Big Six

LAKE MILLE LACS

The open-water angling activity has ended and ice has begun to
form. Many of the wind-protected bays are ice-covered and you’ll
find shoreline ice as well. It will take several more nights of
cold weather before fishing begins here, but it looks promising for
an early start at this point. Deer hunters have been busy as
registration numbers continue to rise quite a bit from a year
ago.

Johnson’s Portside (320) 676-3811

www.johnsonsportside.com

LAKE OF THE WOODS

There have been a few people fishing northern pike through the
ice in the bays, but the recent warm spell has hurt ice conditions.
If it gets cold anytime soon, you can expect ice anglers to really
become aggressive. Areas of walkable ice are not that far off.

Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau

(800) 382-FISH

LEECH LAKE

The small lakes and bays are ice-covered, and with cooler
weather, look for the ice fishing season to swing into high gear
soon. There are already reports of ice fishing on a few smaller
lakes.

Leech Lake Guide Coalition (218) 547-3212

LAKE MINNETONKA

Open-water anglers are finding numbers of northern pike in the
channels. Ice is minimal, with nothing more than a skim of ice in a
few of the bays. Deer registrations are down from last season, but
goose hunters still are finding plenty of birds in the area.

Wayzata Bait (952) 473-2227

RAINY LAKE

There was limited ice cover late last week, but it opened up
again. It wouldn’t take but a few nights of cold weather to lock
the bays and portions of the main lake up again. Deer registrations
are comparable to last season throughout the area.

Loon’s Nest (218) 286-5850

LAKE WINNIBIGOSHISH

There’s ice on the main lake “as far as the eye can see” as this
issue went to press. Temperatures over the next week will determine
wether or not there will be a few people sneaking out around the
shorelines and bays.

Pines Resort and Campground (218) 246-8546