How does grindstone fair for ice fishing? Does it freeze up good by the acess were the stream comes in? Thanks

It is a really deep lake and takes a little longer to get safe ice.

The inlet area by the launch I would not consider safe. I always drive in on the west side on the north end of the road.

As far as the trout bite goes, the streamers are active but super finicky and the lakers are hard to find but seem to bite more easily than lake superior fish.

what do you use in the winter for streamers and lakers?

Grindstone is pretty hit and miss. I'll hear reports one day of a dozen rainbows with a laker or 2, then the next day zero. Last year we only caught 1 small laker. I used suckers under tip up, small crappie minnows, euros and small jigs. The laker came on the euros. Also you might hit a school of smelt, then you can have yourself a nice fish fry.

I fished close to the access last year and there was about a 5 foot heave of ice infront of it...everyone usually accesses the lake from the barn (same side, little farther south).

The 2 laker bites I had were a gold Kastmaster spoon and a 1/2 oz white bucktail jig both tipped with small pieces of smelt. I bought the frozen smelt at Vados bait in Fridley. Landed one at about 4 lbs. Bites were 70 and 95 FOW.
The streamers bit tiny jigging spoons tipped with waxies for us. I would recommend sight fishing them after you see them on the electronics. Just watch for the bite because you probably won't feel it.

Really, do they hit lighter in the winter? I was up there this summer and they seemed to hit pretty hard. I still am 0 for lakers though, and I have my heart set on getting some this winter. Are there a lot of people up there in the winter?

Just the streamers seemed to hit light for me. The lakers took the bait distinctly.

Well I appreciate your help SSminer!

The weekends can get fairly busy, especially the first couple after the opener. I've never fished the Lakers myself, but then again, we're usually fishing 2-15 fow. You have to keep it quiet, but it's a blast sight fishing them. Small jigs and waxies are normally what we use.

I have had my best luck on the 2 sunken islands, 35 fow fishin about 6 feet down, last year caught my first laker through the ice about 4 lbs fishing like that, also have caught a lot of rainbows.

there are very few trout in this lake.

How do u figure Jari,plenty of trout in grindstone!

no way, no trout. stay away. only thing in here is bulldogs and hammerhandles.

LOL!!!!!!Ok dude?