Sunrise 0644 / Sunset 1743
On Ice: N/A
Temps 12.4 – 37.4 F / 5-10 MPH winds from N, NW
Relative Pressure 29.89-29.7 – Slow trend down
Water Clarity Good. Murky in spots. 18 inches of Ice
I spent Saturday on De Smet fishing the Sheridan Rotary Club 3rd Annual Derby. There seemed to be a
great turn out and the weather was beautiful. Fishing was slow for us, but there were some decent Lake
Trout and Perch caught. The walleye bite must of have been off for everyone because I think the
$1,000.00 walleye was 6 ½”. Congratulations to the winners!
As for Keyhole Reservoir – Some gentlemen staying at the lodge did report back to us on ice, snow, slush and fishing conditions. Current situation on the reservoir seem to be hit and miss. I’ve been told the fishing was slow during the daylight hours. Difficult to locate fish and difficult to feed them when they were around. There seems to be plenty of ice yet, but the amount of snow and slush has getting around on a four wheeler difficult, if not impossible (We observed the same thing at De Smet). Some places against the rock walls have drifts between 1-4 feet deep and reports of 6” to 1 foot+ of slush were observed. Tread lightly out there and pack a snow shovel. The snow will insulate the ice for a bit, but I don’t think the slush is going anywhere. I might give it a go this weekend if I can easily access some
spots and will report back.
Sunrise 0706 / Sunset 1723
On Ice: 1100 – 2000
Temps 37.2 – 26.8 F / Winds light and variable from the West.
Relative Pressure 29.91 – flat
Water Clarity 10’, but murky in spots. 15 inches of ice
The fish were NOT AROUND DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. Nearly non-existent and not interested, even
when they were cruising by. We settled in and set up over a ghost town environment before the sun set
and it paid off, because not long after darkness overtook the hut, fish seemingly appeared out of
nowhere and the feed was on. Slightly pickier than the night before, crappie were still pretty easy to
entice. We were in 17 feet of water and crappie were anywhere in the column. After a few hours, two
dozen or so crappie, and no walleye, we packed up. Crappie seem to be everywhere this winter from
structure to flat bottoms. Knowing when they’re going to activate is the tricky part. No walleye action
on minnows, larger @fishfrostbite Tantrums or Dinner bells. No action from northerns on dead bait
hanging 5-10 feet below the ice in depths ranging from 10-25 feet.
Sunrise 0707 / Sunset 1722
On Ice: 1400 – 2330
Temps 37.4 – 24.4 F / 5-10 mph from the S
Relative Pressure 30.01 – Flat
Water Clarity 10’ – 14 inches of ice
Sometimes work gets in the way of fishing and after several weeks being away from the ice I was
anxious to get back to it. The afternoon started with a struggle to find fish, and then find fish that were
active. By sunset we had settled on a location on the north side of the lake in 23 feet of water and
about 45 minutes after sunset, the fishing really picked up. It was hard to leave and I was excited to
catch fish after fish, reeling in 40+ crappie and one 20”+ walleye. Everything worked. 5m tungsten with
minnows, Gulp minnows, @307custombaitz and @fishfrostbite Tantrums. Feeding frenzy and beautiful
weather. Off the ice at midnight and worth every lost minute of sleep.
Sunrise 0733 / Sunset 1646
On Ice: 0630 – 1000
Temps 26.8 – 33.6 F / 5-10 mph from the SW
Relative Pressure 29.51 – 29.48 inHg – pretty flat
Water Clarity 10’. 14 inches of ice
Returned to where we left off Saturday evening. Walleye, crappie and drum were still there, but the bite was off. Shuffled through rattlebaits, jigs, and spoons of different shapes and sizes hoping for another walleye bite, but they were pretty finicky. Crappie were willing to eat, but that wasn’t our goal for the morning. Packed up equipment early and called it a weekend.
Sunrise 0733 / Sunset 1645
On Ice: 0700 – 1830
Temps 35.2 – 50.4 F / SW winds light and variable
Relative Pressure 29.67 – 29.60 inHg – steady decline all day
Water Clarity 10’. 14 inches of ice
As we’ve seen in the past – no walleye biting early and the crappie had also shut down other than a few stragglers at sunrise. We moved locations from a rock wall at 30 foot depths to more gentle terrain in 22 feet of water. Located Crappie and some fish tight to the bottom in early afternoon and set up for the evening. Crappie were aggressive early and walleye started feeding around 4:00 PM. We had a productive evening, catching another drum, a handful of crappie and a limit of walleye all over 17 inches. Walleye bite was aggressive on 1.8” Tantrum Rattlebaits from Frostbite Fishing in “Metallic Sexy Shad” and “Goldmine.” Walleye really liked that bait to drop hard on the lake bottom and be jigged up a couple feet, usually eating right as the bait touched the lake bottom. It was true satisfaction to locate active walleye in consistent numbers and sizes after a fairly dead morning and mid-day bite.
Sunrise 0734 / Sunset 1644
On Ice: 1300 – 1930
Temps 38.1 – 35.1 F / 7-10 MPH winds from the South
Relative Pressure 29.99 – 29.89 inHg – slow trend down
Water Clarity 10’. 14 inches of ice
Off work and on the ice!! First location on North shore along rocks was a bust. Just a few fish intermittently passing through. Caught a drum on a 5mm tungsten jig head and grub. Moved locations at 4:00 PM and set up on a school of crappie. Crappie bite turned on at dark and was still strong at 7:30PM when we decided to call it. Set up in 25 feet of water, crappie dispersed. Biting on 5mm jig head with GULP minnow and 1.3” Grape Thunder Tantrum from Frostbite Fishing. No walleye to speak of.
Sunrise 0735 / Sunset 1637
On Ice: 0630 – 1300
Temps 16.9 – 32.0 F / North winds light and variable
Relative Pressure 30.05 inHg – Flat
Water Clarity 10’. 12 inches of ice
Thought we’d capitalize on the uptick in Walleye bites and crappie fishing from the evening before and we found the fish to be SHUTDOWN. Weather is just too nice. Fish found were finicky and not hungry. Also had dead bait out for cruising Northerns and saw no action. Fishing was slow and we called it a day at lunch time with temperatures expected to continue upwards into the 40’s. Lake was busy today.
Sunrise 0736 / Sunset 1636
On Ice: 1400 – 1930
Temps 23.4 – 19.0 F / North winds at 2 mph
Relative Pressure 29.88 inHg –30.02 inHg slow rise
Water Clarity 10’. 12 inches of ice
Afternoon outing. Bite was slow till around sunset. Walleye and Crappie really turned on after sunset. A few walleye on a 1.8” Tantrum from Frostbite Fishing, biggest was 19”. Caught enough crappie for a fish fry from dark till 7:30PM. Eating 5MM tungsten jig heads with GULP minnows and 1.3” Grape Thunder Tantrum Rattlebait from Frostbite fishing. Walleye and Crappie in 25 feet of water. Walleye hugging the bottom and the crappie dispersed.
Sunrise 0736 / Sunset 1631
On Ice: 1300 – 1700
Temps 30.7 – 28.4 F / Non- existent
Relative Pressure 29.93inHg – flat
Water Clarity murky but still over 5 feet. 11 inches of ice
I was really set on catching another BIG northern after going about 1 for 5 yesterday. Set up quickly with 5 deadsticks hanging 6” herring about 8 feet below the ice in water depths ranging from 10 feet to 35 feet. They were active yet again. Consistently cruising through my Garmin Panoptix. I think it’s because of such flat barometric pressures for the last few days. Has them happy and eating. I was not successful in my 4 hour set. None of the Clam Arctic Warriors or Jaw Jackers tripped. I did have one blow up my bait in the hut, witnessed it all on the Panoptix, but never got a mouthful. Fun to watch the aggressive fish, circle, circle, bump, circle, circle charge. So close……. Snowing hard all afternoon and into the evening, but gorgeous outside with decent temperatures and not a breath of wind.
On Ice: 0615 – 1745
Temps 26.3 – 29.1 F / West & North winds light & variable
Relative Pressure 29.92 – 30.00 inHg – slow rise
Water Clarity murky but still over 5 feet. 11 inches of ice
Happy New Year. On the water bright and early. Trying to find that early morning walleye bite but really never found active walleye….. however – the crappie were on fire!! Almost obnoxious trying to keep my lures on bottom for walleye. No idea how many crappie were caught, mostly on a 1.8” Tantrum from Frostbite Fishing. The northerns were extremely active all day. Most active I’ve noted yet this ice season. In and out of my Garmin Panoptix constantly and stealing my herring on deadsticks in 15 feet of water, hanging 5-8 feet below the ice. Missed several opportunities with pike on the line before finally landing a 40”+ female between sunset and true darkness. Great battle. Beautiful fish. Not a single walleye bite for sure all day. **watched a four-wheeler drop the pressure ridge between pat’s Point, Eggie and the Marina. No one was injured and I helped them get the four-wheeler back on the ice, as it was hanging precariously by the trailer in tow. Scary situation. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!!
Sunrise 0736 / Sunset 1629
On Ice: 0645 – 1630
Temps 25.1 – 29.8 F / West winds light & variable
Relative Pressure 29.68 – 29.71 inHg – flat / slow rise
Water Clarity 10 feet. 10 inches of ice
Breakfast at R Place and on the water before daybreak. Set up in 25’ of water and caught a couple walleye right away on a 1.5” white dinner bell by Frostbite Fishing. The larger walleye bite window seemed short-lived, but the crappie fishing sustained well into mid-morning. Late morning to early afternoon slowed way down for everything. We did venture into some 15’ water after a school crappie. Landed several more crappie and pulled 3 or 4 smaller walleye off the bottom. Shallowest we’d found consistent walleye thus far this ice season. Crappie shifted back to the deeper water later afternoon and we jigged for walleye with no success while landing more crappie before packing up just before “prime time.” Deadsticks in various depths with herring and herring chunks saw no action all day for northerns. Had to make New Year’s Eve Dinner.
Sunrise 0736 / Sunset 1629
On Ice: 1300 – 1930
Temps 31.8 – 29.1 F / West winds light & variable
Relative Pressure 29.73 – 29.71 inHg – flat
Water Clarity 10 feet. 10 inches of ice
On the water later in the day and forced to explore new areas, getting beat to our planned spot. Spent 40 minutes drilling and scoping out holes before finding several schools of crappie in an area about the size of a football field. Set up in 30 feet of water with 15 plateaus on either side. Lures in the water by 1430 and moving fish immediately. Caught a 17” walleye on a 1.5” white dinner bell by Frostbite Fishing and a handful of crappie on white 5mm tungsten jig heads with 307 CustomBaitz plastic. Secured a 30”+ northern on a white 3/8 oz. Scissorkick by Frostbite Fishing. Continued fishing into the evening and had a pretty fast and furious walleye bite around 1800. Nothing large but fun getting them to eat one after another.