GOMH & Rock Lake Today(3/31/26)

 Ice is starting to pull off the shore on Platte and Rock. One more day in the 40's before we get cold and snow. Long and Platte were looking dark. There was some open water at South Point Small Island on Platte. I think it will be a waiting game for open water, but you never know. The Platte GOMH Bay was open tonight The Intersection in Sullivan is mostly open, but there is a lot of ice in the SPRO.

Rock Looking North

Rock Looking South

Upcoming weather

MN Ice Out's Started A While Ago

 The DNR finally got around to updating the 2026 Ice Out webpage and dumped a bunch of them. Most of the lakes in the Twin Cities are now open. Looks like we are going into a cold stretch with snow. The shorelines in the Platte/Sullivan area were just starting to pull away. Platte and Long Lake have been looking pretty dark. I think Platte will go out after the April 10th, but it wouldn't shock me if it is ice-free by the weekend as well.

 

GOMH Today(3/27/26)

 It was sunny and below freezing all day, but the next three days will be sunny and warm. If the temps live up to the forecast or exceed it, three straight days of warming may build enough momentum toward ice off that the cooler, but not cold weather later next week can't stop it. We'll see. 

GOMH nearing sunset

If the wind forecast is accurate, Ice out by Easter Sunday, the 4th, could be a thing.

Update: Monday only got to the low 50's and was cloudy. Snow and cold now in the forecast for Thursday through Saturday.

GOMH+ Today(3/26/26)

 I went to Bulldog and Rock first.  The water level has come up some. Then I went to the Sullivan Inlet. Then, to Round before fishing at the GOMH. I got skunked.

Ice out just beyond Eagle Perch Point

Not quite to the dock NW GOMH

Tenn-Tom Fantasy Line Ups

Day 2: Dang Walters and Cox don't make the cut. I still may have an outside shot at being in the BBC top 4, if Palmer and Atkins finish in the Top 5 , Mosley gets into the teens, and Christie and DollaBill fall out of the hunt on Day 3.  

 

Day 1:

 

GOMH+ Today(3/24/26)

It got to the low 50's. I stopped by the Shakopee Lake Bridge, no suckers, and the water level in the lake is down at least a couple of feet.  The GOMH is progressing, and the ice should be out beyond Eagle Perch Point tomorrow.  Water level is rising, and on the normal/high water boundary, so there should be continuous current.

Shakopee Lake Bridge

First Bullhead of 2026(3/22/26)

 

2nd Gator Bullhead of the night

The Sullivan side is open wider now than pre-cold snap peak

I forgot to put my tackle bag in the car, doh! I  left the bag sitting on the garage steps. I did put the rods in the car, however. There is more open water now on the Sullivan side than there was pre-cold snap. I was much colder today, with temperatures only reaching the mid-30s. I got two bites tonight.  I had a slightly smaller gator bullhead than the one pictured come off as I was pulling it up onto shore that bit on a Mepps Spinner. The Gator in the picture fell for a Rage Swimmer, and it had something in its tummy.  There were ducks, red-wings, eagles, Canadian geese, and swans around tonight.

Bassin Plan of Attack Post Ice Off to May

 

Fish:

2026 is the first year when it is legal to fish for bass in Central MN before the MN Fishing Opener in May.  Here is my plan for bassin the Platte/Sullivan area lakes. 

Location:

The Grumpy Old Man Hole, the bridge between Platte/Sullivan, is the first area to have accessible open water, so this is where I have already started flogging the water. Unfortunately, it locked back up completely with the sub-zero temps. It's my guess that I will be able to pick up a few bass at the Grumpy Old Man Hole before I am casting anywhere else. I will also fish at the Rock Lake access before the ice is off the lake, provided the ice doesn't get pushed into the Access area as it retreats from the shoreline. 

Once the ice is off the area lakes, I plan on fishing in the Slop Slip on Rock Lake, provided things are not "Going Gonzo at the GOMH." Hopefully, the area docks, including the family dock, will be in quickly post ice out. I will get the Trophy in Platte ASAP after the family dock goes in. Once the Trophy is in the lake, weather and fishing conditions will largely dictate where I fish on a given day. If I get on a hot bite somewhere, I will ride it out. If I am not catching much, I'll do a lot of bouncing around between Platte/Sullivan, Rock, Erskine, and Round. Not really sure how much I fish at the GOMH from shore. I'm guessing a lot of morning trips.

Presentation:

I have made a fishing goal this year of catching 82 fish on a Trap, 155 fish on a crankbait, and 260 fish on a jerkbait. The crankbait and lipless numbers were derived from all the fish I have caught on those lure categories since I started keeping track with Fish Swami. The jerkbait number is my highest yearly total, which was from 2016. Those lures will see a heavy rotation early, as well as a Chicken Jig, Chatterbait, soft swimbait, Turbo FattZ, and Spinnerbait. The weather will determine how early I start mixing in topwater.

Rock And GOMH Today

 

Upside down shot N GOMH

Grouse on the way to Rock Lake Access

Rock Platte River Outlet Bay Narrows

Baxter Bass Snatchers Mr. And Mrs Bass 2025

 On March 21st, my bass club, the Baxter Bass Snatchers held our annual Christmas Party/Awards Banquet.  Tuma and Rainya were all smiles to be Mr and Mrs. Bass 2025.

Keith and Rainya

GOMH Today(3/21/26)

 It got to 70℉ today. It was breezy and overcast for the most part.  I stopped at the Grumpy Old Man Hole on my way to Brainerd for the Bass Snatchers banquet. I'm guessing the ice melt wil be bac to where it was pre-cold snap tomorrow on the Sullivan side and it may take 2 days on the Platte side. I watched eagles with the binocs and saw a good-sized muskrat. I wish I would have packed a rod as that there was an open casting lane from the rocks. The water level has come up. I'm guessing we will see quite a bit of progress on the ice out front before April 1st. I have had to remind myself that it is only just now getting to the March 20's, still plenty of month left, and also that it is March.