Author Topic: balsom Bay  (Read 6803 times)

Offline Blue Mago

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balsom Bay
« on: Feb 16, 2017, 01:42 PM »
I want to try this area , but have never been there , know how to get there but that's about it ,so where does one go ? how is access ? 4x4 truck is my vhical so need to be able to drive on , minnows ? live / salties ? Looking for Pickerel / Perch , no pike ......plan to be there Saturday morning so any info would be appreciated
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Offline RedRiverRick

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #1 on: Feb 16, 2017, 10:19 PM »
Go on at Balsam Harbour, Road 100 North, or 103 North, both have good access, live or salted minnows work about the same for me. Truck is good. Rattle baits have been working well for the last couple days.
What colour are you using?

Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #2 on: Feb 17, 2017, 05:30 AM »
Thanks , that will help ..........i assume there is a shanty town or does one just drive where one thinks will be a good spot ? Any perch being caught ??
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Offline Out There

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #3 on: Feb 17, 2017, 12:53 PM »
Lots of people fishing shallow in 12 to 15 feet, we've done pretty good a little further out in 18 to 20 feet. Access is great this year, seen a little Honda Civic go wherever he wanted to go. ;D

Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #4 on: Feb 19, 2017, 08:29 AM »
Well,...we went , about 2.5 to 3 miles out , stayed away from the large groups , found a spot....no idea of what this body of water is like .......and proceeded to fish . First tug was solid , what ever it was had weight .....tore the line ? lost everything on that one ......a few minutes later , another tug , this one came up to the hole , but tore off as well !!!!! ...so another gumball jig head and after a bit ....another tug ........this one came up , 24.5 inch walleye , my son caught a smaller 14 inch one shortly after , and that 's how the day went , suddenly a few bites , some cam up ,  some won the battle to fight again , but beautiful day , sunny , warm .....the kind of day when a shack isn't needed , driving on was fine , a bit bumpy at points , but saw some really small vehicles driving on so ? .........my son caught one  19 inch Burbot , but it went back down the hole as we tried one a couple of years back but not something I'd try again , but to each there own i say  ............would I go back ? yea .......would be nice if the perch would pull through just to change it a bit , but after all is said we went home with 11 pickerel , seemed salties outdid live ? a bit surprised at that , but then again ?............tight lines 
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Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #5 on: Feb 24, 2017, 07:56 AM »
Well we re going to give the area another shot .............I would believe that not much has changed since last weekend , but if so if anyone knows something we should be aware of please post ..........thnx
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Offline blue igloo

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #6 on: Feb 24, 2017, 02:57 PM »
Well we re going to give the area another shot .............I would believe that not much has changed since last weekend , but if so if anyone knows something we should be aware of please post ..........thnx
Driving conditions have improved a bit but the fishing has been very slow for my 2 groups in the last week. (3 last trips on east side). Tried the west side yesterday (for a change  ::) ) and it's a minefield and has ridges popping up all over. Fishing on both sides of Big Windy was super slow for us this week. Saugers have made a big appearance on the west side probably due to the dirty water coming in from the river now. We drove out to the far north ridge before finding clear water. Hope it gets better  >:(
Blue Igloo  :tipup:

Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #7 on: Feb 24, 2017, 08:25 PM »
Last week it was a bit bumpy , saw what could have been a small ridge maybe ? drove over it as everyone else was , seen warnings on line about ice conditions ......got to 15 year old boys along so safety is a priority .......will be driving on ........still safe I'll assume ?
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Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #8 on: Feb 25, 2017, 07:59 PM »
So it was a bust for us , had two hit's and that was it , drove over the crack and went out around 2.5 miles . Heard for another party that had gone to the pressure ridge ? they got six fairly quick , but they have the electronic device ( Vexilar ) ......apparently there fish were suspended ...4 to 6 feet ? ......Might have to look into one myself , long drive for good time , fish being the bonus ....................hi t Gull lake on the way back , i small pike ( back in the hole ) two small perch and a bunch of bait robbers .............nice day except for that dang wind .....................t ight lines
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Offline blue igloo

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #9 on: Mar 03, 2017, 07:24 AM »
So it was a bust for us , had two hit's and that was it , drove over the crack and went out around 2.5 miles . Heard for another party that had gone to the pressure ridge ? they got six fairly quick , but they have the electronic device ( Vexilar ) ......apparently there fish were suspended ...4 to 6 feet ? ......Might have to look into one myself , long drive for good time , fish being the bonus ....................hi t Gull lake on the way back , i small pike ( back in the hole ) two small perch and a bunch of bait robbers .............nice day except for that dang wind .....................t ight lines
Even on calm days there always seems to be a slight frigid breeze out there. Windchills have been 10*C colder than air temps most of the season thus far. Today, -18*C.......windchill -28*C.
Blue Igloo  :tipup:

Offline Hard Ice Hooker

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #10 on: Mar 07, 2017, 03:42 PM »
Where can you pickup live minnows on the East side. Any advise is appreciated.

Offline greenbackhunter

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #11 on: Mar 08, 2017, 12:28 AM »
Waivers across from the casino, sportsmans stop on 59.

Offline Hard Ice Hooker

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #12 on: Mar 08, 2017, 08:35 PM »
Thanks

Offline Hard Ice Hooker

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #13 on: Mar 09, 2017, 02:35 PM »
I've heard rumors that the accesses are snowed in on the East side. Is there any true to that? I'm coming up tomorrow and am wondering if we should change plans and head to the West side. Thanks.

Offline avidangler

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #14 on: Mar 10, 2017, 09:42 PM »
Have heard they are plowed out now   gl

Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #15 on: Mar 19, 2017, 05:35 AM »
Was going to head out today but that wind is way to strong I think to be sitting on a slab of ice ! I hope I made the right call as the season is almost over and the son wants to try and catch a walleye over twenty four inch's .......Anyone been out lately ? the last time we were there the crack was wide an heaved , saw many shacks coming off with guys driving over these heaves .........want to at least hit it one more time before it ends
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Offline blue igloo

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #16 on: Mar 21, 2017, 06:57 AM »
Was going to head out today but that wind is way to strong I think to be sitting on a slab of ice ! I hope I made the right call as the season is almost over and the son wants to try and catch a walleye over twenty four inch's .......Anyone been out lately ? the last time we were there the crack was wide an heaved , saw many shacks coming off with guys driving over these heaves .........want to at least hit it one more time before it ends
I was out on Saturday the 18th because I saw the wind forecast for Sunday the 19th.  ::)  No problem getting around and the famous Balsam crack was closed up. I was surprised that there was no water on the surface after all that rain and the hot sun beating down on the ice. The overnight lows are helping. It was noticeable though, while drilling, that the 30 inches of  ice is now getting soft.
Suppose to head out tomorrow........hoping for another good fish day!
Blue Igloo  :tipup:

Offline ddlaz

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #17 on: Mar 21, 2017, 01:56 PM »
I was out on Saturday the 18th because I saw the wind forecast for Sunday the 19th.  ::)  No problem getting around and the famous Balsam crack was closed up. I was surprised that there was no water on the surface after all that rain and the hot sun beating down on the ice. The overnight lows are helping. It was noticeable though, while drilling, that the 30 inches of  ice is now getting soft.
Suppose to head out tomorrow........hoping for another good fish day!
Blue Igloo  :tipup:


did you head out of balsom? Looking to try my first time on big windy this weekend on a trip to Winnipeg. Anyone want to meet up on saturday?

Offline blue igloo

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #18 on: Mar 24, 2017, 06:26 AM »
did you head out of balsom? Looking to try my first time on big windy this weekend on a trip to Winnipeg. Anyone want to meet up on saturday?
YES....road 100.....Balsam Bay.
Blue Igloo  :tipup:

Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #19 on: Mar 24, 2017, 05:04 PM »
Was there last Sunday , managed three ......a bit windy but after a while it calmed down and was good , ice was still 40 inch;s , a few snow patch's left , a lot of people looking for and crossing the crack ?  When we left there was a gathering of 8? people within 150 feet of the landing and they were catching ? we might head out Sunday for one final try , but will try closer to the shore line as well ......they should be moving in by now I'd think ? Anyone been there this week ? anything change ??
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Offline steveo_world

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #20 on: Mar 26, 2017, 10:04 AM »
anyone know how the ice is ? hopping to go out Monday for one last shot at a master eye how think is the ice? safe?

Offline steveo_world

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #21 on: Mar 26, 2017, 10:08 AM »
Was there last Sunday , managed three ......a bit windy but after a while it calmed down and was good , ice was still 40 inch;s , a few snow patch's left , a lot of people looking for and crossing the crack ?  When we left there was a gathering of 8? people within 150 feet of the landing and they were catching ? we might head out Sunday for one final try , but will try closer to the shore line as well ......they should be moving in by now I'd think ? Anyone been there this week ? anything change ??

not sure how to use this so hope I did it right how is the ice at balsam? I am hopping to go out Monday for one last shot at a master eye anyone know how thick the ice is ? is there water on top or at shore? is it safe lol ?

Offline Blue Mago

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Re: balsom Bay
« Reply #22 on: Mar 26, 2017, 11:26 PM »
There was at least 40 inch's of ice last weekend , the landing was good , cars and mini vans were on the ice so ? I wated to go but we ended up going elsewhere ..................good luck  @)
Enjoy The Ride ,You only Get One Chance

 



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