I am taking Friday off of work to go exploring on Rice. I have been in the bay before once on the ice last year with poor luck. I am just curious if the access on the south side is typically poor ice conditions with the current from the crow river right there. In the summer months I do better on that end of the lake for pike then in the bay.

Do the pike move more into the bay during the winter months? Can anybody give me any thoughts on the ice on the other side?

Thank you.

I always stay away from the south end for the very reason that there is current. I have done well catching pike off of the point in 6-9 fow with a tip-up. Gain access from the NW and go for a walk. Good exercise this time of year and there is no snow so the walk isn't that bad. Let me know what you find...

Wear ice cleats though... fall go boom ...hurt very bad.

Agreed,

I fell chasing a flag this weekend...didnt feel good. Funny thing is....I was wearing my cleats LOL. Twas a sight!

Do you think ice will be safe to go off from Fischers Resort?

If this dang wind dies down I would like to get out there on thursday I will let you know what I find. Too windy for me today as I have went runnin for a buddys house that got away from him this year on elk. It was a frabill pullover that he left fliped up and the wind took it pulled out his cheep ice screw and away it went across the lake and into the open water. The thing sank in about 30 seconds except for the corner where his large foam minnow bucket must have kept it afloat. It took three men and one duck boat to get it back. NOT FUN AT ALL.

Im sure it wasnt funny at the time, but sounds funny now. I plan on heading out there in about an hour. hopefully my ice screws hold!! I dont want to have to chase after my house. Never really fished for eyes out there. cought some nice perch a few years back, and a couple crappies but would really like to pick up some eyes. Havent lived around here for too long so I dont know really where to go and this will be more exploratory for me this time. I was thinking where the big bay enters into the main lake, but not too sure. Tell you what I find for Ice.

That's funny. I was in Stop Light Bait last Tuesday buying a minnow bucket and the woman working tried talking me into buying the biggest one because it kept an ice house afloat that blew into open water on Elk. Must have been you guys.

Any updates on the ice conditions would be great as I am coming from about an hour away. Thanks

Ya that was us she was talkin about. One of the dumber things I have found myself doing. We did have life jackets and a lot of rope and friends with more testicular fortitude than brains. Still im glad it wasnt mine.

Ice was about 5 1/2" most everywhere. I came in from the north access and ventured just beyond the bay. 5 1/2 where I was, BUT there was an open spot about 50 yards from me that was probably 25x30? Im guessing it was from geese? Just be careful if you are out on the main lake. there were I think about 4 wheelers out in the bay before the pack ice, a couple tracks beyond and one about 50 yds to the nw of me. So if you just watch where youre going you should be fine. Bite was slow for a while with a few perch. 45 min before dark it got really good, about an 8, but right after dark everything stopped. I marked a few, but only 1 or 2 bites after dark. Missed quite a few but everything that I did catch was on the smaller side, with the biggest being 14 1/2.

Went for a couple hours this morning. Went off the access on the paynsville side and off to the right. Over to the point. Got one northern on a tip up and three small walleyes on a gold buck shot. Marked a lot of fish with very few takers. The ice on this end was five inches by the access and about six and a half where I set up. There looks to be some open water where the crow enters/ leaves the lake but that is to be expected. In past years I have had good success by the river for pike but this will have to wait for another day. I did well on this lake in oct and the first part of nov for walleyes and crappies off the break just out of the big shallow bay between the two points. There seems to be an abundance of walleyes in the 10-12 inch range again this year to keep people busy.

I checked the bay today to the left of the access about 50 yards and it was only about 5 plus a little inches of ice. I saw wheelers out though. I am guessing that some people are willing to go on less ice then me with a wheeler or the ice is thicker a bit out from the access. Please post the ice conditions out a ways if they are better then by the access...thanks much.

Ice is no thicker out further. I would have thought it was thicker closer to the access. Where you saw the spear houses lined up, theres pack ice there where it had broke up earlier in the season. out further is fresh ice, but I had about 5 1/2. Maybe i was measuring a little on top too, but definately 5. Wheelers out yesterday too. I dont think I would be out there yet on one, unless it was small.

I think I will wit a bit to bring the wheeler out yet. I get a little nervous on less than seven inches. Maybe by saturday I will fianaly quit hiking out to the spots. That is one heck of a walk from the access accross the bay to where u can get to some deeper water.