**NOTICE** this will be our last ice fishing report. We have been informed that the ice is starting to separate from the edges of area lakes and natural springs are opening up under the ice. There have been reports of several side by sides falling through the ice on area lakes. Please use caution while out on late ice. Right now walking out on the ice is the best recommendation.

Guest: Tom Neustrom, owner of MN Fishing Connections shares this week’s Grand Rapids, MN area Ice Fishing Report.

OOPS. What happened to winter? Ice fishing has taken a hit this last week with the weather and it appears at best there may only be a week or two fishable ice on some of the lakes in the Grand Rapids area. The landings are getting sketchy on several lakes and precautions should be taken soon to get on and off the ice. Shelters should be removed now rather than later as to insure their removal before additional damage is done. Any travel on ice should be done on side by sides, 4 wheelers,  snow machines, or foot travel. It appears in the 30 day forecast we will not have weather to form or secure ice that will be safe to travel on.

If there is an opportunity to fish in certain areas, the weather can play a big difference in locating pan fish right now. Over the years we have noticed that small bugs will occupy several depths just under the ice as the melting can create warm water caverns that attract these critters. This will normally happen during the daylight hours and afternoon. At times sunfish and crappies can be caught just below the ice 3-5 feet beneath and the action can be fast. It doesn’t happen everyday, but at late ice it’s something to keep in mind. Your electronics can be a helpful asset to locations of these suspended fish. The Humminbird Helix Ice 7 has allowed anglers to mark fish just under the ice with incredible accuracy. Lite line and small baits will be you best choices when it comes to catching these late season pan fish. One of the dynamite ice baits late in the season is a VMC Tungsten Bull Fry or Tungsten Fly Jig baited with a wax worm. Panfish gobble them up and it will put bluegills, crappies, and jumbo perch on the ice for you in the above mentioned conditions.

WE had a great ice fishing season this past winter and activity was strong throughout the cold water period. With the lack of normal snow, ice conditions were good and anglers were out in force. Make sure you get your 2021 Fishing License and check the rules book for new changes.

This week’s Grand Rapids Ice Fishing Report is brought to you by Tom Neustrom, professional fishing industry representative and open water fishing guide owner of MN Fishing Connections. Photo: Arlene Goltz caught this nice walleye on a Grand Rapids, MN area lake while fishing with Jeff Johnson, co-owner of Northern Drift Outfitters. Looking for a memorable experience check out our Ice Fishing page for guide suggestions.

As we get into the last few weeks of walleye season, there are a few small adjustments that can help to put a few fish on the ice. This last 10 days have been the coldest weather of the entire winter and the metabolism of all fish species slows down. Only species of trout remain relatively active and unaffected by cold water temperatures.

Over time with the frozen water period extending itself, times of day and bait size

can make a big difference when angling for walleyes. Deep water breaks associated with points and edges are key spots to ambush migrating fish. Early and late in the day can most often be the key times of the day to try for walleyes. Smaller baits such as 1/16^th to 1/8 ounce spoons tipped with a minnow head can make a difference. With the smaller spoons you may have to switch the treble hook from a size 8 to a size 4 for better hook ups. Vary your jigging movement to less aggressive and most often just slightly twitching your rod tip can trigger additional bites.

Pay close attention to your electronics and many times the bottom reading will appear to be a lump and that could be just the walleye that in some cases is coming into investigate. In the second hole a dead stick with a medium to smaller fat head or shiner minnow can be a difference maker. Above the plain hook attach a small glow bead and shorten the length between the split shot and the hook to lessen the movement of the minnow. It can make a difference when a slow moving walleye comes shopping and doesn’t want to chase a quicker moving bait.

Some of the lakes in the Grand Rapids area that are good season ending choices are Wabana, Trout, Pokegama, Moose, Swan, and Big Cutfoot. Any of these lakes have good populations of walleyes and can provide a good opportunity for success.

Header photo caption: Guests found success while fishing with Jeff Johnson, Northern Drift Outfitters on a Grand Rapids, MN area lake. If you are looking for a memorable ice fishing trip, give Jeff a call: 218-259-8893.

This week’s Grand Rapids Ice Fishing Report brought to you by Tom Neustrom, owner of professional guide service: MN Fishing Connections.

The extreme cold weather of late makes ice fishing rather difficult unless you’re in a nice warm shelter of some type, but make no mistake there are many hearty souls that have been out trying their luck. Fish, especially walleyes, are hard to catch in these conditions. One thing to remember that even with the drastic cold temperatures, consistent weather, no matter can trigger a bite at peak times of the day or night. Fish, as all animal life, need to nourish their bodies, and will look to find food, even it’s  smaller in size. Their metabolism slows down and small fragments of food is still food. Smaller baits this time of year will be far more productive then larger ones that we have used earlier in the year. Again there are shorter windows, but they have to eat. Many times the dead bait rods with a live minnow will get the bite. Shorten your distance between the hook and the split shot as to decrease the movement and action of the minnow. This can limit the minnow’s movement and make it a lot more appealing to walleyes that are not as active. Some of the lakes to try late season walleyes are Pokegama, Moose, Trout, Big Split Hand, and Big Cutfoot.

Panfish can be relatively very similar. Smaller baits will most often be the choice and until weather stays even more consistent, moving and drilling several more holes maybe the best options for success. As stated in previous columns a couple waxies or 3-4 euro larvae without a lot of jigging action can be your best presentations for cold weather panfish. They to are effected by cooler than normal can have an adverse effect on getting bit. Using your electronics and hole hopping can put a few more fish on the ice. Those soft tip rods, like the St. Croix CI32ML XF is my go to rod for late season panfish and can be utilized as a great dead stick rod for jumbo perch, big crappies, and finicky walleyes. Some late season panfish lakes to give a try are Little Bowstring, Big Bowstring, Dunbar, Pokegama, Cutfoot, Little Sand, and Little Splithand.  Call some of the bait shops in the Grand Rapids area and get some up to the minute information when you are venturing out in the Grand Rapids area.