Just returned from Southern MN for first winter visit with in-laws.

[KrappieKrane]

Spent the holiday with the in-laws and this was my first winter visit. Got a chance to see ice fishing up close and personal and also did some dark house spearing on one of the small rivers. Absolutely awesome time and cant wait to come back. I was very impressed with the ice fishing and could get addicted to it quickly. I caught one small northern on a tip up and seen a nice bucket of walleyes in a fish house. Speared some carp and suckers in the dark house and fell in love doing that. Just wanted to say I am quite envious of the outdoor activities that are offered for the outdoorsman. I use to feel sorry for the guys that had to fish in freezing weather but you boys are warmer than I am sitting in a boat in 45 degree temps. Already planning next years trip to get more time on the ice. Happy fishing.

Rollcaster.........:::::..........

[ekim22]

That's funny to see someone else from GA posting about ice fishing in Minnesota.

We just moved up here from Covington, GA in October.

[KrappieKrane]

You will enjoy the opportunities offered in the state. Usually visited in the summer months and fished for walleye and northerns then. Definitely visit the Cabelas there for the best customer service of any place I've visited. Have fun and stay warm.

[no1son]

Glad you enjoyed yourself. Outdoor winter activities are a long tradition up here. We even have joggers out running in the parks below zero pretty regularly here in the Metro. A "little" snow or cold just aint gonna bother some of those folks.

[KrappieKrane]

I felt a little ashamed for not enjoying the quiet lakes here when it gets a little cold and we were fishing there in 20 degree temps. I might have to rethink my fishing schedule here in GA. But all in all, cant wait to get back in June for my annual walleye trip. Best eating fish there is, with a very close second to crappie.

[ekim22]

Glad you enjoyed yourself. Outdoor winter activities are a long tradition up here. We even have joggers out running in the parks below zero pretty regularly here in the Metro. A "little" snow or cold just aint gonna bother some of those folks.

No1son, your quote cracked me up because at lunch this past week I stopped down at the park in front of Medicine Lake to watch the guys ice fishing out on the lake....as I'm watching this guy who's jogging around the jog-trail around the lake just makes a left turn and jogs straight across the lake back to where he came from. It cracked me up

[no1son]

LOL Come on in deeper into the Metro. The scenery gets better. Visibility certainly increases in the parks when it warms up, but it aint too bad year around either. And in the winter the activity isn't restricted to the jogging or bicycle paths. At any given time there are often more strollers, cross country skiers and dog walkers on the ice than fishermen, and quite a few wind surfers out on the ice, too, not just in summer. Our park systems are heavily used in all but the harshest weather and by all kinds of people, and most everybody is friendly on top of it. They will walk out and ask you about your fishing too, and not necessarily in English. We get a whole lot of foreign tourists visiting our parks all year around. For that matter my fishing partner is from the Middle East, and another who is often around is from Panama and another regular is from Viet Nam. It takes all kinds I guess.

BTW there is a soft spot due to a shallow spring on one part of Medicine. Some stroller or ice skater (I forget which) fell through in the recent past, IIRC they buried him, too. I think it is posted; so if you go out pay attention to the thin ice warnings, he didn't or stop at the bait shop at the access and ask about it. Just because it is cold enough doesn't mean that all the ice is safe.

You should have heard the ice popping last Thursday afternoon. Sounded like a bunch of teenagers in a watermelon patch but at multiples of the volume. You know how a properly ripe watermelon will pop when you stick a knife in it; well ice will sound just like that in a warm spell only a lot louder. A bit spooky when the pop runs right under you followed by the hairline crack it makes.

[KrappieKrane]

I heard if you stay overnight on the ice, you hear all the sounds from the ice. They said it will raise the hair on your neck the first time you hear it.

[no1son]

It sure can get spooky when the ice sings to you.

[ekim22]

I wish I hadn't read this lol.

I have some coworkers coming up Feb 12th and I solicited a local coworker to take us out on the ice for a few hours that day, ice conditions permitting.

I do not want to hear the ice "singing" lol.

Keep in mind I'm from the south and growing up we'd always venture out onto 2" ice over the shallow creeks (less than a foot of water...it never held our weight).....you'd always hear that "rolling" creak/pop that sounds like someone holding a sheet of aluminum.

Yea, I might be sick that day.