View the full post (And video!) at FishingMinnetonka.

Got out on the ice for a few hours today. After a whole bunch of trouble with the ATV, auger, and fish house, I finally managed to drill some holes and get some lines wet.

Didn't take long for the perch to make their presence known. Spent a good two hours or so pulling them up one after the other. Perch, in my mind, are always a nuisance on Tonka, but I was starting to see something I really liked. Some of these perch that I was catching were easily pushing 8+ inches. I'll be the first to complain about them, but the last to complain about Tonka becoming a good perch fishing lake.

Right at sundown the perch moved out and in came the walleyes. Managed to get 6 of them in a window of about 30 minutes before it went silent, and since I was already at 5 keepers I figured I'd pack it in before it got dark.

Fishing in about 20 feet of water with a Northland Tackle Moxie Minnow tipped with minnow heads.

So with that being said, a couple things I noticed that I've been doing wrong:

Go out before sundown. Not just to get situated before it gets dark, but because that's when the bite seems to be the hottest. I've spent a good 12 hours out there after dark this year with little to no luck, but today I noticed that RIGHT as the sun hit the horizon, it was fish on.

Finding a school of perch isn't necessarily a bad thing. I've been one to complain about their presence all year, but little did I know that had I stuck it out at a few of those spots, the fishing may have changed.

Lastly, it certainly seems like the fish have moved to their "mid-winter" locations, which might cause fishermen a bit more trouble when initially scouting them out.

Video on the blog for anyone who wants to check it out. I was streaming the entire day and happened to catch this good 30ish minute window of good fishing.

Tight lines!



P.S. Forgot to mention I was seeing cars and SUVs out on Wayzata Bay. I won't say it's safe yet (Saw 11" of ice myself) but after this week I'd say it's probably safe to say otherwise.

Thanks Shane. And after some recent drama with other forums, thanks for allowing it :)

I'm with you on the first part! Trust me, I spent my fair share of time catching those mini mites all day before finally getting these.

The biggest (bottom on in the picture) came in at 15" and they get progressively smaller from there with the smallest being just shy of 11".

By no means were they pigs, but they'll make a good meal at least!

Joe.....to me, the best photos of fish are the ones that are breaded and in the frying pan..

Where are you accessing the the lake?  I'm thinking of trying some new places.

I may need to head out there soon, I have not done much fishing in the metro this year. I have even thought of hitting Byrant, Harriet, and Nokomis. So far I have been spending alot of time on Wright cty lakes chasing crappies. Many of them I have let go, not cause they were small just scouting out new areas. some are 10-11" fish.   

Are there any trucks on the bay? I don't have a wheeler, and walking on ice is causing cramps. unless within 200yds. E-mail of any spots you think are worth hitting. jigginjim@aol.com