Small Lakes and Rivers Archive

North Dakota Fishing


Hemlokk
Minot
morkers@hotmail.com
request a lake
12/18/2001
10:54:36 PM

Hey Scott...I'm pretty new to your site, but I really like it so far...any chance you could add Smishek Lake? Has anyone heard anything on either Smishek or Powers lake in regards to fish OR ice? Any info would be appreciated...thanks!

hemlokk


wally
jamestown
fishinnurse@hotmail.com
Hobart Lake
12/18/2001
06:57:14 AM

my 15 yr old son, 13 yr old neice and I fished Hobart on sat.. we had awesome luck..

we took home 65 very nice perch..we thru back approx 25...my son was even catching them with no bait on..we could only handle 1-2 poles each..

that was so much fun that we headed back out there mon afternoon..we brought home 46 between 2 of us..we were only out for 2 hrs..

can't wait to get to alkali..heard they were biting there too..i work the night shift so like to head out when i get off work in the a.m.'s..


outdrznd
Horace
outdrznd@aol.com
Grass Lake
12/17/2001
08:13:01 PM

I am need of information about ice conditions and where/how to access the lake. I am planning to go this Saturday, so any info will be appreciated.Also, if known....is this just a northern lake?? How about Buffalo lake near Rutland??


Wayne
Grand Forks AFB
iluvny2@msn.com
comment
12/17/2001
04:05:10 PM

In regards to the largemouth bass question in the Thompson coulee. I caught, and released, many bass this summer. The biggest I caught was between 5-6 lbs. Also caught, and released, a nice northern of about 10 lbs. Most of the bigger fish seem to be in the 4th ponds and beyond. Most of the closer ponds have smaller fish. Hope this helps out. Wayne



TJB
Grand forks

Lake Laretta
12/14/2001
12:50:12 PM

Hello I tried spearing on Laretta last weekend but the water was very cloudy. But we had good luck with the tip-ups. The ice was 6-8inches thick.

Has anyone heard of a lake that is clear for spearing? thank you kindly.


TWayne P
EGF

Maple Lake
12/13/2001
06:15:34 AM

Any reports on ice conditions and the bite if any?


JTWA
Fargo
jtwa17@hotmail.com
Hobart Lake
12/12/2001
06:27:38 PM

I fished at Hobart and checked the ice at Lake Ashtabula on Monday. I caught 17 perch at Hobart in only half an hour. 3 were about 10 inhes and the rest were 7-8 inches. I was fishing the northwest corner in less than 10 feet of water using minnows. North of the crossing the ice was about 6 inches thick and by Sundstroms, the ice was a cloudy 4-5 inches. The ice at Ashtabula seemed more unstable than I cared to be on, but there were numerous holes and several permanent houses out there. Good luck to all and be careful out there.


Jason Thorson
East Grand Forks
jjthors@hotmail.com
Maple Lake
12/12/2001
05:25:46 PM

fished maple on sunday from 6:30am till noon. caught two nice crappies and one small northern. fished the north end of the lake. it looked frozen all of the way across. there was about 4-6 inches where i was.


SSA
Crystal, Fargo, Devils Lake, ND
a_moquist@yahoo.com
comment
12/09/2001
07:25:53 PM

Was wondering if people are fishing on Mt. Carmel and Witman? If so how are you doing. I palan on fishing both of these lakes quite a bit during Christmas break. Fhishing on brewer lake is great right now. Went fishing on friday for two hours and cleaned 40 gills. Fished in 21 feet of water off of the fishing dock. Used a green genz worm tipped with a maggot. The new vexilar fl18 works great.


master_fisherman 00
Langdon

Lake Laretta
12/09/2001
03:41:54 PM

Went to Lake Lorretta today, ice was about 6 to 8 inches thick. Caught 15 little perch and a couple of northerns. Came home early to the Viking game, Way to go Viks


Russell Hodny
Plymouth

Lake Laretta
12/09/2001
10:32:32 AM

Were the perch of any size? I grew up about 15 miles from there so I fished Laretta quite a bit over the last 4 years. The last couple of years the abundance of large perch have been fewer and farther between. Although I did get a 2.25 pounder last year my largest perch to date. I moved to Minnesota this last year and I can't find fish like I used to in N.D. I'm coming back home for Christmas and will go to Laretta and Devils Lake for the weekend.


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Lake Laretta
12/08/2001
02:28:02 PM

Fished Laretta today. The ice was 8 inches thick. I measured it in 3 places.

There were 3 or 4 other shelters out on the ice.

This fishing was slow at first until I found the right pattern. After that pattern was found, the fishing was non-stop for about a half-hour. It stopped suddenly, when a northern took my line. I had 4 lb test on it, a very small jig......and can you believe I landed the northern? It got stuck in the hole and couldn't turn around, the jig came out of it's mouth...and I used my ice scoop to pull it the rest of the way out. What a blast!

I stayed till one o'clock...had a few more bites...then decided to go home and watch the University of North Dakota Sioux win the National Championship...which they just did.


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Lake Laretta
12/07/2001
02:39:26 PM

Ok guys...just got back from buying bait.

The news is that Laretta has as much as seven inches of ice, other reports of 5 inches, a few of 6 inches. so I believe Larettta is about 5 to 7 inches thick.

Golden Lake has 5 inches on it.

The Thompson slough has about 5 inches on it.

So Laretta looks good this weekend for all of us!

Have fun!


Tully
EGF
ttollefs@telproinc.com
Lake Laretta
12/07/2001
07:35:33 AM

Wayne, I have read reports on fishingmn.com that some of the guys have been out fishing on Maple already. 4-5 inches on one end but only 2 inches on the other side. I don't remember which but I think it was the west end that was thick. My wife was at Union last weekend and there was still waves/no ice. I am either heading to Laretta on Sunday (depending on what Scott finds out on Saturday) or I am heading to Maple. Tully


Wayne P
EGF

comment
12/07/2001
06:09:32 AM

HAs anyone heard a ice report for maple or union lake.


jonathan
stephen, mn

request a lake
12/06/2001
02:03:56 PM

hows the red doing for ice fishing? any parts think enough to fish?


jonathan
stephen
jonman10@hotmail.com
request a lake
12/06/2001
01:58:09 PM

how the red doing for ice?


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Lake Laretta
12/05/2001
05:08:07 PM

Yes, Laretta is frozen over.

As of this last weekend...there was NO evidence of anyone on the lake. The ice thickness is unknown. I will be going there this weekend, on Saturday, to determine the ice thickness.

I was at Laretta this last weekend, alone. The ice looked 'slushy'. I was alone, so it was dangerous to go out alone. I chose to go around the lake an look for other evidence of anyone on the lake. It was absent of evidence.

I imagine there will be a plethora of people at the shoreline this weekend. All waiting to test the thickness of the ice. I'll do it. BUT I need other people there...

My preliminary plans are to leave at 8:30 AM, from Grand Forks, which puts me at Laretta about 9:30 AM. (These plans are subject to change...depending on how late I stay up Friday night, and the needs of my daughter and wife.)

Either way...I'm going to Laretta on Saturday. I'll check the ice, IF there are other anglers there.

SO: if you want to fish Lake Laretta this weekend....let's try and be there about 9:30 AM on Saturday.


master_fishermen00
Langdon

Lake Laretta
12/05/2001
03:58:52 PM

i need to no if Lake Laretta or Stump Lake is frozen over! It would be a big help


master_fishermen00
Langdon

Lake Laretta
12/05/2001
03:58:41 PM

i need to no if Lake Laretta or Stump Lake is frozen over! It would be a big help


Auggie264
Crystal/Fargo/D.Lake
d_ucttape@yahoo.com
Brewer Lake
12/04/2001
10:02:41 PM

ice is 2.75 to 3 inches thick. (As of Dec. 4) Caught some sunfish off the dock. The FL-18 works great! The fish were 1-3 feet off the bottom. It all ended when I was drilling and the ice split between my legs across the whole width of the ice. I never ran so fast in my life.


Tully
EGF
ttollefs@telproinc.com
Lake Laretta
12/04/2001
11:25:12 AM

Hi Scott, I am contemplating going out on Laretta this weekend, probably Sunday since I have hockey practice on Saturday. Do you think you will be venturing out there before then? I would appreciate an e-mail if you do go and have any advise on ice thickness. Thanks, Tully


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Lake Laretta
12/03/2001
02:19:24 PM

Never made it to Matecjek today...instead drove to Lake Laretta. No-one on the lake. It's frozen over and several tire tracks on the gravel road leading up to the ice....then they turn around. There were 2 sets of footprints on the ice...they walked out about 10 feet...and then turned around. Their footprints looked very 'slushy' (is that even a word?)

I drove clear around the lake for the first time. I was alone and was not interested in checking ice thickness by myself. Forgot the ice/spud bar, forgot the GPS, (in case I found a hot spot), forgot the camera (to show you guys how the lake looks.)

The road around the lake is tough to navigate...I was a little worried I'd get stuck in the middle of nowhere, without a GPS...and alone. (Just goes to show how much a GPS can be of help if you ever get stuck. I had a cell-phone, but without the GPS...It felt useless.

I then drove to Niagra Dam, (never been there.) It's quite small, and no evidence of anyone on the dam. Drove on further to Larimore Dam...closed till ice fishing. Frozen over...but unknown ice thickness.

All-in-all...it was disappointing.

The snow on the lake is not good. Snow is an excellent insulator. My TROPICAL flower bulbs survived last winter under 3 feet of snow....almost unheard of in these parts, but typical under that much snow. I imagine that the ice is probably 3 or 4 inches thick...but I didn't dare venture out alone.

I WOULD BE WILLING to go out and test the ice thickness tomorrow (Sunday) on Lake Laretta ...if anyone is interested in going...e-mail me if you'd like to go...


Wannabe
Grand Forks
kmuus@yahoo.com
Turtle River
12/02/2001
02:42:50 PM

Got out on the English Coulee(diversion) today. Ice is about 3 or 4 inches thick. Caught a couple of small perch on artificial grubs(that's all I had with me). It's definitely thick enough to walk out on. Next weekend I expect a few people out there. I think I was the first person to venture out on the ice. Still waiting to hit the bigger lakes. Good luck and be safe......


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Lake Laretta
12/01/2001
07:21:19 PM

Pike Badger,

I went to Lake Laretta today...it's 2 miles west and 1 1/2 miles north of Michigan.

Michigan is a SMALL town on highway 2-about 35 miles west of the Air Force Base.)

See my report on the 'Hot Topics' page about ice thickness, and join in the conversations!


PikeBadger
GFAFB

Lake Laretta
12/01/2001
05:32:42 PM

Where is Lake Laretta? I've never even heard of it.


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
comment
11/28/2001
04:41:25 PM

Cory:

I'm thinking Devils Lake ice fishing is going to be hot this year.

Last year was tough, but a good fisherman will have read up on what worked last year....

Since I live in Grand Forks, I am kinda stuck to fish near GF.

The Frosty Bobber ice fishing tournament in East Grand Forks is sort of a 'joke' because fishing is rarely any good during that tournament. For several years, I understand NOT A SINGLE FISH was caught. It's great fun, but the fishing is usually lousy.

Try some of the smaller sloughs for some perch action. Always put your tip-ups in...never know when you'll catch a nice northern!

Good luck...and watch for my Larimore Dam and Lake Laretta ice fishing reports! (Maybe Stump Lake, also!)


Cory
Bismarck

Alkali Lake
11/26/2001
09:10:10 PM

Does anyone know of an hot fishing spots this year for perch or for crappie would appriate the info thanks and good luck and lets pray for ice.


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Larimore Dam
10/31/2001
06:50:33 PM

Testing for ice....testing for ice...!

Scott


Randy Rice
GFAFB
RNKNGF@aol.com
Turtle River
10/21/2001
10:10:57 AM

Fished Turtle River 3 times in the last 2 weeks. Caught 14" rainbows each trip. Also caught couple of pike. The trout were very aggressive. Live bait or artificial lures didn't seem to matter. Beats working!


scott McNamee
Gfks
scott@invoman.com
Larimore Dam
10/21/2001
09:30:05 AM

Testing-

It seems to work folks!


tim
GFAFB
frostygf@hotmail.com
Wednesday October 17, 2001
02:47 PM

How about koldening dam and turtle river


on2stix
Fargo
on2stix@yahoo.com
Monday October 15, 2001
10:15 AM

how about Brewer lake, for those of us in the Fargo area


Sarge
Hatton

Sunday October 14, 2001
06:20 PM

Great site Scott!


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Tuesday October 09, 2001
02:55 PM

cherry lake

and horsehead


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Saturday October 06, 2001
04:25 PM

Ok:

Here is my plan:

I KNOW that I need to add the following lakes:

Larimore Dam

Lake Laretta

Golden Lake

Whitman Dam

Stump Lake

Sweetwater Lake (for Northerns)

Are there others? Let me know!


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Friday October 05, 2001
02:55 PM

Testing...


Scott McNamee
Grand Forks
scott@invoman.com
Friday October 05, 2001
02:33 PM

Welcome to the smaller lakes and rivers page. I'm trying to put up a list on the 'submit report' link so that you can click on a lake/river and that lake or river will show up in your report. Please feel free to suggest your favorite lake or river and I'll add them as soon as I can get to it.

Meanwhile....leave your reports....lets start talking about fishing!

Thanks for dropping by.

Scott