Fishing and Ice Report 1/10

Happy New Year! Hard to believe we have turned the calendar to 2019 and we are already creeping towards the middle of January. Although we got 12-15 inches of snow early this month, the lakes are surprisingly still in good shape. We are starting to see some pockets of slush, but severity varies from lake to lake. For the most part it is fairly simple to get around the lakes with a 4WD Truck , but make sure to bring a shovel!

Walleye fishing has slowed down a bit, but fish are still being caught in the early morning and when the sun is setting on Big Pine, Little Pine, Rush, Star, and Ottertail. Fishing in 16-22 FOW on shoreline breaks, points, and mid-lake humps has been producing the best. Running shinners or suckers on a dead stick is working well when accompanied by jigging a jig with a fathead on it. We are also hearing reports of the bite picking up between 730-10 pm and catching a few throughout the night.

Panfishing has been extremely good as of late with lots of good bluegill and crappie reports. The crappies are being caught in 25-40 feet in the mid lake basin and are generally suspended about halfway down. The best bite has been from the time the sun hits the trees into the night. Jigging a small spoon or tungsten tipped with waxworms has been working the best, but don't be afraid to put a deadstick down with a crappie minnow. Bluegills are being caught in 14-20 feet of water on weedflats and holes , and if you can find the green vegetation on these flats chances are your in for some great action. Big Pine, Rush, Star, Dead, Height O Land and other area lakes are all producing.

We currently have golden shinners, suckers, fatheads, crappies and waxworms on hand, and the weather looking ahead looks nice! Happy Fishing