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QUOTE (splake4224 @ Mar 18, 2016 - 10:53 am)
in my experience i have had good luck casting a smelt or large minnow out to 20' of water with a 1/2 oz weight. if your allowed live bait even better. have caught lots of 20'+ lakers from shore in late april. cheers!
splake4224: You indicated that you used a 1/2 ounce sinker. An egg sinker?
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QUOTE (Longshank @ Mar 20, 2016 - 02:32 pm)
QUOTE (Knuguy @ Mar 18, 2016 - 09:55 am)
I have heard said that you need to wait a couple of weeks after ice out before they hit. Any truth to that rumor?
I have often got them while there are still ice chunks around....but not massive ice.
We go when we can get in as soon as she's broke up, but just like other lakes some bays etc will still have ice on them while main lake or northen bays are ice free.
Thx, LS. I will try to get out as early as possible.
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Heading up later today. Nasty looking up north!
Thanks for all the helpful tips.
I will try and find some open water as I have heard the shoreline is pooched! I have a few places that should have open water between Minden and Haliburton never fished them before but i'm sure ill find a spot to cast.
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Well it was ugly. Sad to say not much to report. Shoreline was ice but thin. Knowing its not deep close to shore (2'-5') I went out spudding. Mostly white ice. I had my rope just in case. Made it out about 30' of my 50' rope drilled a few holes I was in 15' of water with 2" black ice and 6"white with 2"crust on top. I was surprised at the thickness but not comfortable being out as the ice was changing fast as temps were climbing. Fished for about 1.5 hours no hits, with the sun making an appearance I got off not worth it. Right at shore on my way in went in one foot soaker in 18" of water.
Ice season done. Scouted some open water but it was shallow and I figured no lake trout would be there as deep water was far away.
Thanks again and the tips will have to wait for next year.
Open water crappie is next and should be good on my parents lake (Sturgeon) in two weeks.
Fishing Northern Lakes
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Ice Out Lakers., Techniques 
