Bald Eagle Lake

[ling0069]

Anybody ice fish Bald Eagle Lake?  I've fished it in the summer and caught a few 'eyes but I've never been out there on ice. Jsut wondering how it compares to other metro lakes.

[Mayfly]

I think your best bet on Bald Eagle is muskie fishing in the summer. I have also heard of good bass fishing. Crappies and sunfish but just like any other metro lake you'll have to do A LOT of sorting unless you find a honey hole and get lucky. I would spend my time searching other not so well known lakes....start looking and you'll be surprised. There are some around.

[thunderpout]

Its a great local lake... used to bass fish it a ton in the summer,  its a pretty good panfish and walleye lake for ice fishing... hit the reef in the middle of the lake... careful with early ice, someone told me theres a spring on the opposite end from the landing and have found thin ice over there more than once.  Lots of Muskies... caught a 12-15 lb bowfin when bass fishing with a topwater lure there & it pulled me around in my boat for quite a while, for a few other boats entertainment...   For panfish in the winter, I always did well dusk-night... never did well with daylight.

[jkurkoski]

Always had fair to moderate luck by the island during hard water.  Does anyone know how much ice is on Bald Eagle?

[Randy Kaar]

i heard right around 11 inches average

randy

[Mayfly]

Talked to somoene at Hansens Bait shop and they said there are some nice sized walleyes coming out of Bald Eagle this ice season. Said a few have had some luck with catching fish around the 15-17 mark. This is third hand information but If you want it from the second form the source stop in at Hansens.

[BirddogBenelli]

Any luck on bald eagle lately?  If so, where would a decent spot to start be?  Any help would be great!  Thanks.

[Mayfly]

Heard they were still catching lots of crappies in the eves north of the island in about 15-18 feet.

North bays for walleyes.

[Desperado]

there are some nice sized walleyes coming out of Bald Eagle this ice season.

"nice sized walleyes"  You mean like this?  She came outta Baldy at 5:15 pm Dec 30, 2008.

[Mayfly]

Exactly. 

 

[BirddogBenelli]

Are people driving on Bald Eagle, Centerville or White Bear yet?

[Mayfly]

Yes.

[BirddogBenelli]

Fished Bald eagle for first time today.  got set up around 3:30.  realized both mantles on lantern were burnt out... Auger was low on gas   So I wasn't about to start punching hole all over.  Good thing for headlamps becuase that is all I had for light.  Ended up in 35 FOW becuase i wanted to get away from crowds a little (and i didn't have too much gas in auger.)  Caught about 8 and kept 3 nice ones.  Line snapped which took another 20 minutes to figure out/fix.  Headlamp burnt out at 9pm...Done.  Not a bad time fishing Baldy for 1st time.  anybody else have luck?

[pheasantman2121]

Dang dont you hate that when it seems like nothing is going right.  Well at least you improvised and made the most of it.  Where you catching crappies?  Any size?

[BirddogBenelli]

Crappies.  Not huge but a nice 10"...Yum, crappie sandwhich!  I always say a bad day on the lake or in the woods is better than a GREAT day at work.  Keep your stick on the ice.

GO VIKES!!!!

[kingfisher1]

there's plenty of ice on Bald Eagle.  There's over 14 inches in some spots of the lake.  As far as catching eyes and crappies during the hard water season on the lake, you can try to south part of cigar island, and the south side of the reeds, but there will be a lot of competition.  Another spot to try that will have less competition is the rock pile on the eastern side of the north bay.  Otherwise, Bald eagle is known more for a musky and bass lake during the summer.  Last year alone, I pulled in 6 muskies over 45 inches, and quite a few 3+ pound bass.  It's kinda nice having in-laws that live on the lake.

[Outdoors Junkie]

Thanks for the report.   

Welcome to MNO!

[kingfisher1]

not a problem and thanks!  I hope to share and recieve a lot of useful information on this site.  I nay be new, and young (25 yo) to some, but I have a wealth of info to share about hunting and especially fishing.  The Croix, and BE are my two favorite spots to be on the water.

[Randy Kaar]

we would appreciate your reports! and welcome to MNO!
 

randy

[kingfisher1]

Thank you!  I am more than happy to help others find and catch fish!  BE can be a tough lake to fish, yet easy if you know what to look for and where.  Again, I am more than willing to help try to put others on fish, and share what I've had luck with.

[BirddogBenelli]

Went out last night in about 23 FOW.  Caught about 20 crappies and kept my limit of 9-10"ers...great eating.  fast and furious action on a ratso..as fast as I could get it down there, I would entice them a little and they were very light strikes, but hammered them good.  What a fun night fishing.  First time trying without minnows or waxies and it was great.

[kingfisher1]

near cigar, or the reeds?

[BirddogBenelli]

Northwest of Cigar...went out again on Thursday night and it was cold and only kept 5 crappies...lots of small ones.  23 FOW again...may go out later today.

[kingfisher1]

that area, only a little shallower is great for muskies during the summer

[girard]

i was out today in 22 fow and caught 50 crappies only keeping enough for a meal and threw all the other ones back