How has the early ice fishing for walleyes gone so far this year for the lakes that have ice. I haven't been able to get out because I am at college now and the lake the school is on is not frozen yet(Portage Lake in the UP). Just wanted to know if this year is going to be a good one.

Icefishingmaniac

its going to be quite some time before there is any safe ice.

We will have safe ice in no time at all my friend.

Kinda depends on where you're at now, eh?



Dusty

I will be finaly getting out on the ice on Thursday. I had the first of my three finals this morning. Only two to go and they are the easy ones. I have talked to a buddy back home and we are going out friday. Does anyone have any sugestions on how to pick up some walleyes?

icefishingmaniac:

Howdy...

I'm in the same boat as you are........(no pun intended)
Taking finals this week, then it's 3 1/2 weeks off for christmas break. Will probably be working a good share of that time, but intend to get out on the ice some also. May I ask where your from? Eastern South Dakota here....finally making some good ice this week by the looks of it.

Hi,
I am from central Wisconsin but I go to Michigan Technological University. Michigan Tech is on one of the best walleye waters in the nation (Portage Lake and Portage Chanel). They had the world championships for walleyes here the last two years. It is a very big lake and it is connected to Lake Superior so it freezes late. I hope to fish out there next semester. Back in Wisconsin where I live most small lakes are frozen. The big ones however did not freze yet. The lake I ice fish most is small and frozen now. I hope to be out there on Thursday to get some walleyes and notherns. Good luck to you

Icefishingmaniac

Hey bullhead
Im in Sioux Falls, were do you plan on doing any ice fishing around here? Are some of those lakes in your area froze yet? Please respond because it seems like nobody around here knows anything

Icefishingmaniac:

In effort to modify fellow, national, student relations.....I believe it would be quite appropriate for us to get together on Lake Portage for some serious walleye fishing. ;) ha ha.

Thank you, and best of luck to you also. Let me know if you ever get up to eastern South Dakota.


Walley250:

Yes, we do have some lakes froze over up here. As a matter of fact, a few anglers made it out onto oak lake, over thanksgiving weekend, (3-4" of good clear ice)....and had some pretty good luck. Since then however, the wind did open up parts of the lake.

However, I drove out there this afternoon, and it is once again frozen over completely, after a couple of nites @ 3-4 deg F. (Probably not real safe yet.) At this point, the water temp is low enough, all it will take is a H pressure, providing calm, clear and cool nites, and I think we'll see ice on our bigger waters.

As of right now the shallower lakes (4-6') are iced over, however Poinsett, Thompson are mostly open. The wind hasnt been cooperating very well! I dont think it will be long now.

Good Luck and maybe see you out there this winter!

All I can offer is hearsay, since I have been too busy to get out myself, but a guy at work said that a few guys are walking out on Bitter Lake and on the south end of Waubay. Not a whole lot of ice, about 3-5" at best. Haven't heard if they are doing well or not. We could really use one good cold snap to solidify things. We would be a lot better off if we get some good, solid ice before the snow starts piling up.