The deep cold weather from the previous weeks made the water column temperature drop significantly from the top of the lake all the way to the bottom
The deep cold weather from the previous weeks made the water column temperature drop significantly from the top of the lake all the way to the bottom. Then there was a major warm up last week which changed the ice conditions of the area we had been fishing. So, what happened when we warmed up to a 70–80-degree temperature change after a long cold spell? The ice shifted, heaved, cracked and moved. So, we get out the bridges and change locations. Currently we are spread out across 6 miles of good ice and have schools traveling through.
The snow and ice cover on the lake are seeming to make an effect by creating less light and oxygen in the water. We are seeing the bite is now becoming more of an aggressive reaction, instead of feeding bite. The schools are moving around slowly and Anglers are seeing a lot of traffic on their electronics. Fish can go without feeding for a long period of time and current conditions are making it more of a challenge to get them to bite. Mastering the art of making them bite is the key to success. Many times, smaller presentations work better in this environment.
Captain BJ says gold has been a really good color, plain yellow hooks, and jigs with a reflective eye seem to be working well. The larger Walleyes have been coming from 8-10 feet off the bottom, indicating that is the warmest part of the water column. Active jigging is best, change hooks often when it seems as if the Walleye won’t take your current bait.
It looks like the Weathervane will spin again this week with winds starting from the North then coming from the South midweek and back from the North by the end of the week. We show temperatures from -9 and up to the 40’s. Are we in for a roller coaster, or is it just the forecasting? We will see.
COVID-19 update: We continue to follow Minnesota Department of Health guidelines to do our part in preventing the spread. We are providing disposable tableware for our cabin guests to use during their stays with us. Our fish houses, outhouses, and transportation are sanitized daily. We don’t have any idea when we will be able to return to normal but we sure hope it’s soon. Until then, we will continue to be diligent in our efforts to keep our staff and guests safe and healthy.
FISH ON!
1-800-PRO FISH
