Fishing Report December 2010

December 28-30, 2010  Lake of the Woods (L.O.W.)

I fished out of the Baudette area where the Rainy River enters LOW with a couple friends and some new transportation technology called a Snow Bear.  We had snowmobiles and portable shacks, as well, but this new Snow Bear is quite fun.  It's like a Bombadier with skiis on front and tracks on the back, but the cabin is like the inside of a van.  When you get to your fishing spot, hydraulics lower the whole cabin unit right down onto the ice and you fish through the floor.  It steers much easier than a bombadier and is more comfortable to ride, with cushion seats on pedestals like in your boat.  I put a few photos in the CATCH PHOTOS section to give you a better picture of this machine.  We caught a very nice mixture of walleyes and saugers, most all good eater size, with a few bigger throw backs and the ever present eelpout.

December 18-19, 2010

Most lakes in the area have a good base of solid ice in the 10-12 inch range.  I found 13 inches of good ice on Bungey Bay of Woman Lake as well as a few cooperative walleyes and perch.  A few more cold nights to form more ice and we should be in good shape for the season.  I was fishing in the 20-21 foot range with fatheads on vertical spoons.  I caught perch at mid-day, but the walleyes only showed up in the 4:30-5:00 PM window.

December 4-5, 2010

The main basin of Woman Lake froze over Wednesday night / Thursday morning 12/2/10.  With the predicted cold weather next week, we may get enough ice to be fishing by next weekend.  The smaller lakes are reported to have 4-5 inches, but be very cautious and test the ice before you walk out.  We have the whole ice fishing season ahead of us, so don't go rushing out there before you KNOW it is safe.  It will still be a while before ATVs, snowmobiles, and permanent ice shacks can be safely brought onto the lakes, but not too long.  Get your gear ready now, so you will be ready when the ice is ready.