GREY EAGLE

[JohnWester]

Nancy's Bait & Tackle, Rex, 4 miles east of the Rock Tavern on Big Birch Lake, 4 miles west of Upsala (320-285-2405)
   The reports of the ice being unfishable do to open water are not true.  We had a ice heave off Crocker Point where some of the ice heaved down under another sheet which caused an opening that is icing over.  It is down to about 30 across now and should be iced over by the weekend.  Be careful of that area until it heals up enough to go out on.  The rest of Big Birch has 8 to 9 inches of VERY fishable ice, except in the narrows between the two lakes.  Locals know that ice is never safe and you should never attempt to drive through there due to the current between the lakes.  The walleye fishing on Big Birch and Cedar Lake has been good at night.  On both lakes they are biting on shiners and small suckers.  On Big Birch, fish the bar just up from the Rock Tavern in 16 to 18 feet of water, or by the St. Rose end by the humps.  On Cedar Lake, try out by the bar across from the access.  Lady, Pine and St. Mary’s Lakes all have good panfish bites going on too.  For the spearing guys, Little Birch and Long Lake both have good clear water for spearing.  And if you are just looking for good action, the northerns are really biting on golden shiners during the day on Big Birch.