anglers on other lakes have been finding larger perch near the cabbage weeds in shallower water. Most anglers are staying on shoreline structure in the larger lakes and leaving the deep water for later in the season, when the ice conditions are better.
Anglers need to fish the right locations on the right lakes to have consistent success for any species. The weather can often get in the way of a good bite. Even on the toughest days with the worst weather conditions, there is still usually a brief flurry of activity in the mornings and evenings.
Most larger lakes have rough patches of ice near shore in some areas, where the ice broke up and refroze one or more times while the lakes were freezing. This is true in some areas on Lake of the Woods, Lake Winnibigoshish, Leech Lake, Upper Red Lake and Mille Lacs Lake.
Ice chunks can cause snowmobiles or ATV’s to lose control, while ice shards sticking out of the snow can poke holes in tires.
Pulling a wheeled fish house over a field of frozen ice chunks is an adventure most anglers want to avoid. The houses usually bounce around and wreak havoc on anything not nailed down inside the house. Plow truck drivers are also not fond of ice chunks.
The ice conditions are changing quickly on most lakes. There are a few chances for light snow in the extended forecast, but as long as there isn’t any significant snowfall, the lakes should continue to add more ice this week.
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Anglers can catch most species of fish with either wax worms, eurolarvae or minnows during the winter. The hard shell “bait puck” containers can hold wax worms and eurolarvae and be carried in anglers pockets, so they are the easiest and most portable baits to use.
Anglers can hold a few minnows in a larger hard shell bait puck with some water, or anglers can put a few minnows in a baggie with some snow, so they don’t have to deal with a minnow bucket every time they need bait.
Many lakes in the Bemidji area are multi-species lakes, so anglers usually have access to more than one species of fish.
Most panfish lakes also have largemouth bass, while most walleye lakes also have perch and nearly every lake in the Bemidji area has northern pike.
Anglers need to have a selection of baits and rods ready to fish the multi species lakes, so it is not unreasonable to bring 3-4 rods pre-rigged with a variety of presentations.
