ICE-FISHING DESTINATIONS FOR 2004
By Bob Jensen
There are many, many, many really good places to go ice-fishing in the Midwest. Generally, you don't need to drive far to get in on some pretty good ice-fishing opportunities.
However, there are some places that offer great ice-fishing on a regular basis. Just like open water fishing, there are no guarantees, but if you want a good chance at some fast action, with some big fish thrown in, two of the best choices would be Rainy Lake in northern Minnesota and Devils Lake in North Dakota.
Rainy Lake and Devils Lake traditionally ice-over early, and stay iced-over until late in the winter. They offer ice fishing for a long period of time.
Devils Lake is known for its giant perch that come through the ice. These perch feed heavily on freshwater shrimp, and perch that eat shrimp get big. The size of Devils Lake perch is amazing.
Devils Lake is a large body of water, so you will need to do some looking around for the perch. It might be a good idea to hire a guide for your first trip.
If you want a chance to catch probably the biggest perch you'll ever catch, Devils Lake is a good choice. Contact devilslakend.com or call 800-233-8048 for more information.
The folks in International Falls Minnesota have done a great job of taking care of the fish population on Rainy Lake. A slot limit for walleyes was put in place several years ago, and it has done wonders for the walleyes. You can expect to catch nice walleyes consistently on Rainy Lake, as well as plenty of eaters.
The walleye season closes on most Minnesota lakes around the middle of February, but not on Rainy. It is possible to get several extra weeks of walleye action here, and often the action stays hot right up until the end of the season. It is likely that you will be pulling walleyes through the ice while sitting outside in light clothing.
There will also be a good number of sauger in your catch, and it is probable that a smallmouth bass, crappie, or northern pike could inhale your bait. Buck-Shot Rattle Spoons are the preferred bait of many Rainy Lake anglers.
If Rainy Lake sounds like a good place to try the ice-fishing in the next couple of months, call 800-FALLS-MN or go to rainylake.org
On either Rainy or Devils Lake, it will pay to move around until the fish are found. Once you know where they are, it might be better to work an area thoroughly, but, just like anywhere, you need to find them before you can catch them.
There are lots of ice-fishing spots near where you live, but if you want to try an area that is special, consider Rainy Lake in northern Minnesota or Devils Lake in north central North Dakota.