Joining a group of 10+ this coming Thurs-Sunday at HP Resort and like many of you...I couldn't just wait till that day. Headed up yesterday morning and started fishing at 8:30am...at the boot. My sidekick (coming Thurs as well) and I didn't know what to expect as we have never navigated the "big pond." We had maps from DNR, a little info from Johnson's Portage, and got a road pass & map (showing roads) at HP. We were mobile on sleds so we decided to try and find the eyes. Started at the SW corner of the boot and were at 32'. Fished there for 1 hour, popped about 6-8 holes around our original spot and only found a 2' difference. Moved about 100 yrds north and east a little and wound up on the East middle edge of the flat. Again, popped 6-8 holes around our spot and found a large difference in depth which was what we wanted. Fished on top 22ft, and found the progression down the east side, 25', 28', 29', and 30'. Decided we wanted the 28-29ft so set up there at 12 noon and stayed until departure at 5:30pm (both had to get home to kiddo's.) At every spot, except 22' on top, we constantly marked fish...many small, but marked some dandies as well. NO Perch...must not have been a perch spot. Many many small walleye's 7-9 inches down there (caught 15 or so this size throughout the entire middle of the day.) We did get two good fish, one 19" and one 20" around 3pm and 4pm. FAT healthy fish and the best fish we've caught in a hand full of years. For the rest: ATV's fine on the roads, but off plowed roads your going to have problems in the 12" of hard pack. Sleds are perfect out there. Upwards of 30" of ice at every spot we fished. BUY A ROAD PASS...roads are very nice. Definitely want to try my hand at some Jumbo's beginning Thursday morning, so if anyone could point me toward a generate direction I would sure appreciate it. Good fishing everyone.
BullHead, I know what you're talking about. I will be headed to Hunter on Thursday too, with a group of 8. We will be staying in one of Hunters ice house for the weekend. I am hoping to hear goo report from this weekend and hope to bite gets better. Maybe we will see you on the ice or in the bar this coming weekend.