I’m guessing everyone is getting the itch to ice fish. For me, I’m not much for the really early season ice. I like to feel a little bit safe and I try really hard to use caution. Last season my first ice fishing trip was on Devils Lake. We took 3 atv’s long ropes and took our time traveling in a chain to get good ice readings. I hope everyone reading this report does the same! No fish is worth falling through the ice and certainly no fish is worth losing a life over.
I’m hearing reports of guys already venturing out. Of course it’s walking conditions only with very limited gear. Most of the small slough areas will freeze pretty solid. The larger bodies of water especially the ones where ducks and geese continue to land are the ones you really have to be careful on. Lake Sakakawea is quite a ways off yet. Beaver bay down on Oahe is froze, but I’m not sure how long it will remain locked up with tempatures climbing into the 40’s again by next week. I do t think those temps will bother the smaller lakes that are froze up. Those temps do however mess with the larger lakes for sure and so does the wind.
So here are a couple early ice predictions or should I say tried and true. Early on Lake Audubon is always one of my favorites along with the early ice on Beaver Bay down on Lake Oahe. For sure no secrets there with really good activity usually. I think or at least hoping for a better East End of Sakakawea bite this year and also a better mainstream Oahe. Devils Lake is always a no brainer snd day in and day out is your best option for a consistent winter bite. Jamestown Reservoir is a sleeper and a lot of the smaller lakes near by are as well. There are a few others that I’ll report on here this winter as we go.
Until next time if you are venturing out make sure you take your time and remember safety on the ice never takes a day off. Also, please feel free to keep me updated on ice conditions etc. and I’ll add them to these reports throughout the winter. The winter time fishing is really the time to keep people informed.
