November 25, 2024 "Don't Blink, Ice Around The Corner!"
It’s crazy! Just over a week ago on the radio, I offered a prediction that one full week after Thanksgiving, we’d be seeing photos of ice fishing in north central Minnesota. Just when I began doubting myself, temperatures dropped, my garden soil hardened, and ice began forming on shallow ponds. This morning, I’m wondering if my prediction was too pessimistic, whether or not we’ll see ice fisherman on some shallow area lakes within the next week?
Look at NOAA’s upcoming weather forecast, and you’ll see that it is completely possible. Apparently north central Minnesotans have seen the last of daytime high temperatures above freezing and by Thanksgiving weekend, single digits above zero are likely. Those, combined with calm winds, also predicted could kick the ice fishing season into high gear.
Okay, so we might be on the ice soon, but it’s still not even Thanksgiving yet, so before we get too wrapped up in the ice fishing season, let me throw out a couple of ideas about filling the time between now and then.
I’m somebody who likes using good tools, ones that work the way they’re supposed to. The problem for anglers is that finding good tools is a lot harder than finding cheap, ineffective ones. I’ve done some digging over the years and found a few high-quality accessories that make my job easier virtually every day of the fishing season. None of these items are “sponsored” products, I buy them just like you do, and I have nothing to gain from suggesting them to you. So, if you’re thinking about creative “stocking stuffer” (under $25) ideas for anglers on your Christmas shopping list, but these with confidence, they will work!
Cynamed TC Heaney Curved Needle/Suture Holder Driver with Tungsten Carbide Inserts and Gold Ring. At $15, these “needle pullers” are likely the best value in fishing accessories that I’ve discovered. Essential for safe hook removal and effective fish releases, they provide a positive grip on fishing hooks. I bought 3 models, in 2 sizes, 2 with straight jaws, and 1 with curved jaws. For me, the 6-inch curved jaw model is most often used, but there are times when either smaller, or larger sizes would be handy. Looking back on my purchases, I’d suggest buying only the curved jaw models for fishing. I’ll likely replace my 6 inch straight jaw model with the 5.5 inch curved jaw model. If there was a way to purchase these direct from the manufacturer I would, but the only way I can find them is on the internet. For convenience, I provided a link to their page on Amazon, but they are also available on eBay, and other large retail websites.
Peet boot dryers have been around for a long time, I doubt that there’s anybody who doesn’t have one, or least know about them. But what folks may not realize that they offer some “portable” models, about the size of a computer mouse, that fit completely inside boots or shoes.
Instead of carrying my original boot dryer which is large and clunky on my recent hunting trip, I brought the portable AC plug in model instead. The drop in portables kept my boots dry for the entire trip and took up less space in my pack than my binoculars. At about $20, this item is a no brainer for anybody who does anything outside in damp, cold weather. I didn’t bother including a link to this product because you can find them at most outdoor sporting goods stores in your own community. I just went into the footwear department of my local L&M Supply Store, asked for the PEET Drop-In Footwear Dryer and found them on the shelf. By the way, if you choose, you can spend a few extra bucks and get the USB rechargeable model instead.
Boomerang Tool Company Super SNIP Fishing Line Cutter with Glow Jig Charging U/V Light. At $23, you can spare your favorite angler the frustrations of fumbling around for line clippers that don’t work. The Boomerang Super SNIP cuts braided fishing line up to 50-pound test and includes an LED light for recharging phosphorescent (glow in the dark) ice fishing lures. Personally, Boomerang comes in at #2 compared to my all-time favorite from Simms. At 1/4 the cost of the Simms, the Super Snip qualifies as a stocking stuffer, while the $99 Simms does not.
I guess the race to provide photos of ice on our lakes is officially on. From here on out, I’ll do my best to keep you posted about lakes in the north central region. As always, photos and notes from you are always welcome. You don’t need to write a glorious report, just a few words about lakes in your locality is all your fellow anglers need. 
— Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email
November 25, 2024 Reader Submission, Wild Game Recipe
Bob Noonan got my attention when he emailed his recipe for preparing Elk Loin. I realize not many of us have bagged elk this fall, but there are a lot of us that dig bag a deer, and I can’t see why his recipe won’t be great for fixing some venison for the holidays.
Here’s what Noonan had to say; “Jeff, as we wait for Mother Nature to begin making ice for the upcoming ice fishing season, I'd like to share one of our dinner menus at the Noonan's Deer Hunting Camp. I prepared sous vide Colorado Elk Loin for the gang.
I like using a rub of fresh rosemary and thyme from my herb garden along with garlic and ground India Special Extra Bold Peppercorns. Following a 24-hour sous vide bath at 133 degrees, I did a quick sear that resulted in a medium rare and deliciously tender carved elk loin. Regards, Bob Noonan, Vermillion, SD
More Recent Fishing Reports
Lake of the Woods 11-20 • Sundin 11-18 • Mule Deer 11-3 • Brainerd 10-31 • Lake of the Woods 10-30 • Sundin 10-24 • Sundin 10-18 • Sundin 10-17 • Crappies 10-16 • Winnie 10-13 • Crappies 10-11 • Grand Rapids 10-10 • Winnie 10-9 • Winnie 10-8 • Ely 10-7 • Winnie 10-6 • Crappies 10-4 • MN DNR Workgroups • Sternberg 7-18 • Legal Bait Transport 6-1 • MN Record Fish • Barotrauma Study 1-25-24 • Fish Consumption • Forward Sonar • Panfish Workgroup • Follow on Facebook
News Release November 22, 2024 "DNR rulemaking notice: Electronic Licensing System (ELS) rules update"
"The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is proposing technical changes to administrative rules that support a modernized electronic licensing system. You have been included in this e-mail notification as a potential user of the new license system.
The proposed rule changes are needed to align administrative rule with recent changes in Minnesota statute. Comments will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26.
The new system will ..." Learn More >> DNR rulemaking notice Electronic Licensing System For 2025
Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism November 20, 2024
"Even for avid walleye anglers, the deer hunting season, a big tradition in these parts, overshadows the drive to fish. Still, there were some anglers that either already harvested deer, or are more into catching fall walleyes than hunting. For them, it's been hard not to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather along the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Those that are fishing have been rewarded with an excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening in several areas across the lake.
The best depths on the south end of L.O.W. are 22 to 28 feet of water. Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is catching most of the walleyes, saugers and jumbo perch. Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well, but most reports are talking about good numbers of eaters. Jumbo perch are coming in good numbers this fall which will serve ice anglers well. Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes.
Cold weather is in the forecast over the coming days and with good numbers of walleyes and saugers spread across the south shore, ice fishing enthusiasts are getting excited. Conditions, now setting up nicely for early ice, will dicate the schedule from here.
On the Rainy River, there continues to be good numbers of shiners in the river, and consequently, there are good walleyes in the river as well. Walleyes along with saugers, pike and some sturgeon are coming in up and down the river. Most walleyes are being caught in 10 to 25 feet of water in various stretches of the river.
Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the key. Some anglers are also still slow trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results.
Sturgeon fishing remains strong. The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24, 2025.
As water temps are getting colder up at the Northwest Angle, most folks are in the woods hunting and not fall fishing, however, for those who bundle up, fishing continues to be excellent. They're catching a nice mixed bag of walleyes, saugers, perch, pike and crappies.
Very good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days. Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands. Both casting and trolling is getting it done." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH
Wired2Fish November 20, 2024 "Why the Worst Weather Days Are the Best Fishing Days"
"Most people get annoyed when the forecast messes up their fishing plans. I, however, get a sly smile when I see certain things setting up in a pattern that seems to bring gloomy weather to the area. As fishermen, we keenly follow weather forecasts to plan our days on the water. But I actually do it a bit differently than others; because I’ve found over the years that the worst weather days often bring the best fishing days.
With fishing, nothing is an exact science, so take all of this with a grain of salt. And I’m certainly not advocating for going fishing with the weather can make conditions on the water dangerous. So don’t read more into this than the broad overview that fish are keenly in tune with the weather even more than we are. Their livelihood depends on it.
There are several things that factor into fishing on bad weather days. And bad weather certainly ..." Read Article and Learn More >> Why the Worst Weather Days Are the Best Fishing Days
November 18, 2024 "A Rewarding Family Hunt"
As far as deer hunting trips go, there wasn’t a lot going on in Minnesota’s northwest zone this weekend, but there was enough to make it fun.
I saw a buck myself on Friday evening, but it was a long way from me, almost 500 yards away at its closet. Secretly, I was happy that it didn’t walk closer because it saved me the decision of whether or not to try shooting at it. Not qualifying as “Mr. Big”, along with that Montana mule deer already taking up space in our freezer, I didn’t feel too desperate to bag another one. Maybe I’ll see him again next year when he’s a little bigger, who knows?
The highlight of this trip was when my "great-niece-in-law", soon to be 15, bagged what I believe is her 4th deer. The fork horn buck won’t be her biggest ever, but it will always be her first complete deer hunting experience. By “complete experience”, I mean that she spotted it, shot it, field dressed and then dragged it over the hills and through the brush all the way back to her dad’s truck. That was a lot of work, and she could have had help, but refused it. I was proud of her, and very glad to have had the chance to be there with her for that moment.
Do you recall the video in which I helped demonstrate the new Fishcrafter™ fillet knives for the Benchmade company about a year and a half ago? Like I reported at the time, that was an unpaid promotion for me. Later though, in gratitude, they gifted me not only one of the fillet knives, but also the Adira™ Depth Blue Grivory® Drop-point folding hunting knife from the water collection too. I believed that knife would make field dressing her deer easier, so I loaned it to her for the task.
She loved it, so did her dad and her uncle did too. To say that this knife is sharp is an understatement, this knife is amazing! This was the third deer it’s been used on this fall, and it’s still every bit as sharp as it was for the very first cut. Without making a full-fledged commercial, all I can say is that it certainly did make her field dressing job easier, and I was thrilled to see her using it!
If you're wondering what to get for a special hunter or angler on your Christmas list, take a look at these >> Benchmade Water Collection of knives, you won't be disappointed.
The deer season ended yesterday in the deer zone we were hunting this weekend, but here in Grand Rapids, we still have another week. I’m not sure how seriously I’ll be hunting, but I’ll surely use the hunting season as an excuse to check out the progress toward the ice fishing season. I know it seems like we’re a long way behind the typical schedule, but I think it will catch up fast. It’s 25 degrees outside, and there’s a hard frost this morning. After a couple days of warm daytime highs, temperatures are forecast to plummet, not reaching above freezing for a few days leading into next weekend. I’ve precited that we’ll see photos of people ice fishing by the weekend of December 6th. Now I’m thinking that prediction was too pessimistic, we’ll know soon enough!
By the way, will you please let me know when you see your first ice-covered shoreline? As always, folks will really appreciate the updates. — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email
Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism November 13, 2024
"On the Rainy River, there were good numbers of shiners noving upstream into the river this week. Typically, if there are shiners concentrated in an area, there will be walleyes, and there definitely are. Walleyes are coming from various spots from Four Mile Bay to Wheeler's Point, to Baudette all the way to Birchdale. With so many anglers taking advantage of the deer hunting season, there are not a lot of boats on the river.
Walleyes are being caught in 10 to 25 feet of water in various stretches of the river. The bait and consequently, walleyes, are moving around. Once you find some fish, you will be rewarded. Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners is the way to go. Some anglers are also still trolling crankbaits upstream to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results.
Sturgeon fishing remains strong. The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24, 2025
"On the south side of Lake of the Woods, it's deer hunting season and not many folks are out fishing now. Those that are fishing are taking advantage of the unseasonably warm weather and excellent walleye and sauger bite that is happening across the lake.
The best depths on the south end of LOW are 22 to 28 feet of water. and it woun't surprise you that vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners is the best program for most anglers. Anglers are going through a lot of frozen emerald shiners as the walleyes and saugers are all mixed sizes. You will catch small ones and your eaters. Depending upon where on the lake you are fishing, some slots and big trophies are in the mix as well.
Anglers are also reporting very good numbers of jumbo perch this fall. Watch out for an occasional pike or even lake sturgeon mixed in with the walleyes. Good numbers of fish are staged in great spots for the upcoming ice fishing season.
For those not out in the woods hunting, fall fishing continues to be excellent at the northwest angle. It is areas with structure holding walleyes in this part of the lake. Points, neck-down areas with current, shoreline breaks, and transition zones from rock to mud are all productive locations for walleye right now. A nice mixed bag with perch, pike and crappies being caught as well.
Good muskie fishing with the colder water temps and shorter days. Some big fish and some good numbers are being caught amongst the islands. Both casting and trolling is getting it done." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH
Lake of the Woods, LOW Tourism November 6, 2024
"With unseasonably warm weather, there are still some anglers hitting the water on the south shore of Lake of the Woods, and most have been rewarded. There are limits of walleyes and saugers being caught, and the forecast looking ahead is favorable.
The best bite on the south end of LOW has been in 22 to 28 feet of water. Water temperatures are dropping and as the temps cool further, the bite has been excellent.
Vertical jigging with frozen emerald shiners has been the program for most anglers. Bring plenty of bait, as you'll need to sort through some smaller fish and short biters. Plenty of eater fish to be had, just have to do a bit of sorting. Anglers are also reporting very good numbers of jumbo perch and occasional pike mixed in with the walleyes. For those fishing structure, if you slide up on top of a rock pile, don't be surprised to catch a big smallmouth bass, there are plenty around.
This week's hot colors have been gold, gold/glow white, gold/chartreuse, gold/orange, and gold/glow white/pink. One tip, a stinger hook on your jig will catch you more fish if you start missing too many fish.
On the Rainy River, bait dealers are reporting good numbers of shiners migrating into the river this past week. Interesting, each night is different, some areas have the small shiners called pinheads, while other areas have the larger minnows.
The river is producing some nice walleyes in various spots from Four Mile Bay to Wheeler's Point, to Baudette all the way to Birchdale. There are 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale with plenty of public boat ramps along the way. Walleyes are being caught in various depths, but 15 to 25 feet of water has been good.
Jigging with live or frozen emerald shiners has been highly effective. Some anglers are also trolling crankbaits to cover more ground and find fish. Both methods are producing solid results.
Sturgeon fishing has been strong. The catch-and-release sturgeon fishing is open into the spring when it changes to the "keep season" on April 24, 2025.
Fall fishing continues to be excellent up at the Northwest Angle too. Points, necked-down areas with current, shoreline breaks, and transition zones from rock to mud are all productive locations for walleye right now. It is traditionally a mixed bag up around the many islands in this part of the lake and this fall is no different. In addition to walleyes, pike, jumbo perch, and crappies are in the mix. A jig and minnow has been the most effective presentation.
Good muskie fishing is the norm during the fall of the year and area reports have been good. In addition to casting, trolling shorelines, points and neckdown areas has been effective. Muskies are often targeting schooling tullibees this time of year.
The weather forecast for the next couple of weeks is conducive for fall fishing. If you don't deer hunt, or if you have harvested your deer, consider some bonus walleye action before the ice forms. The bite continues to be excellent." — Lake of the Woods Tourism, (800) 382-FISH
Wired2Fish November 6, 2024 "How to Find and Catch Aggressive Fall Walleye"
Hobie Wan Kenobi writes that if he had to describe himself as a walleye angler in one word, it would be “consistent.”
Kenobi "I do not catch many big fish, nor am I up on the latest buzz in the walleye world. Most of my fishing trips for walleye produce a consistently average number of 18- to 22-inch eater-size walleye."
It's true, folks love seeing pictures of large fish, and images of modest sized fish get scrolled by faster than Fourth of July fireworks. But in reality, having fish in the frying pan is more important to many walleye anglers than capturing images of big ones. Here are some unconventional walleye techniques Kenobi uses to ..." Learn More >> How to Find and Catch Aggressive Fall Walleye
November 3, 2024 "Honoring the Honor-Able"
Well folks, I don’t spend a whole lot of time hunting these days, and when I do, I’m likely to be within a few hours of home. So, for me, last week’s trip to Montana, hunting for Mule Deer was quite a departure from the norm. To say that the scenery was beautiful would be an understatement, “awesome” is more like it. Beautiful sunrises, interesting terrain, a fair amount of wildlife and wide-open spaces everywhere we looked.
To say that the hunting was fabulous would be an overstatement though, truthfully, there were times when we struggled to see much of anything. We encountered other hunters who were frustrated by that, their expectations were high, maybe justified, maybe not. For us, lots of scouting, combined with the help of friends, the hunting was “good enough”. Some days, we didn’t find any “huntable” deer at all, but on a few occasions, we did. So, while the hunt lasted right up until the end of our final stalk on day 6, we did leave the state with the tags of all five hunters filled. I’ve never been with a party of deer hunters in which everybody connected with a buck. So, by my standards, this seemed like a good trip,
For I and Josh, the hunt was over quickly. After spotting two bucks last Sunday morning, we followed the guidance of my son-in-law Austin Jones and conducted a 2-hour sneak attack. Over the hill, down through the draw, and around the corner we went. Then we walked one step at a time, slowly and quietly faces into the wind. Eventually, we snuck up the side of a hill, peaked over the ridge and were surprised by the fact that both bucks that were bedded down exactly where we believed them to be. They ran a short distance through the draw and up the opposing hillside, but to no avail, Josh bagged his first, then I bagged mine, all before they’d moved a hundred yards.
Nothing happened except scouting on Monday and Tuesday. Then Ausin’s hunt ended after another long walk over the hills on Wednesday. On Thursday, Matt and Chris ended the hunt in the same way as Josh and I started it. They also snuck up on and surprised a pair of bucks, eventually bagging both.
Because we spent so much time focusing on deer, we didn’t get too much time to hunt for birds. There were obviously some opportunities though, we spotted random coveys of Hungarian Partridges, quite a few Sharptailed Grouse and some Pheasants. In the few hours we hunted for them, we bagged a half dozen grouse, and a few pheasants, but never had a shot at any partridges.
These days, it seems like every report I write offers an opportunity to discuss ethics and this one is no different. While we were hunting on Wednesday, somebody decided to “teach us a lesson” by letting the air out of our 2 left side truck tires. At first, we thought they’d been punctured by something on the road but couldn’t figure out what it was. After re-inflating them with portable air compressors, they seemed to be fine, but we drove to a service station anyway, just to be certain.
At the garage, the owner, along with a patron listened to my son-in-law’s account of what happened. He said that they looked at each other “smirked” and nodded in agreement as the garage owner said, “I’ll bet you money that your tires are fine and that it was T….. …..n who let the air out of them; he’s known for doing that around here.” He followed up by saying “you boys go on back to your hotel, keep your eyes on the tire pressure, and I’ll bet they’re fine.” He was right, the tries held air and gave us no trouble for the rest of the trip.
On the surface, it appeared that despite the fact we were hunting on “public property”, somebody was irritated by our presence there. One could assume that we were simply being told to stay away from their so-called territory. Something about that notion didn’t seem right to me, and because I was curious, began digging deeper into the story.
As it happens, I discovered an archived article in the local newspaper. In it, was the police report account of a local man, the one named by the garage owner, who’d suffered property damage when someone’s bullet drilled through 2 windows of his expensive vehicle. It’s conceivable to me that in his mind, he is simply getting even, vicariously through visiting hunters, with whomever was the perpetrator of that crime. Without more evidence, there’s no way to connect the rest of the dots, but that’s not the point anyway. What is the point is whether random acts of indecency to our fellow hunters and landowners can be avoided. Whether we, as sportsmen and women can persuade our fellow hunters and anglers to be honorable people.
Can we behave in ways that allow us to enjoy our own outdoor experiences, without infringing on the experiences of others?
If you said yes, then I am with you, I believe we can. But we have to be persistent in letting our friends and family know that “it’s not cool to be a fool!” Aside from being criminal, shooting at stuff that doesn’t belong to us isn’t just stupid, it’s downright dangerous. Whenever one of us does something stupid, it makes all of us look stupid. So, when somebody thinks we’re stupid, and doesn’t want us around their territory, they do their own stupid stuff in retaliation.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be lumped in with either group. Anybody who reads my reports already knows that I welcome tourism, I love visiting with and working for folks from all walks of life and from everywhere around the world. The last thing I’d ever do is to discourage them from coming. And in return, I would really like to feel welcome when I come to visit your area too. All I want is to enjoy the outdoor experience, and ou have my word, I won’t shoot your stuff, I’ll make sure that your gate is closed behind me and I won’t leave your property carrying anything that I’m not supposed to.
No matter whether we’re talking about bag limits, using technology or practicing ethical behavior it all boils down to us being on the honor system. We can pass all the laws we want, establish all the rules that come to mind, and argue about who should do what for whom, but without honor, none if it will work. Honor is something that can’t be bought, licensed or loaned out; you either have it, or you don’t. It’s up to us to figure out we can spread it to our fellow outdoors people.
Okay, so now that Montana trip is behind us, I guess the weather dictates what I do next. I’ll pick up deer licenses for the Hippie Chick and I this week, but I’m not sure if we’ll hunt over the opener next weekend or not. Maybe I’ll take the dog for a walk, or maybe we’ll take the boat out if we get a nice day. On the other hand, maybe it’s time to tune up a guitar and start the music season? Stay tuned, I’ll let you know. — Jeff Sundin, The Early Bird Fishing Guide Office Cell Call or Text 218-245-9858 or Email
Wired2Fish October 31, 2024 "Should Professional Fishing Competition Have Age Limits?"
"While some folks are leaning on the simple argument that forward facing sonar destroyed competitive fishing, what seems to be more at the heart of the issue is a lot more young anglers are competitive now than used to be the case.
One person mentioned on a recent post the possibility of having a senior fishing league, or another league with elder statesmen in it. Which is a much more interesting discussion point. But a question popped into my mind about whether professional fishing should have age limits much like other sports naturally do.
So professional fishing has allowed for anglers to fish into their 70s and 80s since inception. To my knowledge no one 90 or older has fished in a professional tournament. But that begs the question should we cap it? And would capping it make the league ..." Learn More >> Should Professional Fishing Competition Have Age Limits?
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Be like me, become a duly deputized "Cub Reporter", it's good for fishing! Contact Us or if you prefer to be "social", Fishing Reports Minnesota, the Facebook counterpart to this page is open to the public, so you can post your own fishing update or just share a photo of a nice catch.