Dead River Basin?

[Icefisher40]

Does anybody ever fish the Dead River Basin in the winter? I fished it a few times in the summer, and just now had the idea of ice fishing it.

I assume that it freezes over solid? I've caught a bunch of pike out of there softwater fishing. Does it produce in the winter too?

[blacknoise]

really depends on where you go.  I know a lot of people that do fish it in the winter, with pretty good success, different areas provide different fishing.  Off of North Camp Road, if you can get onto the lake, it is great for pike/walleye, we were at a friends camp a few weekends ago, a good 17 inches of ice, fishing in about 8 feet of water with tip-ups and walleye/pike minnows.  Caught 2 keeper 'eyes, and a couple pike we could have kept, but didn't wanna go through the hassle of cleaning after we had polished off the keg.

[gofish22]

Couple friends tried it yesterday and missed a tip and one on the jig near north camp. Never really fished it much myself but have heard very mixed opinions.

[UPFishbucket]

My uncle was telling me about the basin, said its good for pike.  I only see south camp road on a map right around the middle on the south side.  Where bouts is the access and how far is it to fish from where you park?  I have a snowmobile just wondering wherebouts people usually fish west middle or east side.  Also how is the ice in there any current or unsafe spots? 

[blacknoise]

As far as I can remember,  the only access is the clark creek launch, but I could be wrong.  If you are going that far, I would suggest skipping the basin and heading up to silver lake.  Some monster pike up there, not unusual to pull multiple 40 inchers out in one day

[UPFishbucket]

Actually! thats what he was telling me silver lake, but i asked if that was the same as the dead river basin and he said ya.  Whats the deal with silver then, access, ice, depths.  All info appreciated!

[blacknoise]

I dont know too much about the lake, but most people fish right off the boat launch, lots of poplar trees under the water from when it was drained a while back.  Lots of cover and structure there.

[upblindfisherman]

Can you access silver lake in the winter?

[Icefisher40]

Can you access silver lake in the winter?

I didn't know you could access it at all...

[blacknoise]

you can, you have to go passed the silver lake access sign, and down another 5 or so miles, there is a road off to the left that brings you to the lake, winter time you need a snowmobile, but summer time there's camping sites and a road to put boats in.