I just wanted to put a quick ice and fishing report....

Ice report....no ice is 100% safe, but we are making ice with this cold weather.  We checked ice from northern flats to south gravel and found 9-12 inches.  There is some rough, broken ice spread throughout the lake...and even some areas around 2 mile and just before the boot that look like a washboard.  But for the most part, we traveled anywhere we wanted on ATV.  There is a not alot of snow on the lake...maybe an inch or two...and the snow is blown around...so you have some areas where the snow collected around the rough ice...which might be 5-6"...and then some bare ice (bring your ice cleats).  We did cross several big cracks that were completely healed...but with some warmer weather later this week, those cracks are sure to start opening and closing...so approach all cracks with caution.

Hunters Point has stakes to almost every rock and gravel structure out in front.  They were plowing as far out as 2 mile today when I left the lake.  It will not be long before they will be pulling houses...check there posts later in the week about when they will start putting houses out.  They do have a staked atv/sled road to the boot...and once you are past 2 mile...you can go off road to the structure of your choice (watch the cracks)!

Fishing report...we have checked alot of spots in the past few days.  What we have seen so far is the fish very concentrated in certain areas or on certain structure.  We checked several flats, gravel bars and rock piles... drilling lots of holes only to find no fish or just a few small walleyes.  We have also found some areas that were holding lots of fish.  When you do find the fish, they are very aggressive right now.  Keeping your jig 2-3 feet off the bottom...jigging aggressively has triggered most bites.  These fish are showing up and moving up fast after the jig.  Macho minnows 1/8oz. with minnow heads have been the best baits for us.  The biggest key this time of year in getting those aggressive fish to commit is matching there movement.  If a fish moves up fast for your jig....start moving your jig up at the same rate he is moving...they love the chase.  

Remember that the slot has changed back to 18-28".....there are alot of fish under 18" in the lake right now....you will see that first hand out there! 

A reminder to always check with the resort before heading out to get updated ice information this time of year.

Good luck this weekend....until next time...we hope to see you on the ice.