Rock Lake In The Slop Slip(4/9/26)

 

Blocked by ice in the PRO

18.40lbs

3:00-8:30PM Rock Lake Ice Line fish in 6' to 10' with weeds

34-38℉, Cloudy, 1-6mph WSW

Water Temps: Low 40's/High 30's maybe

After my walk up to the corner, I was up for taking the Slop Slip to Rock Lake. I was disappointed that the ice line hadn't moved much yesterday. Down towards the reeds It was over some deeper water, but I didn't get any bites. There was a parade of four eagles. I went into the Platte River Outlet and was blocked by ice at the inner mouth of the narrows. That worked out because chances are pretty good that the Beaver Dam is a waste of time.  The ice line was farther off the bank at the NW Corner. I ended up missing two bites off the reeds in the Lone Sunfish Area on the Chatterbait. I had both fish on for a solid five or six seconds. The first one may have been a pike, and the second I'm pretty sure was a bass. I got back out to the ice line and missed a couple of bites on the Chatterbait. The ball of my BallerZ got bit off. I decided to throw the Rage Swimmer one time and came up a winner. 3.92lb bass. The Rapala scale was set to KG, I Googled how to switch it back, and fortunately, the correct way was the first result. I got a couple more solid bass on the Faisox Chatter and lost a couple of more bites. I kind of lost the plot as I drifted to the NW Point. I worked the NW Point pretty well without getting any bites. It started to snow. I worked the ice line back and missed a couple of bites before hooking up with another 3lber. I couldn't get the camera to work, and my iPhone battery was getting low. I turned off the music and put the phone inside my bibs to keep it warm. I missed a couple more bites as I was moving toward the fish, but got a final 4lber.  I think I missed another couple of bites. I turned toward the Lone Sunfish Area and got my only pike. I threw it back, and the sucker jumped up on the ice. I thought about leaving it there for an eagle, but I was able to get it back in the water. I cruised quickly across the PRO opening. I had a really good feeling bite along the ice line out from the reeds, but it swam under the ice and got hung up and came off. That was my last bite of the night.  It took me a while to get the boat landed and into the car. I gave the Frittside, Chicken Jigs, and X-Rap a fair shot. They wanted the Chatter today.

5Bass 

1Pike (18.48lbs for the 5 bass)

GOMH+ Today(4/6/26)

 I drove North Platte Lake Drive tonight, and there was quite a bit more open water along the northern shoreline and Big Island than expected. I would say Platte is about 1/3rd open. Rock is progressing, as is Bulldog, Erskine, and Sullivan. I drove to the Sullivan Inlet on the way home and saw a herd of deer along the road. I also heard my first loon while I fished. It was cold, and I ran out of energy, so I didn't fish for very long. I also had an oprey fly right to me from Platte to Sullivan. Muskrats were about as were ducks. It should warm up some tomorrow and throughout the week. I can taste open water now. Platte should be open by Friday, the 10th.

Platte Lake From GOMH

Platte Lake from N Platte Lake Drive

Sullivan Inlet

Sullivan Inlet South of Culvert

Sullivan Inlet Access

Rock Lake

Erskine Lake

NW Access Sullivan Lake

Shakopee Lake Access

Rum River into Shakopee Lake

GOMH Today(4/4/26)

 The final day of this four-day-long winter storm started on the 1st of the month. We were on the low end of what was forecast for snow accumulations. Open water expanded in Channel Inn Bay in Platte Lake a fair amount. The Sullivan Platte River Outlet still looks to have quite a bit of ice, but I imagine it will be gone soon. I didn't check North Platte Lake Drive or Rock Lake because it was sloppy getting to the lake place. I think Platte and the area lakes will go ice-free somewhere between the 10th to the 12th. There were a few swans, ducks, and eagles flying around. Will the loons show this week?

Platte at normal zoom
Open water all the way past SPSI 

Note to self: Pack a shovel tomorrow.

Rock And GOMH Today

 

Upside down shot N GOMH

Grouse on the way to Rock Lake Access

Rock Platte River Outlet Bay Narrows

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. 

4/3 Bulldog, Rock, GOMH

 

Me with My New Glasses at Rock

Woodpecker at Rock Lake

Immature Eagle at Bulldog Lake

E of GOMH

3/29 Platte/Sullivan, GOMH, and Rock

Ice Jam at the GOMH Platte

Platte Lake Access

Rock Looking North

Rock Looking South, still plenty of ice

NW Access Sullivan

Sullivan Inlet

Sully Inlet Dirt Access

5:10-5:20pm Rock Access

5:50-6:25PM GOMH SW

33℉, Cloudy some sprinkles, 10-20mph NE

I checked out Bulldog first still 80% locked up. Then I went to Rock. Saw an Eagle. I fished for about 15 minutes. I'd say maybe 50% of Rock still has ice. I drove North Platte Lake Drive. Don's Bay is completely ice-free. Our bay was over 50% ice-free. The North Bay 80% still covered. Not much ice left in Big West, and I think that ice flow down by the GOMH is what is left on the southern end of the lake. I was not feeling it tonight, so I only fished until 6:30. I drove down the West side of Sullivan, which I would say was 50 to 60%  ice-free. 

Tomorrow or Monday at the latest for ice out.