The small lakes are finally frozen over for the most part. The ice is not consistent or what I would consider safe. In a week or so, that should be a different story. However, with a little scouting and some common sense, some decent ice for walking on and some active fish through the ice close near shore can be found. I’ve been catching pan fish on the shallow weed flats near the first drop off to deeper water. There has also been some good twilight crappie fishing and some bonus walleyes along the old weed lines. Pike are also easy this time of the year. Use a tip-up in the 6-10 ft. range rigged with a chartreuse hook and a lively sucker minnow. The shallow sand flats are home to the schools of perch this time of the year. Drill a series of holes on the sand flats in 5-8ft of water and fish with mall jigging spoons tipped with a crappie minnow head or tail. Give each hole about 5 minutes, if no fish, then move to the next hole. Good Luck out there and be safe! Lotsa Fish! Lotsa Fun! Captain Josh Hagemeister, Minnesota Fishing Guide Service, www.minnesotaguideservice.com www.minnesotaicefishhouserental.com www.mycampfish.com 218-732-9919
