Steve and I opened the resort for winter guests on Dec 26 and we filled up pretty fast. Guests caught enough Perch, Walleye and Northern for a couple of meals and everyone checked out with close to their limit on Perch and Walleye.
Ice conditions are excellent and getting better all the time. The average ice depth in Trader's Bay is 16" reducing to about 12" by Goose Island and Duck Point. Trucks and 4 wheelers are getting around where ever they want, regardless if there is a road plowed or not. The snow cover on the ice is about 5", with no slush.
Here in Trader's Bay we have plowed a road from our resort out to about 12' to 16' of water. There is also a large network of roads in the Walker Narrows that with get you closer to Goose Island. Trader's Bay and Goose Island have been producing decent perch all day with the largest being closer to Duck Point.
Walleye bite has been from about 3:30 pm to 6 pm and lasts for about an hour or two. Overnight Walleye fishing is producing too. There has been plenty of Northern Pike too, Steve has cleaned about 20 Northern in the last two days, about 28" to 30" for all of them.
Guests have been fishing with Fatheads and a few with Rainbows for Walleye. Jigs are yellow and chartreuse. If you want to drive the hwy over to Shingobee Island area you can bring your portables out to catch some panfish, crappie and sunfish.
We (I mean Steve) are putting out the ice houses in the next couple of days. Our ice houses are for rent to resort guests only, we do not have sleeper houses. Two ice houses are 6 hole, comfortable for four guests. We also have one two man permenant shelter and one two man portable with heater if needed.