Just a quick update on Winnie. James and I spent a few days this week fishing Winnie looking for fish for an upcoming Indepth Outdoors TV shoot. To my suprise, there was very little ice when we arrived. We had planned to use the Dream Shak as a basecamp and fish the lake looking for several different bites. It didn't take long to find the Giant Bluegill/Crappies that Winnie is known to produce like this 14 inch slab James caught.
Main lake Winnie seems to be in pretty good shape. We measured 10-12 solid inches with very little slush on the lake. We were able to get around very well with snowmobile and there were even a few driving on the lake. We opted for the sleds and left the Dream Shak on shore.
We attempted to fish areas back in the bays as well as Cut Foot and that is where the slush got REALLY bad. As you get into the back bays and lakes you can expect up to 8 inches of water in some spots as well as almost 12 inches of slush. It can be pretty ugly to say the least.
The back bays and Cut Foot seem to have about 12-14 inches of snow and about 8-9 inches of ice. Far different than the 10-12 inches of ice on the lake with 7-8 inches of snow.
We did not perch fish since we were looking for the big Bluegill and Crappies and found them instantly. We also did not take a lot of pictures since we were filming. James did put on a clinic with the big Crappies, so I took a couple quick pictures. Those huge slabs could not resist the big white Ratso he was using.
I stuck to fishing the giant Gills. Hopefully the footage for the show comes out, as always the trip was a lot of fun. Those Lake Winnie fish are always impressive. Now if we could just get some ice so I can get the Dream Shak out and put the sleds away for a month or so...that would be great!
The largest size white ratso with a pink head was dynamite on the crappies. I would catch a gill here and there as well and when I did they were tankers. When the crappies would slow down I switched to a small ratso, black head and red body, and really did well midday on gills by watching the bite on the cameras. It was a fun day on the ice and I look forward to going back for the GTG later this winter.
-------------------- James Holst - In-Depth Outdoors TV Host IDA Guides Guide Service
Ph. 507-271-0362
Quote: We never stepped foot out on the main lake.
Now there's a loaded answer!!
I spoke with Jeff at Tamerack Lodge the day you guys headed up there. He was telling me that they were catching the same type of fish...very close to his resort....one could say that wasn't on the main lake either!
But, good fisherman never tell locations publicly.
Besides, at last years GTG, there was a group of folks having a discussion that we weren't fishing out of Tamerack...we were actually on LOTWs! Or so they said.
Now it's an inside joke with the guys that went up there in March...we refer to it as fishing for pannies on Green Lake.
Weeds are the key on the main lake. Early and late you can find a few giants up in the main lake weeds. Mid day, you will need to pull back to the deeper water, 18-24 feet is usually what I target mid day. The main lake fish are VERY impressive in Winnie
Wow, i've fished Winnie a bunch in open water and never knew you could target those Winnie crappies outside of May. You guys think its possible to target those crappies in mid-summer out over open water in the main lake? Not that i don't like smackin the walleyes around the week we go up there but crappies that big would be worth looking into.
Lake Winnie Update
Re: Lake Winnie Update
Very nice Slabs. The show should be Great! 
Re: Lake Winnie Update
Sure gets me excited for the GTG at Winnie!! 
main lake either!
That looks like a blast 
