Turtle Flambeau Flowage, Iron County (all postings)

It's warmng up, just oiled down all the rod and reels, can't wait for the opener, Donner's Bay will have it's annual opening day walleye contest, $2.00 a person, biggest walleye (length) brought in on opening day take the pot.

Frenchbrit, I was up there as well. That pic was taken up near shore where snowmobiles have been traveling all winter, so it was packed. I would not advise ANY travel on ANY body of water in the area unless on a snowmobile on a marked trail, and you ride in a pair a long way from each other. There are bad spots on every body of water I have recovered snowmobiles, trucks, suvs, and shacks from.

I'm sure that the picture is a bit deceptive but it looks like that ice travel would not be that bad. Could 4WD trucks get out there on the ice or is it just so slushy underneath? Neat picture THANKS!

Here are a couple pics from today. I forgot to take a pic of the other shack.

I have an incredibly capable Tucker Sno-Cat 2000 groomer that is well equipped to assist in on ice recoveries. It has 4 tracks, 4 wheel drive, 2 man heated cab, storage, winch, plow, aux lighting. I will be in the area Saturday and or Sunday if you have any trouble getting off. Travel conditions are real bad on the flowage this year. Call ahead if you would like to solidify an appointment. tasslertimber@hotmail.com seven one five four zero nine zero seven zero seven Thank you. Derek

Tucker sno cat- When your out pulling shacks please take some pic's and post them. I would like to see that.

I will be removing ice shacks this weekend with the Tucker in my avatar. Please pm or e-mail me at onebadazz300z@yahoo.com Thanks

Well guys it's been a long winter, and I wish the weather would break up here, but looking like it's going to stay a few more weeks, opening day can't come soon enough, reports are 22 inches of ice but 24" of snow and slush, I think te ice will go fast once it warms up, the flowage is now being lowered for the spring thaw, ice travel is by snowmobile only, but reports are the slush is bad, ATV with tracks is the best option, Tight lines too all and I will continue to give reports as the weather warms up.

A few more pics

Fishing the last two days (sun & mon)was some of the toughest weather conditions and slowest bite of the season. Yesterday in the later afternoon we did get a reprieve from the wind and spent most of the afternoon on the ice, even enjoyed a fire. Five year old R.J. spent much of the 8 hours on the ice, he had to be chased into the shanty occasionaly to warm up. Got to share the TFF and the arctic weather with a lot of fun people the last couple days. Thank you.

Travel report: Only one more weekend of game fishing season left so probably not reporting to a lot of people but here it is. After the big snowstorm there is more slush, as stated before if you keep going fast you have no problem. Don't stop in slush, park your sled on good snow and walk over to the tip-up. No one should go out alone with these conditions, if you get in slush you have to lift the back of the sled up and get the track onto good snow. With the track full of heavy slush YOU WILL NOT LIFT THE SELD BY YOURSELF.

Anyone still want to go fishing? Laugh. I have the weekend open.

I haven't had time to report on conditions on all the landings this year, probably will next year. Fishermans landing: as of Monday the 17th(feb) no trucks going off. On the 14th a truck tried to go out, they made it about 200yds before getting stuck the last truck prior to that was the 7 th of feb. they made it less then 50 yds then spent 3 hours getting out. From what I've seen it would take a pretty special truck to get around on the flowage this year : lift kit, tall tires, chains etc.. Four wheelers, the area I've been fishing and going off of, (fishermans), forget it! Its snowmobiles or a vehicle with tracks.

The fishing has been good this year ,there is a lot of good fishing within walking distances of most of the landings, you will encounter deeper snow to walk thru.

If you want more detail on conditions both travel and fishing conditions my previous several reports are still relevant.

Ice is 20"-24" thick with snow on top. There has been some truck travel off of Fishermans Landing. I am not sure about Springstead Landing. Snowmobiles have been the best way to travel.

No extension needed as long as you kick the snow away where you are drilling. There is a ton of snow so you will create slush pockets where you drill. Ice is much thinner than areas further south.

What about ice depth do I need an extension for my auger?

I was up there Super Bowl weekend off springstead. A couple trucks were very close to the landing. Saw one guy bombing south in a big dodge with a snowmobile in the back, he was on the trail and digging in hard with his rear tires. A half hour later he came back north, he was pulling a perm and he had two snowmobiles pulling him. Really funny, but once you get off the trials it was very tough without a sled.