Skunked On Sullivan Final Trip of 2020

 

4:30-6:30PM 25'-27' Tullibee Hole

20℉, Cloudy, 3-8mph SE

I didn't have a banner final trip of 2020. Got started late. Didn't hit my spot because I didn't zoom in enough. Got the line that I just put on yesterday backlashed pretty good because I didn't lower the minnow down carefully.  Moved closer to the Tul Hole. Had some sniffers. Had a minnow get stolen and didn't notice. Got the line situation straightened out on the bobber rod. Had more sniffers. Pulling the Trap back was a pain, but not as bad as the other night. So 2020 ends as it began, with a skunk.

Skunked at Sullivan

 4:00-5:30PM 25' Sunfish Hole

10-15℉, Clear,  1-10mph

It was cold. The heater didn't want to fire right away for some reason. Had a sniffer there at the end. Skunked!

Caught A Pike and Met the New C.O.

18" Glow Demon/Minnow

4:15-5:30PM 25' Sunfish Hole

16-18℉, Cloudy light snow, 6-12mph N

Watched the Bears beat the Jags badly. Don't know why I got such a late start; Probably because I wasn't that into going in the first place. I decided to hit the Sunfish Hole in Sullivan because it's not much of a walk Drilled on the Spot and deeper and shallower. Started in the deeper holes. Marked something but it didn't bite. Got the pike on the Spot. It took the bobber under, but I didn't notice it immediately. I was lucky I hooked it in the side of the mouth. That was the last fish I marked and my line was freezing up so I headed in at 5:30 or so. Pulling the Trap back in was way harder than pulling it out. I had to stop and rest a few times. I ended up leaving the Trap and carrying the ON the final 70 yards.  I backed the SUV down the ramp then went and got the Trap. When I was most of the way back CO Vang showed up. I introduced myself and he checked my license. He helped me put the Trap in the truck.  I imagine I'll be seeing a lot of him. I asked him where he was from, meaning from MN and he answered Thailand which gave me a chuckle.  He told me he grew up in North MPLS. Seemed like a good guy.

1 Pike

 

Windy Trip To Sullivan

I just wasn't that into fishing today, so it took forever for me to get the car packed and get off to the lake. I made a last-second decision on which access on Sullivan I would go to, the West one. Then when I got there I picked a spot on the Navionics that looked good and was close. Turns out there was some guy sitting where I put the pin. I stopped about 40-50' short and drilled from what I thought was shallow to deep. Turns off the Map App was off and I was in deep water from the very first hole. That threw me off and led to a bit of confusion in interpreting what the FL-8 was showing me. I was reading something suspended as bottom and I may have been getting interference from the other guy. The water was about 40'. Eventually, I got things figured out, but by then the suspended stuff was gone. I didn't mark anything. I stopped briefly where a house had been earlier in the day on my way in. Didn't mark anything there either. I decided I had enough. Other than the wind it was actually pretty nice out. It's going to get cold and we are getting snow as well. Hopefully, I'll still be able to get out without too much effort. 
 

Evening On Long (Last Second Switch)

10" Glow Demon Spoon/Maki Polli

4:15-6:00PM 33-34' LOng Lake

27-28℉, Cloudy, 10-15mph NW

I was kind of sluggish about getting out due to the wind. I was going to hit Rock, but when I saw no one was fishing Long tonight I turned the truck around at South Platte Lake Drive. When I got to the access on Long there was a truck parked. It was three guys with two rods, a depth finder, and an auger. I went right out to my spot and marked fish, but didn't catch anything and the fish disappeared. I found fish just a little deeper and caught 4 of them. I missed 5 or 6 bites on the Fly. The final fish of the night was the 10" on the Glow Demon Spoon. I caught both bites on the minnow.

4 Crips

 

I Caught Some Sunfish, Amazin!

6" VMC Fly/Waxie

4:15-6:00PM Out Front Platte Lake

20-25℉, PC, 3-5mph S

I was babysitting Mac today along with keeping the fire burning. I didn't think much of my fishing plan.  Go out in the area I've seen people catch fish trolling out front of our place in the Fall and hope maybe I catch something. I drilled holes three sets of holes in 8-9' of water. There were some weeds growing a little off the bottom in the first set of holes. I had what I think was a pike or walleye bug the minnow for a few seconds. I saw the fish's tail briefly on the camera. As it was getting dark some sunnies moved in. I caught 3 and saw 2 on the camera.

3 Sunfish

 

Morning Trip to LOng/Peavy in the Evening

 

10" BTGD/minnow

8:00-9:30PM Long Lake 33-35' 10' of bottom

27℉, Cloudy, 7-12mph SE

There was one guy out fishing when I arrived. I went out to my initial spot where I caught them this year. I got 3 fish there before they disappeared. I got 4 more closer toward the deep hole. I had enough at 9:30AM. I found out at Bear Trax that people are going out on Peavy and Sullivan. Got more on the 5 on the Demon and two on the Fly. If my bite detection was better I would get more fish on the Fly.

7 Crips

10.5" VMC Fly/Maggies

5:00-7:30PM 57' My Old Spot 20' off the bottom

30-36℉, PC, 0-3mph S

So I headed over to Peavy. A guy who was checking ice for putting out a spear house told me there were 6 to 7-inches. I spudded my way once I got to the hump. I drilled on my spot than in a circle toward shore. I put a minnow down and checked the other holes. I didn't see anything. I marked something perch like on the bottom. Then I marked something 20' off the bottom. I lowered the minnow down to that level and got a bite there on the Fly that I lost halfway up. I then got a fish on the minnow. Had a couple lookers, then nothing for half an hour. I went and checked holes again nothing. I drilled holes toward the hump. I marked something in the very first new hole, so I quickly drilled a second. I got one fish there on the minnow and one in my old set on the Fly. I had a couple of lookers and that was it. It was a nice night to be out.  The batteries were running low on my headlamp and Lantern so I called it a night.

3 Crips

Ice Fishing (smh)

4:00-5:15PM 34' Long Lake

30℉, PC, 0-3mph E

There were 5 or 6 trucks at the access and they were all at the hole.  I drilled three sets of holes and marked fish in the third set. I caught the one fish of the night there on the VMC Fly. I also missed 5 or 6 bites on the Fly. Didn't set the hook on the minnow, but had a couple fish play with the minnow. I didn't feel like pulling teeth so I pulled the plug early.

1 Crip

 

Skunked At Rock

 Had other things on my mind tonight (LN). I went to Long first and there were 4 cars and three portables out in the hole. I decided to go to Rock instead. There was a guy fishing on the NE side of the lake. I went to my spot. Marked a few perch and maybe one sunny. It wasn't happening and I didn't feel like trying the Sunken Island so I headed in. The other guy was also on his way in. We exchanged fishing stories for maybe 10 to 15 minutes.

Forgot The Rods, Snow Sucks, Vikes Lost

 Didn't take any pic's again

4:45-6:00PM 35' about 35' north of my spot

28℉, Cloudy snow, 3-10mph W

Vikes lost to the Bucs because Bailey forgot how to kick. The Refs didn't help either bailing the Bucs out several times. I was pretty salty with how the game turned out. I didn't give the Vikes much of a chance because the Bucs were coming off their bye week. The Vikes actually outplayed TB and deserved to win. Oh well. The Vikes may be able to get in at 8-8, but next week vs. the Bears isn't going to be a gimme.

I went to Bear Trax to pick up more minnows. I took my stuff out of the SUV and then realized I forgot to grab my rod bag. So I called dad to have him bring the rods up. I then walked out to the deep hole. There was a house set up in my spot, so I went about 35' to the North drilled two sets of holes then walked back to meet Dad. He was driving up just as I got to the road. I then walked back. Didn't mark anything where I was sitting. Checked the holes that were a little farther North and there was something there so I quickly moved. Caught 3 on the VMC Fly/maggot and 1 on the Bear Trax Demon/minnow. I think I missed 3 fish on the Demon and 2 on the Fly. Just not many opportunities tonight. There was a lot of junk in the water tonight and I wasn't getting bit so I called it a night early. The snow made getting back to the SUV a PIA. I didn't have any traction and lost one of my ice spikes along the way. I carried the auger and minnows separately from the Fish Trap. I still struggled to pull the Trap, ridiculous. 

4 Crip

4 Crips

Lots of Missed Bites Again Tonight

 No Pic's taken

4:30-6:30PM 33' Same Place as last night.

29℉, Cloudy, 3-4mph W

There was a guy set up in the deep hole. I went straight to yesterday's holes. I think I missed the first 3 bites. fish were on the minnow tonight. They ran on the small side tonight. Kept 4 released 5. Probably missed 12 bites.  I talked to the other guy as he was packing up. He said he lost quite a few halfway up. He had the same AA Jacket as me. Used to have a place on the lake, now lives up in Brainerd. I think I caught one more after he left.

9 Crips 

Caught Some On Long

11.75" Bear  Trax Demon/minnow

3:00-7:10PM Long 33

29-31℉', Cloudy, 3-10mph NE

I went out to the deepest spot on Long, didn't find anything. I ended up drilling holes to the West into about 25-feet. Had a few small marks sniff. At 4PM I was frustrated and packed up. I decided to check a hole on my way back. Bingo, fish suspended 8-10 off the bottom.  I quickly got the Fly rod out and put a 9-inch crappie on the ice. I then had a bit of a clown show getting water in a bucket and getting a minnow down.  Before I had just gotten the fly back down the hole when the bobber went under. Not a crappie, so I put the Bantum Reel into back reel. Good thing because a 23" pike took several runs. I got it pulled about 40% out of the hole and I could see the Demon safely logged in the side of its mouth. I went to grab the fish; It freaked snapped the line and went right back down the hole. Clown show meets shit show. Was not happy. Got another Demon rigged and put a minnow down. Lots of bites on the minnow and a few on the fly. I got 11 crappies on the Demon and 2 on the Fly. I missed more than I caught, very frustrating. Missed the last bite of the evening. As I was packing up the propane ran out.

13 Crips

1 Pike

 

Morning Skunk at Rock, Almost the Same In the Evening

 7:00-8:00AM Sunken Island Rock Lake

I expected there to be holes together from the two guys who were out last night, but there was only one set that was together and much to my dismay all the holes they drilled were hard frozen. I fished a little bit and it wasn't happening. I saw one perch and one pike on the Aqua-Vu. I didn't have any energy so I packed up and left by 8AM. I stopped at Bulldog to see if anyone was fishing there, nope. There was a spear laying there, however.  I drove to the GOMH to see if anyone was fishing Sullivan.  Didn't see any activity on either lake. There were some swans swimming.

3:30-5:00PM Rock SW Point

5:30-6:30PM Bulldog Hole Holy Family

So I went to the SW underwater point on Rock. Couldn't find any green weeds. Saw one sunfish. Marked a few perch and caught one. Had one sniffer high up close to shore and had a good mark sniff me in the hole where I saw the sunfish. I pulled the plug at 5PM and headed to Bulldog. The spear was still there. Didn't mark anything. It was a bit windy. Another disappointing trip.

Wasn't Happening On Rock Tonight

 3:00-6:30PM My Spot, North Hole

31-46℉, PC, 0-3mph SW

I headed north and drilled holes along the weed edge along the reeds to the cane patch and back along the basin. Didn't see a single sunny or pike. Caught some perch and saw some spot tail shiners in the basin area between the reeds and cane. At 4PM I decided to head to the spot North of the point where there are always houses. Should have drilled more holes. Had a couple sniffers and caught small crappie. On my way back I rechecked my first holes. Nothing. I should have headed back quicker than I did.  There were two guys that arrived just after I got there. They set up at the sunken island and didn't move.  That is going to be where I try next. Had C-130's buzz the lake a few times. 

Only Perch This Morning

 

7:30-10:00AM Sunfish Spot Rock Lake 

I went straight to the Sunfish Spot. Possibly had one sunfish or crappie sniff me when I was hole hoping first thing. Didn't see anything on the camera but Perch. I caught a bunch of them that were hanging around a big rock. I was hoping some sunfish, bass, crappie, or pike might move through. The wind came up which made checking the holes a pain. I didn't drill any new holes. I got frustrated and tired, so I just sat there picking off perch.

56 Perch

Saw Fish, Caught Fish

First Fish Ice 20/21

First Crappie 7"

May be 11" on the Bear Trax Demon/minnow

3:30-7:30PM My Spot, Sunfish Spot

31-34℉, Cloudy/Fog, 0-3mph SW

I drilled 3 lines of holes at my spot. Saw a few random Perch, so I headed to the Sunfish Spot. Drilled 6 or 7 holes. Spotted a sunfish in one of them, drilled some more holes. Didn't catch anything in the sunfish hole. Got several small perch in 10 feet fishing on foot. Got the first crappie in 7' hole on the VMC Fly. Missed another bite. Fish left so I went back to the 10' hole where the Fish Trap was. I got a small crappie, so I put a minnow down. Got 3 little guys on the minnow. Missed some bites a couple bites on the VMC Fly. Got the 11" in a 10' hole closer to shore. Had a couple lookers. Checked a bunch of holes on my way in at my spot. Nothing. Thankfully the roads weren't a total ice rink.

8 Perch

6 Crips

 

Huh, Where Are the Fish?

 

So I headed back to Bulldog at Sunrise. Didn't see a thing in the area by the access despite the fact I found some green weeds. I decided to see if the deep hole had safe ice. Turns out it did and somebody had been out drilling holes. Didn't mark anything out there. I went to the other side of the lake where I got them last year. Didn't see or mark anything there either. I headed off at 10AM frustrated as heck. Where are the fish. Ridiculous.

1st Ice Fishing Trip of 20/21, Skunked

  

Because I move like a turtle it took a while to get the Expedition cleaned out and get my gear together and ready to go. I stopped at Bear Trax to pick up some minnows and waxies and then I headed to Bulldog. I wasn't sure how thick the ice was where I wanted to go, so I just went out with the spud first.  I was able to strike through in two. Not ideal, but it's clear ice. Went back and got my stuff. Didn't even put the Aqua-Vu down it was getting so dark. Didn't mark anything and only fished for maybe 35-minutes. There were fish here last year. Think I just got out too late in the day. I may get out before the Vikings game tomorrow.

Possibly Last Open Water Fish of 2020

4.21lbs/24.75 Jerk Shad (SSS)

8:00-10:00PM Harbor Mouth, Pete's Standing Rock

38-37℉, PC, 4-8mph WNW

I started at the Harbor Mouth with the Sexy Shad Jerk Shad and got the fish on maybe the 12th cast while slowly reeling. I went up on Pete's Rock and got bit right away. It came off about 23rds of the way in as I was trying to play it to the Harbor Mouth. Nothing for a long time. I caught the line that the Rippin Rap was attached to. I think it might be Jamar Sr.'s lure. A little before 10PM` I might have had a bump on the Jerk Shad. I did give the South Jetty a few casts tonight and came up empty. The muskrat was swimming around tonight.

Nothing For Me, But Jamar's Crew Got Some Fish

 

7:45-10:00PM South Jetty, North Corner

29℉, Clear, 4-7mph WNW

When I arrived Jamar's crew had been there a couple hours already. He got one right away and missed another. I went and fished off the South Jetty. Didn't get any bites. I packed up my stuff and warmed up in the car around 9PM. I then went and fished off the North Corner talking ice fishing with Jamar. His cousin or brother from Nevada caught an Eelpout while I was at the South Jetty. They left at about 9:45 and I took off at 10PM, no bites for me. Jamar got his fish while slowly reeling the Jerk Shad.

Still Fishin' Still Catchin'

21" Frenzy Minnow (Firetiger)

 

21" Jerk Shad (Sexy Shad)

7:50-10:00PM Harbor Mouth, South Corner

32℉, Cloudy, 3-10mph SW W NW

Started out throwing the Storm 360 Jig Head/Rage Swimmer Jr. combo at the Harbor Mouth and possibly had a bite. After I threw the Tomato Jerk Shad without a bite I got the first fish at the Harbor Mouth on a Firetiger Frenzy Minnow. I fished back and forth on the Jetty rocking to U2 not getting any bites. I went into leaving after the next fish in hand mode. Then decided to give the South Jetty a try. Didn't get anything at the Harbor Mouth, but did get a fish off of the South Corner. I'm planning on fishing for the next couple of nights and probably on December 1st. There was less ice in Harbor tonight than the last time I was out. Forgot to take a picture due to talking with Pete.

Will This Be My Last Open Water Trip of 2020?

5.53lbs/26.5" Jerk Shad (Silver Sexy Shad)

 

2.20lbs/19" Jerk Shad (Tomato)

7:30-8:30PM Pete's Standing Rock, North Corner

31℉, Clear, 5-7mph SW

I started fishing around 7:30PM. I spotted a moving eyeball when I got up on Pete's Standing Rock. I made several casts to the area. On about the 6th one I caught sight of the eye's obviously tracking to my Tomato Jerk Sahd. I just let the Jerk Shad sit and yanked when I thought it grabbed the lure, which it did. I was glad to have the skunk gone. I wasn't really enjoying myself in the cold and the fish weren't biting so about an hour in I said to myself, next fish in hand and I'm leaving. I was fishing the North Corner just about to go back to the Harbor Mouth and give the Rage Swimmer Jr. a try when the 26-incher grabbed my Sexy Shad Jerk Shad. After releasing the fish I indeed had enough and quit fishing. Will this be my last open water trip of 2020? Not sure, all I know is that I really didn't enjoy the last couple of trips very much. The thought of grinding out walleyes in the bitter cold with freezing hands is losing its luster.

Long Trip For 1 Fish

2.91lbs/20.5" Tomato Jerk Shad

 

6:50-9:00PM North Corner

32-34℉, PC, 0-5mph NNW

When I arrived an owl flew out of a tree and onto one of the dock posts. Didn't see any eyes swimming around. Got the one fish about a half hour in on a long cast from the Big Standing Rock at the North Corner. Same thing as last night. A slow retrieve where I just stopped reeling. The wind made it cold at the end and I wasn't enjoying myself ao I called it quits early. It started to rain as I headed off the Jetty.

1 Eye

Ok Night At the Jetty

4.49lbs/23.25"Jerk Shad (Tomato)

 

3.57lbs/24" Tomato

2.86lbs/20.5" Tomato

Some ice in the Harbor

7:45-10:00PM Harbor Mouth, Pete SR, N. Corner

37-42℉, PC, 0-4mph SW

Started throwing the Tomato at the Harbor Mouth. Got a fish on about my 7th cast on a slow retrieve. About a half hour later I got the 24-incher on the slow retrieve at the Big N. Corner Standing Rock. I went through a slew of lures, nothing. At 9:30PM I went to Pete's SR and got two fish (21.7,23.25) bing bang on the Tomato on the slow retrieve. That was all the bites I had 4 for 4. The muskrats were around and ice was flowing from the harbor out to the lake. Didn't see a single eye. They were all caught blind.

4 Eye's 

iPhone Back At the Jetty with Jamar and Kin

 

4.32lbs/23.5" Jerk Shad (Tomato)

6:30-8:45PM North Jetty

33℉, Cloudy/Snow, 3-6mph WNW

I suited up in Eddy's parking lot and didn't notice anyone out on the Jetty when I pulled up and parked. I was almost to where I put my stuff down when I noticed Jamar's stuff sitting where he always puts it. He had gotten a walleye on his first cast of the night (swimbait). That was the only fish they had gotten and had been there for about half an hour. I got my rods rigged. Jamar headed to the N.Corner and Sr, headed for the South Jetty. About 5 minutes later Jamar caught the 5.59lb walleye on a gold Husky Jerk. I didn't get anything at the Harbor Mouth or Pete's Spot. When I was at CSR Jamar lost one at the N. Corner. He went back to the Harbor Mouth, so I went to the N. Corrner. I spied two different eyes in shallow right next to the Jetty to the West of the standing platform. I threw the Tomato Jerk Shad at them and they both swam out to deeper water where I lost sight of them. I threw about 12 casts out to where I figured they would be sitting and eventually the 4lber bit. Jamar went to the North Corner and got a fish as did one of his kin (not sure if it was a brother or cousin). I switched to the Rage Swimmer Jr. It started snowing and I had to get my line, which was getting caught on a knot on the spool straightened out. Sr. caught a fish on the South Jetty on a swimbait. After I go my line situation fixed I missed two bites then hooked up with a skinny 24"/3.94lb walleye. One of Jamar's Crew got a fish at the Harbor Mouth at about the same time. I think they got a couple more and then the bite quit. The snow got heavier and started accumulating on the rocks. I had enough of the wet heavy snow at 8:45 and gave up. I was amazed that once I got to the ridge about a mile to the East of our place on 27 that it went from snow to wet pavement.

Fish Jamar caught after I left on a Jerk Shad

Good Night at the North Jetty

 No Pics due to Phone Issues

8:00-10:00PM Pete's Standing Rock, Harbor Mouth, and North Corner

56℉, MC, 3-15mph WSW

Started out with a  fish right off the bat at the Harbor Mouth on the Sexy Shad Jerk Shad. I went up to Pete's Standing Rock and lost the Jerk Shad, doh! I couldn't find the tag end of the line, so I went to the Rage Swimmer Jr. I quickly got hung on a rock and lost my last Money Jig, grrrr! I took a break and hunted down the tag end which took about 10 minutes. I got one fish on the Tomato Jerk Shad and two on the Frenzy Minnow. I think I sight fished the Tomato Fish at the North Corner and the last fish of the night at Pete's Standing Rock. I saw as least as many as I caught.

4 Eyes

Good Night on the South and North Jetty

No Pics due to Phone issues 
7:00-10:00PM South Jetty and North Corner Noth Jetty

55℉, PC, 3-15mph SW

There were two natives and a chick fishing the North Corner when I got there. I parked at the South Jetty and walked over to see if they were getting anything. One of the guys brought in a fish as I was walking over there. It was their third fish of the night. I went and fished the South Jetty. I got the first fish on the Rage Swimmer Jr.at the Harbor Mouth. I then got a couple ( at the South Corner on the Sexy Shad Gold Jerk Shad. The action stopped and the people left so I went to the North Jetty. They were biting at the North Corner. I got 5 fish thereon the SS Jerk Shad and left them biting.

8 Eyes

3 Fish, DQ Break, 3 Fish

 

6:30-8:00PM North Corner

8:40-10:00PM NC and Harbor Mouth

56-52℉, PC, 5-14mph SSW

Nothing at the Harbor Mouth to start. I got on the North Corner standing rock and got 25-incher way out there on the Sexy Shad Jerk Shad. He must have had a little buddy follow him in because I had two eyes staring back at me when I got back to the Standing Rock. I immediately converted that 18-incher on the Jerk shad. A couple casts later and I had fish number three. Then I went for about half an hour without a bite. I was hungry so I went to DQ. After I got back I got an 18.5 at the NSR on the Rage Swimmer Jr. And I picked off an 18" on a gold X-Rap at the Harbor Mouth after losing one. The final fish of the night came at about a quarter to 10PM at the NSR on the X-Rap. Didn't get any moonlight until right about 10PM. Only saw 3 or 4 swimmers tonight. The muskrats were sure busy though.

Two Fish And A Visit From CO Starr

 8:30-10:00PM Pete's Standing Rock

56℉, MC, 5mph SW

Had a couple of follows at Pete's standing rock, but I didn't convert either. I went to the North Corner set my rods down and there was CO Starr. Didn't even hear him pull up. He asked me if the other guy had gotten anything. I told him I'm the only one here. He thought my jacket which was hanging on a dock pole was another person. We both got a chuckle out of that. Nothing at the North Corner tonight. I put on a Firetiger Frenzy Minnow and had a 22-incher truck it on the first cast at PSR. Right before 10PM, I got an 18-incher at PSR on the Sexy Shad Jerk Shad.

2 Eyes

Good Night After I Went to DQ/Taco John's

 No Pic's

Good Night On The Jetty Ended With A Good One

 

5.51lbs/26.25" Rage Swimmer Jr.

Good Night For the Frenzy Minnow

Cold And Slow At The Jetty

2.82lbs X-Rap SS (Perch)

8:00-10:00PM South Jetty

24-28℉, Clear, 0-3mph SW

Vikings beat the Pack today. I talked about that with Jamar when I got to the Jetty. They had been there for about an hour and a half when I arrived. He was fishing with his Dad and brother.  I think they had gotten a  couple, but it was slow. One of them got a pike. I went to the South Jetty not wanting to take any opportunities to get a fish away from them. There was quite a bit of ice on the rocks and the harbors were icing up. Conservation Officer Starr showed up and checked me for my license around 8:30.  Around 9:15 I got my only bite of the night on the X-Rap Shad Shallow. Jamar left around 9:45. I just stayed at the South Jetty.

1 Eye