Johnson Sauk

[boscolab]

I was in the area last week so I took a drive through the park. The road around the shallow end was closed but I managed to drive over by the dam. There was still open water in the middle near the dam. The rest was locked up and clear looking.

Has anyone been through there since? Any ice reports? Do they normally close the road on the south end or is it because of the snow? I plan to go fish this place for the first time Saturday but want to know what I am getting myself into before I make the hour drive.

Thanks
Manny

[k3crappies]

was there today and the center of jhonson lake looked still open with lots of geese didnt even cheek ice depth went over to sauk trail pond and fished with a buddy ice was a sold 5in caught 6 crappie 8 to 9 inches n wore the dink bluegills out lol lost count at 100 bigest was 7 1/2 all on wax worm on a 1/16 slender spoon and dimond jigs no big fish just felt good to get out n catch some fish on hard water

[bigbucky1]

Sauk trail has that  aerator so if u deciede to fish it I would park up the hill from the launch and walk down to the shallow end on the bank. 

[boscolab]

Anybody know how the lake looks after the tragic warm up? Is Mautino in bad shape too?

Thanks folks

[blufloyd]

Was a lot of ice on the canal on Monday past... Planning on hitting that other spot I fished last week tomorrow.....

[bigbucky1]

I rode by mautinos on sat morning and every pond had open water.  I would bet a couple of weeks of waiting again.  I would almost bet sauk is the same way.

[SHANE S]

Are you fishing Mautino tomorrow. I was thinking about heading there tomorrow depending on ice conditions

[bigbucky1]

I'm not. Probably wont for a while. Iwould be really careful if you go to mautinos. Every edge was open ands few had open spots in the middle

[SHANE S]

Ya I'm gona take your advice I might try closer to Galesburg area. I checked some lakes I have access to and they had just a little water around the edges and the ice was a lot thicker than around Peoria. I did buy two pairs of the STRICKER ICE BIBS. They are supposed to keep a man afloat if you go through but I really don't want to see how good they are supposed to work 

[boscolab]

Planning for a Monday outing. If not at Johnson and Mautinos, I may driver straight north and check out Blu's choice spot.

[blufloyd]

Want to save gas let me know drive by all the time....  Thursday I'll be checking with these.

[boscolab]

The hope is that Mautinos has made the turn for the better. That is our Monday wish. Anybody check the ice in the last two days? Any guesses how it will look Monday?
Since they are calling for windy conditions, we are going to stick to small protected waters. Mazonia is the backup. That one place you talked about is too out in the open for Monday. Maybe Mazonia if Mautinos is a no go.

[blufloyd]

Trouble with small protected mazonia water is the springs, I stay clear of the small waters after some real ugly situations. If pondo isn't locked up the rest are iffy if you are exploring.

I am thinking 5 deg and 45 mph wind I can take a day off.

[bigbucky1]

Checked mautinos this morning all the edges look sketchy and a pocket of open water on all of them somewhere