Author Topic: Blackstrap 2017-2018  (Read 51833 times)

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #30 on: Nov 20, 2017, 12:50 PM »
Yeah it’s not a huge drop but enough to make a sketchy drive on  especially towing a permy. Definitely need clearance on your vehicle Need more snow.

Offline ToonFisher

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #31 on: Nov 20, 2017, 01:43 PM »
so 9-10" ice on Evan road? thanks
You can park on top where a no-vehicle sign and chain is, and walk down 150 yards at Evans road. Same as last year.

Offline OverUnder725

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #32 on: Nov 22, 2017, 08:27 AM »
Was going to head out in front of the boat launches in the park either today or tomorrow, how is the ice in that area?  Planning on walking out with my sleigh.  I know there are reports of 10" across the lake from there but has anyone drilled out in there?

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #33 on: Nov 22, 2017, 09:58 AM »
Good to go...been out couple times in that area.

Offline OverUnder725

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #34 on: Nov 22, 2017, 10:37 AM »
Thanks Rip!   On my way out there now. 

Update:  Ice was 12" or a bit more about 100 yrds in front of the fillet shack, didn't have a tape with me. Fishing was poor, no action except one snack size Jack.

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #35 on: Nov 23, 2017, 04:27 PM »
Got out for a few hours today 10am til 1 Evans road warm and windy knocked the crap out of what was there for snow. Glad I had the cleats along. Still 10”+ ice but warm temperatures forecasted Over the next few days. Couple small walleyes were caught 12-14” fishing 26-27 fow. 1/4 oz blue and silver little Cleo tipped with minnow head.

Offline Churchill River

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #36 on: Nov 23, 2017, 06:03 PM »
Drove on to the ice at the North end and fished that area for the day.  Pretty slow, perch hit in spurts.  3 of us ended up with 25 perch and one pike.  Two or Three Walleye out smarted us.

Anyone going to drive on the North end watch out for the ice heavy straight in the middle of the entrance.  I went on that way and it was a rough ride (didn't notice it coming on, thought it was just snow bank).  Coming off I went on the North end of the entrance at a angle and you can miss the ice heavy(for some reason the ice heavy doesn't go right across the entrance).   Ice is 12 inches, did notice it was only 10 inches if we drilled in snow covered ice.   Like Rip said, ice cleats were the cats meow today.

It's not your typical good fishing as soon as ice is on as in past years.  I hope it picks up over the next 2 or 3 weeks.

Anyone else other then Rip and ourselves doing any fishing.......let us know?

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #37 on: Nov 26, 2017, 07:06 PM »
Got out for a few hours late afternoon/evening today out in front of the hill for something different.Set up in 23fow flag in 15’ nothing going on at all. Walked a bunch of holes had 2 marks show up In that time. Will be checking more areas of the lake this week.

Offline ToonFisher

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #38 on: Nov 26, 2017, 09:06 PM »
The South end has about 12" of black ice today. I could see a few big Whitefish running away. Skunked 3 to 5 pm today between 3 and 15 fow. That area was good when ice was just thick enough to walk on.

Saturday morning at shields pumphouse 8 to 10 am. A burbot popped to a fresh hole. No other fish marked between 2 and 23 fow.

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #39 on: Nov 29, 2017, 08:10 AM »
looks like the 50-60 km gusty winds will be diminishing after today. should be a great very slick and slippery ice fishing weekend.     

Offline Tech By Trade

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #40 on: Nov 29, 2017, 08:24 AM »
Hows the ice holding up with the warmer temps?

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #41 on: Nov 29, 2017, 09:05 AM »
pretty decent. still 10-12'" solid the places i've been. there's going to be some surface layering on top that freezes at night then melting in the day with the warm temps but still good ice for walking or quads.

Offline small-town-fisher

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #42 on: Nov 29, 2017, 12:00 PM »
So would you not recommend driving on with a half ton truck yet??
Small town fisher

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #43 on: Nov 29, 2017, 12:18 PM »
Drivable safe ice is something I would not tell anyone at the beginning of the season. For me it’s an individual thing. Everyone has their own opinion.

Offline small-town-fisher

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #44 on: Nov 29, 2017, 12:32 PM »
Thanks rip im thinking of heading out on Friday.
Small town fisher

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #45 on: Nov 29, 2017, 12:42 PM »
Good luck.

Offline Churchill River

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #46 on: Nov 29, 2017, 06:24 PM »
Yikes........went to the back bay area today and checked out if you can drive on.  There is one spot we found that wasn't that bad a drop off, but we only had the one truck and didn't want to try it.  The ice is a good 12 inches all over.  We walked on and covered a good 1/2 mile stretch towards the Yacht Club.  Drilled a good 70 holes from anywhere from 10 fow to 26 fow and only caught 11 between 10 and 4 between the 2 of us.
Caught the fish in the deeper water.

As from driving on, we drove on the North end last Thursday.  It was 12 inches last Thursday and is still 12 inches.  So a mild week didn't thicken the ice any.  We are going back to the North end the next time out as the fishing was a little better there, but still not like it should be for this time of year. 

All the perch we caught today were your 8 inch shore lunch fish (all were thrown back).  No size so far this year compared to last year.

I wonder if this is going to be a off year for us on the hard water.  Mind you it is still early as it wasn't until mid Dec into Jan last year that produced really good.

Offline OverUnder725

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #47 on: Dec 03, 2017, 12:03 PM »
Fished a few hundred yards South of the culvert on the North end yesterday from 10:00 - 5:00.  3 smaller Perch, several noncommital nibbles, lots of action on the flasher but not a lot of takers.  Up side was I introduced a buddy to ice fishing who had never been out before.   

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #48 on: Dec 03, 2017, 01:38 PM »
Had a fairly decent weekend Friday late afternoon/evening.was on a great bite out in front of the big bay 22 fow. Plenty of marks showing up in the 5 hours fished. most were tight lipped but ended the evening with 5 walleyes caught. Early Saturday morning was set up by 7. Same area little slower in the early am for marking fish but managed 2 walleyes and a pike. Left at 11am home for lunch and a rest and back out at 2:30 til 6:30 more of the same moving right in on it and taking a pass. Finally got hooked up at Prime time with a couple nice eaters. This morning saw more drivebys missed a couple bites and landed a small 3 lb pike. Had a great weekend.

Offline Doggy

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #49 on: Dec 03, 2017, 03:41 PM »
Thanks for the update rip. I’m itching to get out but life hasn’t made it possible yet this year. Next weekend!

Offline Churchill River

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #50 on: Dec 03, 2017, 07:48 PM »
Two of us were out today from 9:30 to 4.  Fished the North end out from the culvert.  Caught 24 perch.....5 nice jumbos.  They bit in spurts and a little better in the afternoon.  But we had to move around, probably drilled close to 40 holes.

We drove on along with 1/2 a dozen other vehicles.  People were driving all the way to the South end of Shields and across to the back bay.  Still only 12 inches of ice.

Offline small-town-fisher

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #51 on: Dec 05, 2017, 06:51 AM »
Good morning guys I am curious to know if there are any shacks our on the ice yet?
Small town fisher

gman51

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #52 on: Dec 05, 2017, 07:09 AM »
seen a couple out from shields haven't been to the north end yet. from what i could see from the big bay there's getting to be more activity there. C.R said they were driving around on the weekend in that area on his earlier post. none south of the causeway. nobody on Evans road.

Offline small-town-fisher

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #53 on: Dec 05, 2017, 07:30 AM »
Thanks rip appreciate the updates 👍👍
Small town fisher

Offline Churchill River

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #54 on: Dec 06, 2017, 08:03 PM »
Here is my mid week fishing report.  Was out today from 12:30 to 4:30 at the North end.  Ice is a good 13 to 14 inches.  Not sure if it
was the weather change or what, as the fish weren't biting today.  Only 8 perch caught, with 4 keepers.  The only other excuse I can come up with, is that they bit in the morning before we got there. 

Taking a couple shacks out on Saturday and give it another go.

Offline Tech By Trade

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #55 on: Dec 07, 2017, 08:07 AM »
Anyone driving on at the north end yet? If so, how is the access on the west side of the dam?

Offline Churchill River

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #56 on: Dec 07, 2017, 09:12 AM »
People have been driving on for over a week now at the North end, including ourselves.  We were out yesterday and there is a good 13 to 14 inches.

There is a large ice heave blocking 3/4 of the entrance.  There is a good trail to get on the ice at a angle (along the shoreline), that allows us to drive on.  Don't try and make the turn as you approach the entrance from the road coming in.  Go up towards the gravel pit and turn around.  This we allow you to line up better for the angle approach. 

If someone was to bring a chain saw, they could cut some of the ice heave at the one end, making it a larger entrance.  But it is good right now with not much snow, etc.

Offline Dooman

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #57 on: Dec 07, 2017, 11:01 AM »
i wish stoon had good lakes to fish nearby. i always skip over blackstrap now adays to go to LML, Buffalo Pound, or even the Chain Lakes at Fort Quapelle.

I probably get skunked at blackstrap 50% of time, and when i do catch, lucky to get a handful.
"Some people fish their whole lives without realizing it isn't fish they are after"

Offline saskbucks

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #58 on: Dec 07, 2017, 12:18 PM »
I certainly haven’t figured out Blackstrap.  It’s nice that it’s close to the city on a good highway.  I usually stay away from the crowds.  I am in the same boat as you with being skunked about half the times out there.   
Get outside.  It does a body and mind good!

Offline Dooman

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Re: Blackstrap 2017-2018
« Reply #59 on: Dec 07, 2017, 02:31 PM »
just kind of depressing to think of where to go this weekend, after buffalo pound last weekend, catching 100+ perch, i know that blackstrap will never produce even close to that. My best day ever in countless outing to blackstrap has been a 30-40 perch haul, and those come so few and far between. don't want to make the long drive back down to BP, LML, etc....sigh.
"Some people fish their whole lives without realizing it isn't fish they are after"

 



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