Lake Carlton, Morrison-Rockwood State Park

Fished from 9am to 1pm. Ice condition was still good. Around the handicap pier the ice was 4-5 inches. I moved across the lake and found ice at 7 inches all over. When I started there was a little bit of snow on the lake. When I left the snow was gone and puddles were forming from the wind blowing most of the day. I only saw one other person show up to fish for a short time. I caught about 6 crappie and a dozen bluegill. All fish were small. I did catch a 13 inch Largemouth Bass. I walked up to a spot where someone else had been fishing. Cigarette butts all over. There were two places that were like that. Disgusting that this stuff will be in the lake when it thaws. Why can't people pick up after themselves?

Fished from 9am to 1pm. I fished the old road bed on the west end. Only caught a few small bluegill. Used Arnold Fairy Jig and small plastics. I was just glad to finally get out on the ice. Ice was averaging 5". But I found spots that were 4" and one spot was 7". 

Jbird,

I saw a post today in a Facebook group, someone was out there today and said 4”. A little too thin for me after the warm up. I was on a Lake in Kenosha County, WI today with 5-6”, but there were spots in shallow with very thin ice. I have never ice fished Carlton, so I am waiting for a cold stretch before I venture down there. 

I was one of the two guys.

4" to 6" with wind blown shady areas being the thickest. Fishing has been erratic most of the week as the fish are moving around a lot.

Took a drive out to the lake after work. Saw a couple guys fishing on the west end of the lake. I didn't have a spud bar with me to check the ice thickness at the boat ramp. Anyone have an ice condition report? 

The ice actually survived the 60-degree weather yesterday pretty well. Bluegill size and numbers have been decent. Bass, yellow perch and saugeye are showing up more than normal.

Funbags,

Thanks for the report. I was hoping to get out this weeked but the high temps for the rest of the week are (Thu) 60, (Fri) 35, (Sat) 43 and (Sun) 47. Don't know how the ice will hold up. As far as depth, I have found that the 4 to 7 foot range is where I find the fish. If you find the old road bed to the west fish about 20 yards off the north shoreline. I'll drill about 8 holes east to west across the roadbed about 10 feet apart to find the varying depths.

Fished at Carlton today from about 2pm-4pm. Spent the first hour walking around drilling holes in anywhere from 10'-20' of water. Never marked a fish. Starting drilling in 5'-6' of water on weed beds. Started marking fish. Caught 4 bluegills. Nothing substantial. Drilled probably 40ish holes total and almost every single one was 8"-9" thick with ice. Only holes under 8" were in spots with snow drifts, but even then they were all at least 6".

Arthur, 

Most of the time I fish this lake during the winter. Mainly because it's only a couple miles from home. Sometimes I'll fish Lost Grove in Iowa but that means I'll have to get an Iowa license for a day. Or I'll take a trip up to Wisconsin since I get an annual license anyway. 

Funbags,

Any chance you will be fishing there any time next week?