Gull lake, Minors bay, Sat January 10th

Showed up at minors bay around 8am sat morning and was happy to see around 12 permanent huts in the bay, also a few portables. Walked out in 6" of snow and slush and set up in 64 fow and when we drilled first hole we were standing in 6" of water for the next 8hrs (not nice at all lol) o-well the fishing was great! In the first half hr we let go a small trout and landed two keeper walleye! (Rare on minors bay) one 14" and 19"' the bigger one was seen one flasher at 20 fow and when I brought up he hammered it! I was using an old tip up so unfortunately I missed a few bigger ones on way up but managed to bring home two good walleye and two 15" trout (just a hair under slot size) I also let go lots of smaller trout cause I was trying to get closer to slot size for a bigger pan fry. Pack up around 3pm and headed home after a non stop action day. Talked to other portable huts around me and most said they got nothing, not even a bump. Either they were keeping it to themselves or I guess I had the honey hole lol. I had a great day and am looking forward to next weekend. Was anyone from this forum out there?

Dave

Enjoyed the report - looks like you did well!

I may try and get out next week.

It's on my list. Supposed to be great herring there. Will make it this year. Any info on parking? I heard side of road and down a set of stairs? Any info appreciated. 2 hrs + for me.

Regards, ff.

Did the water keep coming out of the holes - flooding everywhere? Or just around your hut?

How much snow on the ice forcing it down?

What did you do with the fish you caught? Swim around in the water?

Must be a challenge with that much water on ground - can't put anything on the ice. And eventually everything starts getting damp / wet. Can't kneel on the ice . . .

Thanks

Yes Bluenote it was a tough go from the start! The lake had about 6 or 8" of wet snow and our boot print would fill with water as we walked. We picked are spot and with a good snow shovel we cleared all the heavy wet snow and even scraped the water and slush away, it was 4" of nice clear ice. We set up my hug pop up and banked the sides with snow and we were set....when we drilled the first hole the entire hut filled with 6" of water lol we both had high rubber boots so we're good that way. We had to bring shovel full's of snow back in to prop both are flasher up and another for the stove I heat with, it was brutal. Everything else was wet or hanging above are heads. The fishing was great so we weren't moving, and yes it was tough getting fish back in the hole when they could swim the whole hut.

Walleye on miners bay???? Wow that's like a needle in a haystack, any pics?

I have a few pics on my cell phone but never tried adding any on the forum, that's two walleye this weekend and one big one the weekend before. Three walleye out of minors bay this year! Maybe there getting better!

Sounds great. Watersports! Lol

Was wondering my friend, how far of a walk from shore? Want to try this spot with a friend who's walking is limited. Apparently some nice whitefish there, I have never caught one before and they say this bay in later January gets quite good. Must have been tough pulling out hut in those slushy conditions. But sounds like you guys made it work. Nice!!

(Fishing fan) you have the correct info, Minors bay rd is a very short road and it curves right around the bay. you can't miss the cars parked on the side of the road right by the stairs down to the lake. if you have a sled or big portable hut you will definitely need a friend to help you over the guard rail and ease it down the stairs, if your traveling light its no problem. (Dbfish) the stairs have a hand rail to help your friend on the lake and after a 40 or 50 foot walk your in 35 to 45 fow and i always pass guys there so it wont be a far walk at all. again if you have a lot of gear you may have to walk your gear down a little at a time and reload your sled but doable.
now i only hit minors a few times a year on early ice cause it freeze early and in all my times there i have never caught a white fish in minors bay (has anyone else?) minors is known for great hearing, great pan fry trout and lately walley! not far from minors bay i fish deep bay and have caught a handful of white fish there, not sure of ice there though cause theres current at the boat launch and sometimes you can't get out to the good ice. even last year with 30" plus ice there was still open water to the right of launch on deep bay.

Dave

Wow that is a good day only fished there once and thought there was only stocked rainbow and pan fish it is the one in gravenhurst

I thought Miners Bay has boat launch? So can drive onto ice with Argo or even vehicle if frozen enough?

Miners Bay does have a boat launch I have driven my Argo on the bay a few times

Hey everyone, wondering if anyone with more experience than I can help.

I was looking through the regulations on Gull lake and for the life of me I can not find any information on herring limits.

I understand that there is a slot for lake trout, and a 1 rod only rule, but any clarity on the herring limits would be great.

Could have sworn I read on internet, no limit. Don't take my word for it, do some investigating to make sure.