IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Michigan => Ice Fishing Michigan U.P. => Topic started by: merwin69 on Dec 25, 2013, 03:41 PM
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is there any ice on the kew. bay
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If no one tells you, i'll let ya know when i go through l'anse tomorrow.
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It's been freezing at night n blowing out during the day. Skim ice blowing back n forth from lanse to baraga.
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We need very cold weather with light winds for a few days for it to lock up. It was frozen all the way out to lighthouse a couple of weeks ago but was open water (except for floating ice) again this week when I went by.
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Was that tipi still in the baraga marina last time ya guys went by. He is a crazy fellow i will say that ducks was swimming about 15 feet from it.
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Ice was about 300 yards out from the bishop Baraga shrine as of yesterday not fishable yet
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Ice was about 300 yards out from the bishop Baraga shrine as of yesterday not fishable yet
welcome to the site
SnoHam13
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Just curious if anyone has been by to check out the bay in the last few days.
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no ice as of 3 today. too windy
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It was frozen past Jentofts on Friday. Looked to be skim out there, but I'm assuming there was good ice in further. I'd like to get out, but need a fishing partner! Headed back to WI later today :(
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Came thru today. Ice was about to Carla's and starting to form further from there. Tents here n there from squaw and south into the bay. Wind stays down and some serious ice will be made
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What is the ice like out there now?
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Anyone ever fish perch on k-bay ?...for me its been YEARS since ive looked for perch on k-bay but thought it might be fun to try & target them again ..""
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Anyone ever fish perch on k-bay ?...for me its been YEARS since ive looked for perch on k-bay but thought it might be fun to try & target them again ..""
Dave--I've tried on and off over the years and have caught some really nice ones but I've never been able to put together a mess of them nor am I able to find nice ones on a consistant/repeatable basis.
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Was out checking stuff out today probably 25 -30 shantys out on the bay today from sand point to the fals .
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Took a ride to Indian country and talked to Scott, he said 5-6 inches of ice around squaw beach. Assume it's just as thick if not better inward. Ice edge is at the mission/assinins.
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Out today for whities. 8-10" on whitefish grounds.
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Out today for whities. 8-10" on whitefish grounds.
Nice. How much snow?
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Nice. How much snow?
Enough to make it a PIA.
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Enough to make it a PIA.
That much? No slush tho right?
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That much? No slush tho right?
There isn't a lot. But enough to make you not want to walk out. Its the hard sand paper chit that sucks to drag stuff in. 2 four wheelers and a sled in my garage and I didnt bring either of em. Dumb I was.
No slush.
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Enough to make it a PIA.
At least it will keep the traffic down a bit for awhile. ;-)
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Out today for whities. 8-10" on whitefish grounds.
Anyone willing to give some info on targeting whitefish on k-bay? How deep, type of lures/baits? I've never targeted whitefish but would like to try it.
Thanks
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Salmon eggs is what I always used but a lot of the ones I was catching last year were loaded with 2 inch smelt. I was up on Huron Bay around 50 fow and also chumming with eggs. A small pimple and gulp smelt I'm sure could produce also.
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Anywhere from 6" - 10" of black ice at Squaw Beach, snow was wet and about 4" on top, slush in some spots. Tire Shop was 6" of black ice, a bit more slush in spots, and 4" or so of snow on top. Baraga Marina had 6" - 8" of softer black ice with 4" - 6" of snow on top. Looked like folks were spread out but tight to the eastern shore north of Jentoff's...couldn't see far enough to even guess about Whirl-A-Gig. Tents spread out over most of the western shore from the Baraga Marina to the Tire Shop. Sleds and wheelers were on the ice but I didn't pay attention to how far north they were running. Shore line areas in some spots are still wet with broken ice. Less ice coverage overall than last Sunday, open water was maybe 1/2 mile north of the Tire Shop.
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Fished today for 5 hours with a group north on bay whirly gig area. Very slippery , 4 inches of snow on slick ice. Did very well almost got a six man limit with a few eelpout to boot damn good fishing and the kids had a blast
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Fished today for 5 hours with a group north on bay whirly gig area. Very slippery , 4 inches of snow on slick ice. Did very well almost got a six man limit with a few eelpout to boot damn good fishing and the kids had a blast
I got a few myself yesterday off of squaw. Only one had decent size otherwise they were super skinny. Any size to yours?
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Two just over 20 the rest 17 -18. Range ..
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Any Cohos or Lake Herring?
I fished couple times and didn't see any, , last year was terrible for Coho fishing and I was hoping it changes this year.
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Personally I have gotten a few coho already but not on the lake trout grounds . No herring yet
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Any Cohos or Lake Herring?
I fished couple times and didn't see any, , last year was terrible for Coho fishing and I was hoping it changes this year.
Nope, no coho or herring at all yet. I too haven't even seen any.
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Well I hope the lake trout fishin is gunna be good then! Hoping the reefs will freeze over soon!
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I fished the drop by the lighthouse yesterday morning and caught a few herring, coho and smelt. Some small lakers and a lawyer on the bottom. 55' of water.
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Awesome good mixed bag that makes it interesting ...
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Is the ice still holding steady at the mission? Heard it was getting hit by north winds yesterday.
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Anyone willing to help a newbe out on how to fish the bay? I have fished it some in the summer and if you guys have gone outta baraga on a boat a good chance that i may have talked to you my gramps is Disney at the marina.
I am open to catching anything.
Anyone use tip ups out there? Or is it mainly jig pole only?
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people use tip-ups in the shallower areas especially off of the baraga marina where there's lots of weeds, big pike in there.
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Do you mean the south of the marina on the bp side or the marina side? I wouldnt mind hooking in to a nice oike or two. What do you think would be the best bait and size of bait? I have a good amount of smelt in the freezer along with sucker minnows that have died.
Also can ya catch perch in that area or are they more out towards the shanty town?
Hiw much ice is out there right now? How much snow and slush? Thinking about bringing the golf cart out
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Is the ice still holding steady at the mission? Heard it was getting hit by north winds yesterday.
Chase--The ice was a touch south of the mission on Sunday...there was a very strong wind from the south after mid-day when I was there. No way was I going to go to the Tire Shop. Report I heard two days ago is that the leading edge was broken and bobbing moreso than the weekend. Can't imagine, it's gained much if any ground, safe or otherwise, over the last couple of nights.
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Is the ice still good off squaw beach?
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Is the ice still good off squaw beach?
Yes. Plenty of people fishing there
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Sounds good. Got to get my first laker!
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My wife and I will be out there Sat. Look for a couple of red Eskimo pop up shanties. We caught 4 lakers and 2 burbot last Saturday.
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How deep were you guys jigging? If you don't mind me asking.
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I am not exactly sure. We fish with rods and fireline or spiderwire and I didn't measure the depth. I didn't take my depthfinder with me that trip. Whatever the depth was where we were we were fishing about 3" to 6" off bottom. I was about .3 miles out into the lake from the parking lot.
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What pound test do you use, also any tips you can give me, I think I may try there Sunday and never fished for Lakers before! Thank you!
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Thanks for the tips flag up!
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What pound test do you use, also any tips you can give me, I think I may try there Sunday and never fished for Lakers before! Thank you!
We use 14# to 20# line on most of our reels. Put the tail end of a smelt or a chunk of cut sucker on the back of a 1/2 oz. to 3/4 oz. jig. Make sure that the point of the hook in buried in the bait. Drop it down to the bottom and jig it, making sure that you are still within a few inches of bottom by letting it bounce off the bottom once in a while. If you don't do that you may have the current take the line off to the side and you will not be close to the bottom. Watch for subtle bites. The bait may get a little heavier or you may lower it back down but never feel the weight of the jig come back on the line because a fish grabbed it as it was falling. Other times they will hammer it. You never know.
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watch the weather for sat night and sunday
calling for high winds out of the west at 30-40 mph
careful out there
SnoHam13
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Who was out there on K bay today? My wife and I and 2 other friends got out there late morning and got skunked. I did hear of a few people getting fish but didn't personally see any.
Oh well! Some days you get fish and some days you pay your dues. I should be fully paid up now. LOL
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Who was out there on K bay today? My wife and I and 2 other friends got out there late morning and got skunked. I did hear of a few people getting fish but didn't personally see any.
Oh well! Some days you get fish and some days you pay your dues. I should be fully paid up now. LOL
Was out from 10-2 out from tire shop in 140'. I got 4, my buddy got 5. Most fish came around 10-12. Big white pimples with cut bait
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was out yesterday from 7:30 til 3 and managed 3 bites. very slow around the area where I was fishing 150 fow.
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Was out yesterday in 87 fow off the marina, makes fish but could get them to hit. It was my first time fishing for lakers so not sure if they just weren't biting or if it was me!
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I missed one fish in 150 ft. Pretty slow.
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Ice appear to be holding level with the asinnins sign?
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ok got the week off on the books will be coming the week of the feb 17 hoping to cath some white fish any input would be great
I tried 2 years ogo but only cought 1 Thanks for the help Merwin
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Chase, this is what it looked like this afternoon before the weather went downhill. Fished by the lighthouse for the morning looking for coho or anything else that would bite but no luck. A couple of lookers on the fish finder and a school of smelt but nothing to take home.
There was ice up to the red cliff North of Carla's across to Pequaming that looks to have a good start if the wind doesn't smash it up. A round the Mission there is a half mile of cracked junk. The old ice sheet just S of the mission seemed to be OK. Skim ice as far as I could see on the way to Houghton. We'll be in fish city in a week or so.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/sunup/100_0428_zps9cb461cd.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sunup/media/100_0428_zps9cb461cd.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/sunup/Ice%20fishing/100_0427_zps1b63e72f.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sunup/media/Ice%20fishing/100_0427_zps1b63e72f.jpg.html)
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Great! Thanks for the report Paul! Getting out Friday!
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fished north of Squaw beach this morning in 172 fow got 2 lakers one 23" and one 18". missed a bunch of fish. biggest fish appeared to have some mono filament hanging from it, when I got home to clean it discovered that the fishes head was stuck in a mono filament gill net. the line had cut into the top of head and under bottom jaw. Fish had 2 small smelt in it's stomach. wonder how any more fish are swimming around out there like that.
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Satellite images today show ice all the way passed rabbit island...took a ride earlier and it looks solid! No reports of anyone on the reefs yet.
http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/webdata/cwops/html/modis/modis.php?region=s&page=1
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Just 4 days ago it was skim ice and open water. This weekend if it looks the same it should be locked in good.
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Beenmarkinemalot- Beenmarkinany?
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Beenmarkinemalot- Beenmarkinany?
Ha ha nope too cold!!
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Ha ha nope to cold!!
soyouhaventbeenmarkinc hitthen
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soyouhaventbeenmarkinchitthen
Only on the internet, Lol.
I should change it to Beenmarkinemalot???
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Any word of anybody going out past the Mission? Or further for that matter?
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Any word of anybody going out past the Mission? Or further for that matter?
One guy last Saturday out from Carla's restaurant on his sled. Going out from old 41 tomorrow or roadside park.
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LOTS of south wind down there tonight. Tons of smelt on the screen but the had lockjaw and I only picked up a half dozen or so...hope I can keep them alive for the weekend.
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whats the snow/slush situation?
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3 to 4" of snow on top of the old ice . Didn't hit any slush on the walk out from the Mission today. A lot of soft snow getting on and off the ice to the highway. Need a snowmobile for that. Should be OK with a 4wheeler at the Whirly-gig or Squaw beach but I haven't been there lately.
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Paul, saw you out from the mission yesterday. Well your truck anyway...we launched from the roadside turnaround there just north of mission. We went north from there. I was in front of jurmu road 10" of great ice. Fishing was slow. I got 3 small ones. Very light biters. Waiting for the reefs to lock up better and I'll be headed out there! But I'm not gunna be the first to do it!
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Fished today caught 18 lakers kept 4 all about 20"
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Waiting for the reefs to lock up better and I'll be headed out there! But I'm not gunna be the first to do it!
Waited too many days to be the first...
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Ya ya, was out there today 4.5 miles from white city light house. Slow on my part.
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got report of big fish caught on Big Reef today one was 36lbs
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WOW! Must of been fish weighed together?
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im thinkin 3.6 lbs
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got report of big fish caught on Big Reef today one was 36lbs
Need proof to believe that one! I heard of a 10 pounder being caught out of 280'.
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280' Wow that's deep!
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Yeah I'm more of a 120-180 kind depth myself. There's a good question for the Keweenaw bay fisherman. What's your favorite depth to target for lakers?
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Chase I have been fishing around 172 and catching a few, fished 230 yesterday and got 18. this is same spot I fished last year. Got 23 one day last year there. seems like the more you go north the better the fishing gets. yes and a 36lb fish is possible, look at fish at Hiltop restaurant it's what 61lb.
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Chase I have been fishing around 172 and catching a few, fished 230 yesterday and got 18. this is same spot I fished last year. Got 23 one day last year there. seems like the more you go north the better the fishing gets. yes and a 36lb fish is possible, look at fish at Hiltop restaurant it's what 61lb.
Thanks soda boy, any fats come outta the 230 for you? I used to fish around the deeper waters but got turned off by catching fats. I agree 36 is possible but I can't imagine pulling a pig like that thru the ice! It'd be a dream! The 60 pounder came off stannard rock. Imagine if we could ice fish there!
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Report was Reef was slow this morning 18 guys 2 fish.
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Report was Reef was slow this morning 18 guys 2 fish.
Wasn't slow for all. 12lbs was our biggest.
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I only caught 3 today there.
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For whatever reason, I've been leaning more heavily toward laker fishing in K-Bay this year. Had been doing relatively well up until yesterday, when I was served up a big dish of skunk. I try to keep depths shallower than 160' if I can help it. Are you guys out on the reefs walking, sledding or wheeling out?
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For whatever reason, I've been leaning more heavily toward laker fishing in K-Bay this year. Had been doing relatively well up until yesterday, when I was served up a big dish of skunk. I try to keep depths shallower than 160' if I can help it. Are you guys out on the reefs walking, sledding or wheeling out?
Walking? That would be a helluva walk! 4+ miles we were. On wheelers
Started in 158, ended in 178
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Walking? That would be a helluva walk! 4+ miles we were. On wheelers
Started in 158, ended in 178
That would be a walk indeed. Any issues traveling out and back as far as thin ice or cracks go? What's the ice thickness out there?
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That would be a walk indeed. Any issues traveling out and back as far as thin ice or cracks go? What's the ice thickness out there?
sent u a pm
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Any one getten good numbers of smelt?
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That would be a walk indeed. Any issues traveling out and back as far as thin ice or cracks go? What's the ice thickness out there?
I also am interested in ice conditions if anyone else can help out. Thanks
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was off whirli gig this weekend and 18" solid ice
reports of 10-12 on the reef off second sand beach
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any reports from reef today pretty slow from group I fished with, I got one 29" Lawyer
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any reports from reef today pretty slow from group I fished with, I got one 29" Lawyer
That's not what I wanted to hear. I'm headed out tomorrow after battling smallish splake in Copper Harbor today. Couldn't get one larger than 15 - 16ish.
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That's not what I wanted to hear. I'm headed out tomorrow after battling smallish splake in Copper Harbor today. Couldn't get one larger than 15 - 16ish.
That's been pretty much my luck in copper harbor too this year. I'll be out somewhere in ~200 ft of water in K-bay tomorrow myself.
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were are they cathing white fish
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were are they cathing white fish
I haven't gone after whities this year but have heard things aren't too active in and around the whitefish hole this year.
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Iam coming to fish next week are the laketrout to far out to walk? I have red what others said about water depths but could not find a depth chart thanks !
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Iam coming to fish next week are the laketrout to far out to walk? I have red what others said about water depths but could not find a depth chart thanks !
Here's a good start for depths: http://www.charts.noaa.gov/OnLineViewer/14971.shtml .
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Does anyone have any info on the lake trout fishing derby this coming saturday 15th? I've searched but can't find any info on cost and rules... Any info would be appreciated. THanks
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Does anyone have any info on the lake trout fishing derby this coming saturday 15th? I've searched but can't find any info on cost and rules... Any info would be appreciated. THanks
Call the canteen bar
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Iam coming to fish next week are the laketrout to far out to walk? I have red what others said about water depths but could not find a depth chart thanks !
Merwin: You can easily walk to lake trout fishing. A lot of people are traveling with machines out to some of the further spots but there are lakers available for the "on foot" fisherman too. A lot of people walk out from the parking lot near the end of Whirl-I-Gig road. That walk is about .5 to 1 miles to the favorite spots. You can also catch trout by walking out from the Indian campground parking lot. We got a number of trout .3 miles out and you can stay in closer or go further and come up with some there too. Good luck.
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Iam coming to fish next week are the laketrout to far out to walk? I have red what others said about water depths but could not find a depth chart thanks !
here's another good depth chart for ya, I prefer it over the noaa chart. Just scroll over to k-bay and zoom in, hit the sonar button and it'll give you 1' contours and you can also get a satellite overview so you can find the roads people park on and such. http://navionics.com/en/webapp (http://navionics.com/en/webapp)
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How much snow is out there? Any slush? Thinking of bringing the cart out this weekend.. if ya guys see this out there your more them welcome to stop by and chat. I will be bucket sitting as i dont have a shanty
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z5/Ozlow3686/IMG_32376782167537_zpsbfimcqrs.jpeg) (http://s188.photobucket.com/user/Ozlow3686/media/IMG_32376782167537_zpsbfimcqrs.jpeg.html)
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thanks very much for that info and the map very help full thanks again I will be on the ice mon. thu wed. hope to see you there
mY friend i will be staying with is on the fire dpt out of nisla
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I suppose the technology available today is just ho-hum to the recent generations but that Navionics app impressed the tar out of me. It's no wonder crowds form so fast. The internet and cell phones have changed the game far too quickly for me to keep up with. I believe I still fish in the stone age; my fishing spots are found with landmarks and trees and are stored in my head, I walk and enjoy it, and really prefer wire for lakers over braid in water over 150'. I do have a fish finder to entertain me during the dry spells in a day and a gps that tells me how far I walked but don't feel safe without a compass in my pocket. My wife tells me my cell phone has a gps in it so I carry one. She can find the carcass if I don't make it home some day. The best part of the modern age is up to the minute weather. I can remember Don Ryan drawing grease pen weather maps on the 6 o'clock news on TV 6 and that was the only channel we had. That didn't help all of the time; a blizzard in the late 60s sneaking in that cracked up the ice and several fishermen out of Bootjack not being found until they floated up next summer. My dad had a transistor radio and could get WMPL on the bay just in case the weather changed or if someone called the station to report some of the ice was breaking off. That happened on a beautiful late winter day with a strong South wind. The people looked like ants scurrying around jumping the cracks with the gear left behind. We were on the highway headed home by then and stopped by the red cliffs to watch. There was lost equipment that time and some wet feet but no one died. Technology is fine but pay attention to the basics like weather, winds and current so there will be a next year to look forward to. Didn't mean to ramble but the weather is lousy and I can't get out until Saturday. :)
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Great story Paul. I can see how much fishing has changed just from reading that.
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I suppose the technology available today is just ho-hum to the recent generations but that Navionics app impressed the tar out of me. It's no wonder crowds form so fast. The internet and cell phones have changed the game far too quickly for me to keep up with. I believe I still fish in the stone age; my fishing spots are found with landmarks and trees and are stored in my head, I walk and enjoy it, and really prefer wire for lakers over braid in water over 150'. I do have a fish finder to entertain me during the dry spells in a day and a gps that tells me how far I walked but don't feel safe without a compass in my pocket. My wife tells me my cell phone has a gps in it so I carry one. She can find the carcass if I don't make it home some day. The best part of the modern age is up to the minute weather. I can remember Don Ryan drawing grease pen weather maps on the 6 o'clock news on TV 6 and that was the only channel we had. That didn't help all of the time; a blizzard in the late 60s sneaking in that cracked up the ice and several fishermen out of Bootjack not being found until they floated up next summer. My dad had a transistor radio and could get WMPL on the bay just in case the weather changed or if someone called the station to report some of the ice was breaking off. That happened on a beautiful late winter day with a strong South wind. The people looked like ants scurrying around jumping the cracks with the gear left behind. We were on the highway headed home by then and stopped by the red cliffs to watch. There was lost equipment that time and some wet feet but no one died. Technology is fine but pay attention to the basics like weather, winds and current so there will be a next year to look forward to. Didn't mean to ramble but the weather is lousy and I can't get out until Saturday. :)
sunup--If it helps, I think I remember Dan Ryan but it was after he had moved over to public affairs to Cleveland Cliffs??? But I'm only 48 and geek out on gear when and if I can afford it...it helps that we don't have children. ;-)
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Has anyone else had real slow fishing on the nicer days? We did OK on Saturday when it was cold and a little windy but Sunday in the same water it was a struggle to feel the bite let alone hook one. Caught 1 fish in 6 hours with the only difference being the sunny calm weather. This is the 3rd weekend so far with a nice weather day and poor fishing and I'm thinking bluegills might be a better bet on days like that. ;D
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It's because "blue bird skies" are usually associated with high pressure. I've caught fish on days like that but it seems like the better fishing is when the barometer is falling.
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I prefer high pressure blue bird days for lakers. A rising barometer is what to look for.
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BTW, which one of you yahoos had the full-sized (quad door I think) truck out north of the South Entry Light on Saturday morning? I'm assuming you came in from Pequaming side, yes?
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BTW, which one of you yahoos had the full-sized (quad door I think) truck out north of the South Entry Light on Saturday morning? I'm assuming you came in from Pequaming side, yes?
it was a 4-door, saw the picture on facebook. can't remember who it was though and yeah, I'm pretty sure they went off of the pequaming side
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How far away from where there was open water the weekend before was the truck. That is gutty or just plain crazy.
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How far away from where there was open water the weekend before was the truck. That is gutty or just plain crazy.
Flag--Where I saw the truck driving and where it ended up parking, the ice was more than fine...probably 14" of black at least. This was only my second weekend that far north but there was ice and people as far as you could see. I'm betting it's been a while since open water. It's the driving to and from that would have been puckering although there seems to be few if any pressure cracks this year in the areas I've been fishing. Some broken ice to make travel difficult in some areas.
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" there was ice and people as far as you could see. I'm betting it's been a while since open water."
Chris: My boss drove by Big Traverse the previous weekend and said the water was open all along there. Indian Country Sales told my fishing buddy that it was open just off Point Abbaye according to the ice maps that weekend. That would seem to indicate that there was an open area somewhere withing the "far as you could see" area within a week from last weekend. I am not saying I saw it but I am merely putting together a couple of reports I heard. Be careful out there.
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I was north if Jocobsville last weekend and was fishing by open water. Just because it all looks white with the snow on top doesnt mean its all good. Watch your ass if you venture up that way.
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Good info. Thanks. FWIW, I am a bit more cautious than most when it comes to the ice.
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Found the picture of the truck out on big reef on facebook, here they are.
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t479/michwill72/truckatthereef_zps0bb8455f.jpg) (http://s1061.photobucket.com/user/michwill72/media/truckatthereef_zps0bb8455f.jpg.html)
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(http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m268/chase32/Mobile%20Uploads/B88E87A9-E0AE-4263-A665-16282E0BBD59_zpspaxyav4l.jpg) (http://s106.photobucket.com/user/chase32/media/Mobile%20Uploads/B88E87A9-E0AE-4263-A665-16282E0BBD59_zpspaxyav4l.jpg.html)
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I've never fished out any further than out from the end of Whir-I-Gig road myself. Is anyone willing to share coordinates of big reef with me? I think I may have to take a day off tomorrow to hit it before the high winds due on Friday bust up the ice. Thanks.
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if I had coordinates I'd give em to ya. I've never fished past pequaming.
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Let's hope the ice holds up to the winds! John Dee wasn't sure if it would or not. I know one thing, I am very glad that I am not sitting out there on the ice right now.
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Let's hope the ice holds up to the winds! John Dee wasn't sure if it would or not. I know one thing, I am very glad that I am not sitting out there on the ice right now.
Flag--Normally, I would agree on the wind and ice thing for the big lake. But given the big lake ice coverage that we have this year at this point, I really don't think it will have much impact on K-Bay. Wind hurts because it gets the ice to move or open water crashing against the face, but where is it going to move to or the waves come from at this point with the lack of open water? K-Bay will probably now act more like an inland lake in my opinion with the possible exception of increased cold and pressure cracks. Let's hope the increased snow weight doesn't start slushing out what little snow there was out there. Just my two cents though.
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Flag--Normally, I would agree on the wind and ice thing for the big lake. But given the big lake ice coverage that we have this year at this point, I really don't think it will have much impact on K-Bay. Wind hurts because it gets the ice to move or open water crashing against the face, but where is it going to move to or the waves come from at this point with the lack of open water? K-Bay will probably now act more like an inland lake in my opinion with the possible exception of increased cold and pressure cracks. Let's hope the increased snow weight doesn't start slushing out what little snow there was out there. Just my two cents though.
So much for that theory...I hear there's a fair bit of open water at White City. Guess it wasn't as locked up as I thought from of the MODIS sat.
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Chris: The more I think I know about the ice the more I seem to not know. All I knew was that the weather man on the radio, John Dee, said we could lose ice with this wind. It doesn't always have to have a place to go when it gets pushed. My wife and I were out from Assinins a few years ago on a beautiful winter day. There was not a lot of wind and it was not too cold. We fished until late afternoon and then walked back to shore. While we were getting closer to shore I was confused by what I was seeing. We had walked out on a flat surface but now there appeared to be a ridge between us and the shore in places. Sure enough, as we got closer, I could see that the ice sheet had moved toward shore as we were out there fishing and our trail back was impassable. Where a crack had formed the ice pushing against it made the sheets either crack in the / \ direction or in the \ / direction. In the areas where the ice went down there was about 3 or 4 feet of water about 10 feet across. Where it went up there was about a 4 foot ridge of ice with unknown strength at the base sticking above the surface of the lake. We had to walk along the crack almost all the way up to Carla's restaurant to get to the shore. We were never in any danger but my wife was freaking out.
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The other thing is that the ice is not LOCKED up in Superior right now. There are visible cracks in the ice sheet on MODIS and if you can see a crack on the sat photos that means its gotta be at least a mile or so wide. When the wind starts pushing, the large sheets will all go in one direction and the 1 mile cracks will add up to a whole lot wider section of open water. I live in Marquette and the ice had been here for about a month. when the wind started humpin the other day the ice blew away and you couldnt see it anymore, even from the top of Marquette Mountain. Its a big lake and it'll do as it pleases.
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The other thing is that the ice is not LOCKED up in Superior right now. There are visible cracks in the ice sheet on MODIS and if you can see a crack on the sat photos that means its gotta be at least a mile or so wide. When the wind starts pushing, the large sheets will all go in one direction and the 1 mile cracks will add up to a whole lot wider section of open water. I live in Marquette and the ice had been here for about a month. when the wind started humpin the other day the ice blew away and you couldnt see it anymore, even from the top of Marquette Mountain. Its a big lake and it'll do as it pleases.
Roger that!!!
I laugh when I hear people say the lake is froze or 98% froze. Ya, it might have been "froze" (skim) at one time but it is far from "locked in"
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The lake sure has a different look today than it did on Thursday on the MODIS site. I'd say we lost at least 35% of the ice cover. Is Big Reef still ice covered?
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Looks like majorities of Keweenaw bay ice is still there!
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Not many people on Keweenaw Bay on Saturday. Too cold? I saw about 6 trucks parked on Des Rochers road and there were only about that many at the parking lot at the end of Whirl-I-Gig road.
My wife and I went out on Rice Lake this afternoon for a while. That was a MISTAKE! Deep snow, thick ice, and very cold! Not many fish hitting either.
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The lake sure has a different look today than it did on Thursday on the MODIS site. I'd say we lost at least 35% of the ice cover. Is Big Reef still ice covered?
Flag--I fished closer to Baraga this weekend for Burbs on Sat and Lakers on Sun but spoke with a guy coming off at Derochers on Sat. He was still fishing north of the Jacobsville light on thick ice using a sled. By the looks of things, I'd say ice is still good from South Entry across to the other side and points south. Like you say, not many people were out this weekend. It was cold with that wind.
I'll be switching to the Portage to finish up the walleye season and then shifting back to K-Bay after that and/or other inlands for pannies.
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Anyone been catching any lakers off any of the walking spots (tire shop, squaw beach, pequaming, etc.)?
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Took a ride to day and went by the gig there was only two trucks there but it was alsp middle of the day. We also went by Des rochers road and there was between 6 and 10 trucks there didnt really count them.
How far out are people going off of des rochers? I plan on trying the gig this weekend or some time early next week. Also out of pequaming how far are people going to get on fish? I will be brining the sled just trying to get my first laker through the ice..
I have hear the bigalow many times but no clue where that is anyone want to fill me in
63r where is the tire shop?
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Tire shop is right by the pines gas station. It is now the KBIC police station. There is a road down to the lake where I have seen trucks in the past. I am also looking for my first laker, but want to avoid hauling a sled down. I know its not a bad walk off of squaw beach and several other places, but I have also heard of spots on the lanse side that only require about a mile walk. I am not familiar with them though.
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Ahh ok i know where that is..
I know off of the whirlgig it is about a mile mile and half walk out with a nice parking spot. That is on lanse side off of bayshore road i think it is called.
At that distance out you will be in 200 to 270 feet of water.
I walked it once but with no shack and no way to get my gear out besides carry it i am gonna drag the snowmobile in. Kind of a rough walk carrying a gas auger bait poles and a seat.
If anyone would like to get together and fish let me know if i have the sled i could pull you and your gear out Just let me know.
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Chris how did ya do on burbs? Thats another fish i would like to catch.
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trapper I was working in Pequaming yesterday right next to the Bungalow spot and was about 6 trucks parked there. everyone had snow machines and they all went north when they got on ice. If you follow Bayshore rd north out of lanse, stay on that rd you will drive past what the call first sands beach, where the lake is right next to rd.You come to a T in rd. turn left that is Pequaming,follow rd it will turn to the north, you will go past half dozen houses on your left hand side and see a century 21 sign and see where everyone is going on the ice. Guy I work with has been fishing there he goes 3 miles north and has been doing real well. but you can go straight out from there and not vary far and your in 200feet of water also.
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Anyone been catching any lakers off any of the walking spots (tire shop, squaw beach, pequaming, etc.)?
You can walk to laker water off the turnout on 41 by the Mission as well. Get in 100+ feet of water and you shouldn't have too much problem finding a laker or two, fish aren't monsters by any stretch though.
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Chris how did ya do on burbs? Thats another fish i would like to catch.
I did fairly well on them when I fished for them Sat. morning. The largest was 35" which was a new PB for me on Lake Superior. They quit biting by 11:00 or so (sun was out that day).
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Ahh ok i know where that is..
I know off of the whirlgig it is about a mile mile and half walk out with a nice parking spot. That is on lanse side off of bayshore road i think it is called.
At that distance out you will be in 200 to 270 feet of water.
I walked it once but with no shack and no way to get my gear out besides carry it i am gonna drag the snowmobile in. Kind of a rough walk carrying a gas auger bait poles and a seat.
If anyone would like to get together and fish let me know if i have the sled i could pull you and your gear out Just let me know.
Trapper. If you head out straight toward Assinins from Whirl-I-Gig lot you only have to go about .7 of a mile to be over 250' deep water.
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Im going to try some jigging for lakers sunday out of pequaming, I've never fished out there before. Can anyone give me a little info on depths to look for? I'll have a 4 wheeler to get me around so distance dont really matter.
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23 trucks off the Bungalow this morning 6 at Whirli- Gig and one at Jentoffs.
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In your guys eyes what spot would be best bet for a guy to get his first ice laker? Also what is the best time of day? Just wondering if ya guys do better in the morning or afternoon.
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We have been doing quite well out from Whirl-I-Gig. I don't usually get an early start so we are not there before late morning/early afternoon but a lot of people catch fish in the mornings too. We have had good success late in the day too. The best time to fish is when you can.
Just drop a jig down to the bottom out there and bounce it up and down. Usually you want to keep it within 3" to12" from the bottom with an occasional bounce off the bottom and an occasional lift up of several feet. If you come out there on Saturday you can look for a pair of red Eskimo shelters. My wife and I would be glad to offer any other advice. We are not experts by any means but we have been successful much more often than not. Good luck wherever you go.
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Flag thanks for the offer looks like i wont be able to make it until monday now. Thats ok tho suppose to be 42 degs so atleast i wont freeze with out a shack hahaha. If ta could tho please report back would like to know how the fishing is and snow depth. If it is passable with a 2wd wheeler i may bring that instead of the sled.
I have some friends who are going off of Des Rochers today i can let ya guys know how they did they have a big group with them..
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Forget the 2WD! There is enough snow, (8"-12")?, that is wind packed to make it interesting on our 4X4 machines. We were able to make it out and back without getting stuck but we did bog down a number of times along the way. With the 4X4s we could just power on through but a 2 WD would have really had trouble. It may be better further north but I don't know anything about that. Fishing was somewhat slow for us today out there. My wife caught 5, 4 legal, and I caught 3. The biggest was about 22". I talked briefly with a Tribal Law Enforcement officer that came by on a snowmobile and he said everyone was having a slow day from what he saw. It has been pretty steady out there this winter so you still have a good chance if you go Monday.
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Flag thanks for the info guess i drag the sled in. How thick was the ice? I may just walk out tomorrow if so i was thinking of just carrying the spud out instead of the heavy auger.
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So snow conditions are making it tough for travel on the bay?
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The ice is probably at least 2' thick off of Whirl-I-Gig. A spud would be a lot of work if you aren't just opening up a previously drilled hole.
The snow, while it has some depth, did not prevent us from riding with 4X4s on and off the lake. It just made it more difficult. If you have some youth left it probably isn't as tough for you. I haven't had any left myself for a while and it does make it more challenging.
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Anybody having any real luck in areas within walking distance?
I'm sad to say this is my last winter up here , I would really love to get a few lakers through the ice!
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Yeah every spot out there is in walking distance except for the reef.
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There are fish at the base of the dropoffs from Carlas down to the tire shop on the west side and Jentofts up past the whirligig on the East side. Walking is easy now with the snow being packed tight but the fish are mostly small and the last few trips have been picky; more hanging on than biting. The shallower flats seem empty lately and I don't care to fish the deep 240+ for the fish with so many leeches hanging off the chin they look like beards. GA73 described them that way once and it stuck in my head. ;D
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Well i made it out yesterday 3-14. I ended up going off of wirli gig. I did take the 2 wd wheeler and once ya get past the one area close to shore it wasnt bad at all. I sat out on the ice for about 4 hours and ended up the day with two. I missed way to much tho. The rain sucked tho but hey here is a couple pics think imma try to get back out befor the ice goes a way.. the small one was my first laker on the ice.
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z5/Ozlow3686/2014-03-14_17-39-42_783_zpsyfk1ixx2.jpg) (http://s188.photobucket.com/user/Ozlow3686/media/2014-03-14_17-39-42_783_zpsyfk1ixx2.jpg.html)
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How is the snow off of the bungalow?
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Sunup, how deep are you talking when you say the base of the drop offs on the west side?
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Where do you access the lake from on Des Rochers road? I see the vehicles parked on the south leg of the road but I don't know where you go from there to reach the water. I assume that people are heading out to Farmers Reef from there? How has the fishing been there lately?
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East of the Mission there is a slowly deepening flat that goes about 3/4 mile to about 200' then drops quickly to 245. That is the base, then it gradually deepens to 270' or so. Up by Carla's it's about 1 1/4 mile to 125' then a drop to 265 and a deeper flat out to 300 or so. Play with that Navionics app and you'll see what it looks like. Many fishermen like the deep flats but I prefer the base and up the sides of the drops. At Derocher's rd there is a trail that runs through someone's camp yard a little South of the corner where everyone parks. I never felt right about going through without knowing the property owner and haven't since 2005(?). Can't remember any more. But the fishing was great. Released this one and many others like it that trip. Millertime put us on that bunch of fish and I thank him to this day.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v485/sunup/Ice%20fishing/March1405009.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/sunup/media/Ice%20fishing/March1405009.jpg.html)
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That camp owner is fine with it as long as no one liters or messes with the camp.
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We were out yesterday 3-16 off of the gig. Had a beautiful day to be out on the ice with some good company.
Fishing was slow for most of the day then picked up are 5ish ended up with 3 lakers and got me my first ellpout. Ice was damn near perfect condition could run where ever on the 2wd wheeler plus walking was easy as can be.
Here is some pics.
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z5/Ozlow3686/2014-03-16_22-06-04_441_zps7uh5yooc.jpg) (http://s188.photobucket.com/user/Ozlow3686/media/2014-03-16_22-06-04_441_zps7uh5yooc.jpg.html)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z5/Ozlow3686/2014-03-16_13-39-24_391_zpsaxuzugvp.jpg) (http://s188.photobucket.com/user/Ozlow3686/media/2014-03-16_13-39-24_391_zpsaxuzugvp.jpg.html)
(http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z5/Ozlow3686/2014-03-16_19-14-27_504_zps78qlzxzc.jpg) (http://s188.photobucket.com/user/Ozlow3686/media/2014-03-16_19-14-27_504_zps78qlzxzc.jpg.html)
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We were out yesterday 3-16 off of the gig. Had a beautiful day to be out on the ice with some good company.
Fishing was slow for most of the day then picked up are 5ish ended up with 3 lakers and got me my first ellpout. Ice was damn near perfect condition could run where ever on the 2wd wheeler plus walking was easy as can be.
Trapper: Thanks for the info.
A week sure makes a huge difference in travel out there. You could walk or ride anywhere out there without sinking in the snow this past weekend. The weekend before you would not have made it out there with the 2wd. It was even tough to walk around between the holes. I hope we don't get too much snow now this week so traveling stays easy.
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Anyone know if Indian country sports has spawn sacs?
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Anyone else driving trucks out to the reef since that guy back in February?
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Any updates/tips for some kids looking to catch some of their first lakers? We would be hoofing it and using rods/reels. Sounds like most of the bigger fish are quite a ways out, but we would be content with just catching lakers of any size!
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Anyone else driving trucks out to the reef since that guy back in February?
roger
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IceFisher 40..you can do alright just walking out from jentofts dock. stop at indian country sports n pick up some jigs n smelt n ask steve koski for directions..he'll help ya out
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About ten trucks were on the reef this past saturday still over 2 ft thick fishing the reef has been slow though for most
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Might make one more run out there before it starts breaking up.
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We tried out from DesRochers rd. this morning. We went, I think, to Farmers Reef. It was about 2.15 miles out from the Highway straight out from the old clinic building. I dropped my line down in 70' of water, jigged it about 3 times and caught a 23" laker. We never got another bite! I still have no idea where the other reefs are located but we saw quite a number of people to the SE of us at least a mile or more away. There were also a lot of people out to the NE. I don't know how close they were to the open water but I didn't want to find out. Anybody else have any luck out there today? Where is Big Reef really? GPS coordinates?
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Hey flag where is the open water at?
We are gonna go out tomorrow not sure of we are gonna go to the gig or maybe the bungalow. Trying to help some.friends get a first.
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Look at the Modis images of the Lake Superior ice cover. The easy way to find them is to go the Indian Country Sports home page and click on the link. It runs roughly from the tip of the Keweenaw to Point Abbaye to somewhere south of Traverse Bay. It isn't completely open but it is not the solid ice that you want to fish on.
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Theres not much if any open water. Rabbit island is 12 miles north of farmers reef and there's ice passed that. You're safe. Check this out. http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/webdata/cwops/html/modis/modis.php?region=s&page=1
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Theres not much if any open water. Rabbit island is 12 miles north of farmers reef and there's ice passed that. You're safe. Check this out. http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/webdata/cwops/html/modis/modis.php?region=s&page=1
You had better look at the images again Chase. That "ice" from Point Abbaye to the tip of the Keweenaw seems to be moving around every day. There is a strip up the side of the peninsula, and it does look like that includes the water between Rabbit island and the shore, that looks like it is solid but the majority is not. It is not worth drowning over a couple of fish.
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We fished off of the bungalow on Sunday sure was a windy day and not many fish. Our group of 4 pulled up on fish i never even had a bite. The current was strong at times so it made it hard to stay in contact with the bottom. I am hopping to make it back out here soon thinking about just going back to the gig atleast i got some fish there lol.
Has anyone heard anything about the guy who lost his sled? A guy was telling me about it some said he dont know if the guy ever found it.
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Has anyone heard anything about the guy who lost his sled? A guy was telling me about it some said he dont know if the guy ever found it.
Was it the sled that got a bag hung up on the handle bars and took off ghost riding across the bay? I've been really curious if the sled was found but haven't heard anything.
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We went out from Whirl-I-Gig today again. Somebody quit just as we were heading out and we dropped our 1st line in one of his holes. I think we caught 3 trout there in the 1st hour and a couple of others in other holes as well. It slowed down at times throughout the day but we did wind up catching 11 fish in all with 8 of them being legal size. There were a couple of other spurts in action in the late afternoon and right around sunset.
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Anybody been out on the bay the last couple of days? How is the ice doing?
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Still feet of ice on the bay off of Whirl-I-Gig. We caught 7 lakers, 6 legal size, today. Not much snow or slush and easy traveling with the 4 wheelers. There weren't too many other fishermen out there though.
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How is the shoreline holding up?
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How is the shoreline holding up?
No problem off of the Gig lot but broken up in places elsewhere.
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Th Th Th at's all folks! My buddy was out from Whirl-I-Gig yesterday and said the ice is getting bad. It was a great season but everything has to end. It still may have some thickness but you never know where it is weak all the way through. Keep safe everyone and we will have to pick this talk up in Dec.