how can i find?

[whiteoakbuck]

how can i find a ice report on mcfarland lake in minnesota? planning a fishing trip up there for the opener and would really hate to make that far of a drive to find out the ice isn't off 

[Lee Borgersen]

Try here! You should be able to find a phone# of a local tackle shop or resort.

http://www.ifished.com/minnesota/mcfarland-lake

[Bobby Bass]

I think the Beaver House has closed in Grand Marais which would be the closes ( I think) bait shop to McFarland Lake you could try (218) 388-0303 Ugly Baby Bait & Boats
7587 Gunflint Trl, Grand Marais, MN 55604 for Ice conditions or ask Great Outdoors on here as ice out there should not be to much different then on McFarland. I do have a friend who has relatives with a cabin on the lake and I will pass along your question, but they live out of state.
Is it your first time on the McFarland, I have fished it a ton back in the 90's

[whiteoakbuck]

thanks for all the replys guys and bobby it will be my 2nd time fishing up there we went up late last summer and had a blast

[Bobby Bass]

thanks for all the replys guys and bobby it will be my 2nd time fishing up there we went up late last summer and had a blast

Did you just stay on McFarland or did you take the trip through Little John back to East Pike, ( great sm water) or did you try night fishing on Pine  for walleye. A small trout lake off Pine sees very little action.

[whiteoakbuck]

we stayed on mcfarland caught some nice smallies and a few walleye the water was to low to get to little john but hoping to get on it this summer i here there is some huge walleye on little john too

[Bobby Bass]

we stayed on McFarland caught some nice smallies and a few walleye the water was to low to get to little john but hoping to get on it this summer i here there is some huge walleye on little john too

try fishing between the palisade and the entrance to Pine at dusk troll spinners in 20 foot of water, we always had really good action. Are you in a boat or a canoe? Little John has some really really big northerns in it. If you portage to East Pike the East end is really good for smallies using floating black jig heads with leeches. A secret but there are Muskies in East Pike. Pine has some really big walleyes in it and some times fishing can be good at the outlet into McFarland and actually inside Pine before the outlet into McFarland. Pine is a big lake to paddle we would also make a sail and use our paddles.

[whiteoakbuck]

we will be fishing out of boats

[Bobby Bass]

we will be fishing out of boats

We always haul a canoe with us so we can get through Little John, Big John and into East Pike, well worth it for the smallmouth fishing.  Do try the west shore in the evening through the narrows towards the Pine inlet, When we spent time there would fish for smallies during the day and then catch dinner in the evening trolling that stretch. My buddies uncle way back when used to own a huge section of the east shoreline but have sold it off as building lots over the years, used to spend about three weeks a summer fishing that area. Good luck fishing it