Where would you go if you were itching to get out on early ice? I was thinking of a smaller, shallow walk-in lake. I have recently completed my new dream ice-fishing bucket setup and am ready to take it out on the ice. I mainly target large crappies and panfish, all catch and release. I would appreciate your knowledge if you could lead me in the right direction. With this warm weather, I might still be out of luck, but I am willing to check some spots out.

Early ice is happening now and has been for a week or 2 on the west side. We need some snow to traverse portages. Unless you plan on staying on an entry point lake I’d leave the bucket at home. They don’t pack well on a sled and you don’t want to carry it any distance IMO.

I always thought Wood Lake would be a fun lake to walk into and ice fish. A little hike from the parking lot but nothing too bad.