Quick Lake Waconia Ice Update - 12/31/15

Quick update...despite the cold night last night, as expected there was only a minor change to the ice thickness. We are still finding mostly between 3.5 to 4.5 inches of clear ice with an average of 4 out front of our marina. There are still areas of slush under snow that has yet to freeze on the surface of the ice. We will not be doing a more thorough check of other areas of the lake until we can use a 4-wheeler. At this time we are recommending walking only. Have a safe and happy new year!

In Towne Marina Lake Waconia Ice Report - 12/29/15 - Store Hours Resume!

The major snow stayed away!  I’ll get to the ice report in a second, but because we lucked out and had less snow than predicted, we will be resuming store hours!  During this early ice period, our hours are 9:30am to 5:30pm from Monday thru Friday.  On Saturday and Sunday we will be here from 8am to 5:30pm.

Now to the ice report…We were on the ice earlier today, and while it’s not ideal with the new snow, we are very happy it was a minimal storm.  We continue to see ice ranging between 3.5 to 4 inches in thickness, with a lot of it right around 4 in Waconia Bay and out front toward the “walleye hole”. There are scattered areas of slush throughout, with snow depths of 3 to 6 inches in some cases.  As we’ve mentioned in other reports, we expect the snowfall to greatly slow down the ice making process, so we have to be patient.  Thankfully the forecast looks like the cold weather is here to stay for a while, so that will help freeze up the slush and penetrate the snow over time.  We’ll post another ice update later in the week.  We hope to see you soon!

12/2715 Quick ice update and Hours

We just got off the lake to see what last night’s cold did for the ice growth.  Unfortunately the fresh snow did its thing and kept the ice growth to a minimum.  We were still finding 3-3.75” out in front of the Marina.

The Bait Shop will not be open for business on Monday the 28^th and Tuesdays the 29^th. We are going to hunker down while we wait to see what Mother Nature dishes out. We are hoping the snow event forecasted for Monday and Tuesday steers clear of Lake Waconia! If the snow we receive is significant and blankets the lake, we might not be able to reopen right away. We hope to have good news on Tuesday to share with you all!

We did have our first Ice and Dice contest winner last night! A nice 20” Walleye caught out in front of the marina! 

Quick Lake Waconia Ice Update - 12/26/15

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! We took a quick ice walk to Waconia Bay and over to the walleye hole between the marinas this morning and found between 3 to 3.75 inches, with an average of 3.25 inches. Currently we have 3 inches of snow on the surface, while expecting more. The snow won’t help us gain ice thickness as quickly despite cold temps, as it creates an insulating factor. We'll be monitoring the situation in the coming days. Keep in mind, we haven’t been on the ice elsewhere, and we’ve seen from a distance small areas kept open by geese on the west end of Wagener’s Bay, so pay close attention during this early ice period. We recommend chiseling ahead of yourself and use early ice safety precautions if you head out. We’ll update our hours later tomorrow!

Open Saturday 12/26 and Sunday 12/27 from 9:30am to 5

Good news! We will be OPEN this Saturday 12/26 and Sunday 12/27 from 9:30am to 5pm. Mother Nature helped the ice situation on Lake Waconia, by providing rain yesterday instead of snow! Our wish for cold weather was also granted, which helped freeze the rain on the surface of the ice, increasing the thickness. Jim checked the ice this morning (12/24), and found a consistent 3 inches in the numerous holes he chiseled out front of our marina, toward Waconia Bay, and over by the “walleye hole” between the marinas. We expect tonight’s overnight temps to help add incrementally to our ice totals, before the snow comes. Speaking of the snow, we will determine if we open during the upcoming week or how long, based on how much snow accumulates on the ice. We’ll do some more ice checking later in the weekend, and update our store hours at that time. In the meantime, we hope to see you on Saturday! Merry Christmas!

Lake Waconia Ice Update - 12/22/15 - We remain Closed for the short-term

Lake Waconia froze over last Friday night into Saturday!  However, because of milder weather, the ice is growing slower and isn’t the hard early ice we are used to most years.  We checked our frontage today, and found between 1.5 to 2.25 inches of ice. Being so thin, we didn’t go any further.  As usual, we do not open our bait shop until there is walkable ice on Lake Waconia. We will remain closed for the short term and look forward to better conditions hopefully in the near future.   Ask Santa for colder, ice-making weather!  Have a Merry Christmas!

Closed for the summer season as of October 7th

We are closed for the season as of October 7th. Thank you for another GREAT summer on Lake Waconia! We look forward to re-opening this winter when there is walkable ice! See you then!

Nickle Dickle Day FREE Prize Pond this Saturday 9/19!

Stop in to see us on Nickle Dickle Day (this Saturday 9/19) for our Free Kid's Fishing Prize Pond. Kids 12 and under can "fish" for a free prize from 11 am to 1 pm. We also have Nickle Dickle specials in the store this Saturday, which include 15% off all clothing, fishing tackle and existing stock of Rods and Combos. We hope to see you!

Lake Waconia Fishing Report - 8/17/15

It's been an enjoyable summer on Lake Waconia so far, not only for the fishermen, but all boaters! Lake levels are high for this time of year, water temps are still hovering around 80, and the lake has had minimal algae blooms affecting it, making it all-around comfortable for any water-sports activity.

While the numbers of fishermen using the lake have been lower this month due to the heat and humidity, those who have gone fishin' continued to find fish!  Largemouth Bass have been a lot of fun this summer.  We are getting good reports for big ones around reefs like Cemetery, North, Center and Pillsbury.  You'll still catch them shallow too up in the reeds or by the Carp Trap or Rock Dock as well. Spinnerbaits, Jigs and Plastic Worms have worked well for those using artificials.  Crawlers, Fatheads and Sucker Minnows are producing fish for those using live bait!

Walleyes are still running deeper off the weeds on Keg's, Red's and North Reefs or off the corners of the island. Jigging with a fathead still has been the method of choice.  Some are drifting with crawlers and having success as well.

Those wanting to get their kids some action can still rely on Lake Waconia to come through.  Sunfish and Crappies have been biting well around the weeds by the island and some of the reefs in 8 to 14 feet of water most of the summer and you can continue to find them there, but we're also getting some nice reports a tad deeper as well. Don't be afraid to go off the weeds from 15 to 20 or more feet of water. The usual spots like Center, Keg's, North and Anderson's have worked well for fishing in the weeds or outside of them in deeper water. Wax worm and crawlers are still the go-to Sunfish bait. Crappie minnows continue to work for the Crappies.

Our rental season is winding down soon.  There's about 4 weeks left to rent a pontoon or fishing boat and motor!  It's still a great time to get on the lake, as the lake generally isn't as busy this time of year. We suggest making a reservation as our hours will be changing, so call (952) 442-2096 and we'll set you up for a fun day on the water!  As of now, our hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to Sunset, and Saturday/Sunday from 6:30 am to Sunset.  After Labor Day, our hours will shorten.

This past Saturday, we had a party to honor our slip and buoy members at the marina.  We had a free lunch and gave away hundreds of dollars in value of drawing prizes!  We also had a free, short, informal fishing contest that was enjoyed by many.  The winners were Mike Pittelkow, who caught a 1# 2 oz Crappie that was caught within the first 15 minutes, and Marcy Russell, who caught a 14-inch Bass!  Overall, it was a hot, beautiful day to enjoy at the lake!  Thanks again to all of the wonderful families who share their summers with us by keeping their boats at our marina!

Lake Waconia Fishing Report - 7/29/15

It's been a hot and humid July on Lake Waconia. Water temps have been in the high 70's to low 80's for several weeks now, making it enjoyable for those who want to swim, tube, ski, wakeboard or just cruise the lake.  While most summers we experience the mid-summer fishing doldrums, this year has been different!  Lake Waconia has continued to produce plenty of action for anglers!

We've had lot's of big bass reported between 3 to 6 pounds on numerous locations, examples being Pillsbury, Center, North and Cemetery Reefs in the weeds or on the edge. They haven't been picky, biting on most live bait options, especially leeches and crawlers.  Those using diving crankbaits, bass jigs and plastic worms have been successful too! Plastic jerk baits and topwater lures have worked in the shallows early in the morning.

If you're still looking to get into some panfish action, you're in luck!  The sunfish and crappie bite is still quite good.  While sorting must be done to get some keepers, anglers have had success with wax worms or crawlers for sunfish, as well as crappie minnows for the crappies.  A wide variety of locations continue to produce.  The north side of Coney Island is always a safe bet to find action. Also fishing the weeds on reefs like North, Center, Kegs and Anderson's Reefs are worth trying as well.

The walleye bite has moved deep.  Fishermen have been working the deep drops off the east end of the island, Kegs and North Reef, as well as the rocks around Reds Reef. Fatheads are still the bait of choice, although a Jumbo or Large Leech are a good bet too!  Jigging has proven to be the most consistent method of attack, although some have done well dragging spinner rigs too.

Don't forget, we are THE place to rent Pontoons and Fishing Boats on Lake Waconia!  Get on the water while it's still Summer! For a limited time, SAVE 10% off Pontoon Rentals, Monday thru Friday from August 3rd until August 14th (1-Day Advance Reservation Required).

Stop into the shop to check out our selection of clothing! We have some fun new designs!  During the Month of August, receive 25% off in-stock In Towne Marina T-shirts, Sweatshirts or Hats!

We hope to see you at the lake!

Lake Waconia Fishing Report and 4th of July Activities - 7/2/15

The 4th of July is almost upon us, and Waconia is booming with the Taste of Minnesota here through the 5th, as well as the Lake Waconia Fireworks show which will be occurring on 7/4 at 10 pm from the Lake Waconia Regional Park on the southeast side of the lake. Stop in to say hi and pick up a snack or last minute item while you go boating to watch the show! Also, the Taste of Minnesota will have fireworks on 7/2, 7/3 and 7/4 at 10:20 from the Carver County Fairgrounds grandstand. Lots of activity and road construction, so check here to see where it’s closed and how to get to town…
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/5waconia/

With the beautiful weather, the lake has been warming up nicely! Water temps are now in the upper 70’s, so it’s very comfortable for all of your summer water activities. Take advantage of this wonderful weather pattern we’ve been in, and join us on the lake! If you don’t have a way to get on the water, rent a fishing boat or pontoon from us! Call (952) 442-2096 for information and to make a reservation.

While the water temps are higher, the fishing action has stayed strong on Lake Waconia. Sunfish and crappies are still biting best. Fishing between 8 to 14 feet of water with crappie minnows and waxies or crawlers has been the ticket. Areas like Center Reef, Pillsbury Reef and North Reef have been very good. Also, fishing the weeds around the island has been productive. Bass have bitten well in these areas as well, so don’t be shocked to get a lunker on the line!

Walleyes are starting to bite a little deeper now, although we continue to hear of catches in less than 10 feet too in the early morning hours. We’ve had reports of good success in 14 to 22 feet of water by Keg’s Reef, North Reef, Red’s Reef and the east side of the island. Fatheads are still the bait of choice, although it never hurts to have a large or jumbo leech or night crawlers with.

We hope you have a safe and fun-filled 4th of July! We’ll see you at the lake!

Explanation of Fish Kill on Area Lakes...

If you've been on the area lakes, including Lake Waconia recently, you will have noticed a large number of floating dead fish (mostly sunfish). It is a common thing to see in the springtime, as the waters warm and a common bacteria that affects fish can kill the weakened ones that have just gone through their stressful spawn. This year, with the up-and-down spring, the spawning patterns have extended longer than normal, which we believe to be the reason we are seeing a longer period of dead fish. The healthy fish you do catch are not harmful to eat. Here is a link to a full description of this common occurrence from the MNDNR...
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/areas/fisheries/eastmetro/columnaris.html

Lake Waconia Fishing Report - 6/5/15

The bite continues to be strong on Lake Waconia.  Fishing around Coney Island has been really good for a lot of species this week.  Sunfish are in prime spawning mode.  Expect plenty of bites, especially on waxies and crawlers in 4 to 10 feet of water.  Crappies and bass continue to be mixed in as well, with some good size too!  Crappies are biting well on crappie minnows and flu flus or small jigs. Bass haven't been too picky, as a lot of different things have worked.  Walleyes continue to bite well during the low-light periods early morning or at night.  We recommend fatheads or shiners right now, as they will give you the best shot to keep the active sunnies from tugging on your line.  We've started to see the northern pike bite pick up this week too, which has been a pleasant surprise. Spinnerbaits have worked well for both bass and northerns. With the Muskie season opening this Saturday the 6th, we expect a lot of big baits flying.  Waconia has recently been one of the best lakes to target them.  Don't forget, Muskies must now be 54 inches to keep statewide.

Don't forget to give us a call at (952) 442-2096 to reserve a fishing boat or pontoon!  We have 14 foot boats with motors that hold up to 3 or 4 people.  The pontoons hold from 9 to 12 adults depending on which one you rent.

The warm season is fast approaching! We look forward to seeing you at the lake!

Lake Waconia Fishing Report - 5/22/15

What a day to get on Lake Waconia! Enjoy the nicest day of the Spring. Plenty of fish are still biting! If you're looking to get a big tug on your fishing pole, bass are biting extremely well. We are seeing them biting in all depths. Lots of movement in the shallows for panfish too. Sunfish and crappies are well worth getting your line wet. For those interested in walleyes, it continues to be a strong bite. Fatheads and leeches are working best. We are still hearing anglers having success in 4 to 8 feet at night and 14 to 18 feet of water during the day. It's a great time to take the family out fishing.

We've got our pontoon and boat & motor fleet all ready to go, so contact us at (952)-442-2096 to reserve if you're looking to get on the lake!

Have a safe and happy Memorial Weekend!

Lake Waconia Opener Week Fishing Report 5-14-15

Despite the up and down weather, the overall bite has been solid for several species right now.  It’s especially a good time to get out fishing for walleyes on Waconia!  The Opener week was generally a success, as we heard good reports coming from multiple anglers catching plenty of nice keepers between 16 to 19 inches, with some released in the 22 to 26 inch range. The evening or early morning bite was good in 4 to 8 feet of water.  Jigging or slip bobber fishing with a leech or fathead worked well for some, while others casted crankbaits.  For the late-morning or daytime fishermen, we were hearing the bite was best between 13 to 18 feet.  Water temps remain in the upper 50’s, so the early patterns should stay in play.

While many were out targeting walleyes for this week, we had reports of a strong bass bite, which wasn’t much of a shocker since it’s their prime spawning time.  Expect those to be best in the shallows.  Just remember they must be released until Bass Opener on the 23^rd.  Crappies continue to bite well on crappie minnows, and the sunfish activity has started to pick up as well. We are seeing those in 5 to 12 feet.  It’s a fun time to get the family out fishing!

We are renting some of our boats and pontoons beginning this weekend!  We will have our full fleet ready to go for Memorial Weekend, so get your reservation on the books to enjoy a fun day on Lake Waconia!  Call (952)-442-2096 to reserve.

We have Gas available now!  Our 91-Octane, Non-Oxygenated (Non-Ethanol) Marine-Grade gas is recommended for use in all marine engines.  The pump is shut down 15 minutes prior to our store closing time.

Our Hours until Memorial Day Weekend continue to be Monday thru Friday: 8 am – 8 pm, and Saturday/Sunday: 6:30 – 8 pm.  We will be extending our hours after the Memorial Weekend.

We hope to see you at the lake!

Lake Waconia Fishing Report: Open ALL Night Friday 5/8 for Opener!

The Fishing Opener is almost here! Despite the early ice out this spring, the weather has varied enough that the water temperature isn't abnormal for the time of year as it just recently began approaching 60 degrees on Lake Waconia.  Therefore, we are hoping for a good post-spawn walleye bite!  We expect that you will find action in traditional shallower spots, such as the Rock Dock, the Carp Trap or Harm's Point, particularly in the overnight hours. Having said that, during the day it makes sense to move a tad deeper to fish some of the reefs in 12 to 15 feet of water, especially due to the noticeably clearer water we've seen this spring.  Reefs like Center, North, Keg's, and Anderson's might be more productive due to the earlier seasonal start.  We still think that baits like Large Leeches and either Fathead Minnows or Shiner Minnows will be best to catch the most fish, although crawlers have worked well some years on the Opener. Always keep in mind, Lake Waconia has a 16 inch walleye minimum.

For those that like to target northern pike on the Opener, we feel good about the prospects to get some action.  This winter, we continued to see numerous catches in the 4 to 8 pound range.  Reefs like Pillsbury, Center and North are great areas to focus if you are casting.  While trolling shouldn't be to troublesome, as the weeds aren't as high as you'd expect for the ice being gone for over a month.  Locations to troll, like the south side in front of the cemetery, by the beach, and on the east side by the Clay Banks should all be good spots to try. Sucker minnows are a popular choice for live bait fishermen.

Regulations on Largemouth Bass changed this year!  Now, anglers have the chance to actively fish for bass for a 2-week "Catch and Release" period.  Keep in mind, you will NOT be able to keep bass until the official Bass Opener on May 23rd.  Early season bass are always good in the shallows, as they will typically be in their spawning pattern in early May.

As for the other legal species, we continue to hear plenty of good reports of crappie action!  It has continued to be productive by the weeds of Waconia Bay in 8 to 12 feet of water.  Crappie minnows and jigs such as Flu Flus have been popular. So far, we have been surprised that we haven't seen much crappie movement in the shallows by our docks.  Last year they seemed to spawn a little outside the shallow zones, and so far it appears to be another year like that. The sunfish spawn is still a couple of weeks away, so while you may get into some action, the best bite is yet to come!

A safety reminder for all boaters on Waconia...this spring the water levels are lower than they have been for several years.  Keep that in mind when cruising out from or to shorelines, especially in the Nelson's Flats area and the shallow part of Pillsbury Reef on the NW side of the lake.  You don't want to start your season with prop damage.  If you do get unlucky and ding your prop, we offer repair service through BC Propeller.  We get props picked up and delivered every Monday and Thursday during the heart of the season.

We look forward to seeing you as we get into this exciting time of year!  We are OPEN ALL NIGHT on Friday, May 8th for the Opener to take care of your bait and tackle needs and to help get you the info you need for a successful day.  Stop in to say hi, or to have a quick snack and warm up!

For those of you not fishing that are taking part in Waconia Chamber's "Sister Saturday", be 1 of 100 early shoppers receiving free swag bags that include a Pontoon Rental discount from us!

If you are interested in renting a fishing boat or pontoon, give us a call for future reservations.  Our rental season will begin on the weekend of May 16th!

We hope to see you soon.  Happy Opener and good luck!

Spring is here to stay!

Now that we have the cold windy weather out of the way, we expect the spring bite on Lake Waconia to pick up as the water temps warm.  As of 10 am today (4/29) the water temp is 54.5 degrees (1 foot down in 8 feet of water).  Typically we see more movement of crappies in the shallows as water temps consistently stay above the high-50's (hopefully by this weekend).  Until then, we continue to see the best crappie bite in 8 to 12 feet of water in Waconia Bay. Anglers have been getting their share of 9 to 11 inchers to keep, while sorting out the littler ones.  Action has been very good, as Waconia continues to be a great crappie fishery!

Don't forget, we will be OPEN ALL NIGHT on Friday, May 8th for the Fishing Opener!  Stop in to say hi, have a warm beverage, pick up some bait or tackle, or share your fishing story of the night. We'd love to take your picture of your big catch!

Pontoon and boat rental will begin soon.  We will update in the near future when they are ready for rent!

Bait Shop and Access Open 4/17 at 9:30!

Bait Shop and Access Hours begin this Friday 4/17! Hours are Monday thru Friday: 9:30 am – 6:30 pm. Saturday and Sunday: 8 am – 6:30 pm. We will be open ALL NIGHT on Friday, May 8th for the Fishing Opener! We thank you for your continued patience while we construct our marina docks.

Springtime crappies are what many anglers get excited about when hitting Lake Waconia for the first time after ice out.  Most anglers have been fishing in Waconia Bay this spring with decent success. When the water warms up more, they'll start moving into the shallows, but in the meantime, we expect the best crappie bite to be 8 to 12 feet of water!  As of 9:45 am today (4/15), the water temp was 47.6 degrees, 1 foot down at the end of our dock (8 feet of water).

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Ice is OFF Lake Waconia! Open for the season Friday, April 17th!

As of today, April 2nd, the ice is OFF of Lake Waconia! Thank you for your patience while we remain closed for a limited time to install our marina docks and prep for the summer season. Friday, April 17th we will open for launching and bait and tackle sales! We will announce at a later date when rental boats and pontoons will be available. We look forward to seeing you!

Closing for the season after Sunday, 3/1

Our shop will be closing for the winter at 6 pm on Sunday, 3/1. We've had great ice fishing on Lake Waconia this season and we want to thank those of you who enjoyed it with us! Don't forget Ice Houses have to be removed from the lake no later than midnight on Monday, 3/2. We will see you when the ice is off the lake!

Huge Crappie weighed in. Check out the pics!

We see a lot of big fish come into the marina each season, but this weekend we had one of the biggest, if not the biggest Crappie we've seen come from Lake Waconia. Congrats to Mark Koehnen for his one-in-a-lifetime catch! This giant measured in at just under 19 inches and weighed 3 pounds 4 ounces (and it was frozen when weighed, so it was definitely heavier when it was caught on 2/13/15). Take a look at the difference between the typical Waconia crappie he's holding, and the behemoth in his other hand! Wow. Before you ask, all we can say is that it was caught on Lake Waconia. :)

Winter Season Pass Holder Fishing Contest was a success!

We had a good turnout for our 2nd Annual Winter Season Pass Holder’s Free Fishing Contest!  The winner of the “Triple Combo” Category (largest sunfish, crappie and perch) was Steve Fiecke who received a $75 ITM Gift Certificate!  Scott Flusemann took 2nd Place and won a Rod & Reel combo of his choice.  In the Crappie Category, Jared Habisch took 1st place winning a $50 ITM Gift Certificate!  Dan Lindholm finished 2nd winning his choice of Rod & Reel combo from our rack.  Since there were no northern pike that qualified for Northern Category, the $50 gift certificate will be split between the winners of the other 2 categories.  Therefore, Steve Fiecke and Jared Habisch will each receive an extra $25 ITM Gift Certificate for their wins!  Thanks to all of you who participated and your continued support!

We make it easy when you rent a Fish House at In Towne Marina!

We take the hassle out of ice fishing!  Come out to Lake Waconia and rent a fish house with us!  We’ve got 1 month left in our rental season and we’d love to help get you on some fish!  We’ve got 4-hole, 5-hole and 6-hole fish houses available.  We have the houses placed on great panfish locations, and depending on the area, you may also get into northern or walleye!   We auger the holes and slush them out and the heat is always on, so you don’t have to do a thing and you’ll be comfortable.  There are 12 volt LED lights inside, with most having hole lights as well.  If you don’t have any equipment, you can rent a basic jig stick, or we have plenty of tackle or rod and reel options for sale in our store.  We also rent underwater cameras as well.  You can get your license, snacks and all the bait you’ll need for sale here too.

Call (952) 442-2096 to reserve!

If you’d like to learn more about our prices and policies, CLICK HERE

Here's an example of a successful fishing experience out of our rental houses...

...and to give you an idea of what they look like...

Lake Waconia Ice Update - 1-28-15

We just got off Lake Waconia to get an ice update. Yesterday was pretty wet on the roads and around the houses. Last night got cold enough to freeze most of it up nicely. Today was supposed to get into the upper 30’s, but at about 2pm it’s still under freezing and overcast. Tonight and tomorrow are supposed to be pretty breezy.  Because a lot of the water on the ice did freeze last night, we are not as concerned about high winds causing a swirl effect down open holes.  However, we don’t think it’s a bad idea to check on your fish house if you have a permanent on the ice to make sure you like what you see.

The roads are pretty bumpy and still have some wet spots, but overall holding up well. We drilled some test holes, and haven’t noticed much difference in thickness compared to about 1 week ago.  All in all, considering the warmth of this past week, the lake is in great shape!

1/25/15 Ice Update

The Lake Roads are holding their own in this warmer weather. Road salt from vehicles and warm temps has put some “potholes” and a few bumps in the road, but for the most part we are happy with conditions.  We are finding 18”-23” of ice on the roads.  Temps have been cold enough at night to heal up the roads after these warmer days, and more than maintain our great conditions on the lake.

A local angler and friend found a spring in Wagner’s Bay. The spring is affecting about a 6’ circular area of ice.  The bubbling spring is keeping a 3’ circle wide open at the moment. We have thoroughly marked the spot with lath board and flagging tape.  The spring is about 200 to 250 yards West North West of the Wagner’s Bay access. We have the spot marked on our map in the Bait Shop!

Keep you eye’s peeled for more springs. We will be checking some of or GPS marked spots- areas that historically have had active springs to see if they are becoming more active. Check back here for an update in the coming days.

Thanks for checking in, and we will see you on the ice!

Winter Season Pass Fishing Contest coming up soon!

Winter Season Pass holders, join us on Saturday, January 31st for a fun, FREE fishing contest! We will be giving away at least $250 total in gift certificates and prizes to the winners. We aren't disclosing what you'll be fishing for until the day of the contest, so stop in anytime on the morning of the 31st to pick up the rules and find out the species you'll be targeting and start fishing right away. Weigh in will be from 10am to 2pm.

1/12/15 Ice Update

We went out today to check on Lake Waconia ice conditions. We are very happy with what we found. We headed out to the areas we have been keeping track of all season that have lesser ice. The least ice we are finding now is 11" and 12", these thicknesses are VERY rare. Much of the lake has 14-16" of good solid ice. The plowed roads and most areas that have minimal or no snow will have 16"-18" of ice.

We are very happy with the ice conditions on Lake Waconia. At this point we will not be doing any more ice updates, because we feel we are past the point of needing them.

If for any reason conditions change for the worse, you can expect an update here.

We'll see you on the lake!

Lake Waconia Ice and Fishing Report - 1/9/15

It's time to get on Lake Waconia, as the ice is in excellent shape.  We have a nice plowed road from the marina that goes past Waconia Bay, "Under the Wires", Center Reef and to Pillsbury Reef.  Ice thicknesses in those areas are 12 to 16 inches!  That is where the majority of the activity is on the lake, and it's easiest to travel off road to get on your spot. If you want to get away from the larger groups of fish houses and try other areas on the lake, you'll find good ice, but not as thick as the areas on the western part of the lake.  You can find ice varying from 9 to 14 inches by Kegs, North, Reds, Cemetery and Anderson's Reefs.  If it's easier to visualize on a map, stop in to the marina, and we'll show you what we're talking about.  Keep in mind, we don't always plow roads to the areas that have light traffic.

The bite for panfish has been excellent.  There has been a lot of good sunfish action on waxies and larva during the day between 10 to 14 feet of water on Center and Pillsbury.  Crappies have been biting well on crappie minnows there too during the day, but with the best action late afternoon into the early evening.  Some of the best crappie activity has been in the deeper water of Wagener's Bay (south of Pillsbury).  Angler's have been pleasantly surprised with lots of bites suspended 6 to 10 feet off the bottom in 18 to 25 feet of water.  Walleyes have also been biting in the evening or early morning on Center Reef.  Fatheads have been working well in 12 to 15 feet of water.  Keep in mind, Lake Waconia walleyes must be at least 16 inches to keep.

We're in the full swing of Fish House rental season!  We've got our fish houses out on Center Reef in 11 to 15 feet of water, and on the eastern part of Wagener's Bay (south of Pillsbury) in 18 to 19 feet of water.  If you're interested in getting in on some good ice fishing action, give us a call at (952) 442-2096 to reserve!

Don't forget to weigh in your Lake Waconia fish to have your picture taken, and to potentially qualify for our FREE Ice and Dice prize giveaway!  We are looking forward to seeing your big catch!

We'll see you on the lake!

Lake Waconia Ice Report 1-5-15

The cold January weather has certainly helped grow the ice!  We did an extensive ice check on Lake Waconia today, 1/5.  Here are the areas checked and the thicknesses found...

-Cemetery Reef - 9.5 to 11.5 inches

-East Side of Island - 9.5 to 11.5 inches

-South Side of Island - 9.5 to 12 inches

-Waconia Bay - 10 to 14.5 inches

-"Under the Wires" - 8.5 to 11.5 inches

-Kegs Reef - 8 to 11.5 inches

-Pillsbury Reef - 11 to 15 inches 

-Center Reef - 11 to 15 inches

We have a plowed road to Center Reef which was originally plowed by 4-wheeler days ago, and that has grown to 14 to 15 inches of ice on the road, and 11 to 13" on the sides of the road.

To summarize, we are feeling really good about the ice we found today.  We have opened up our access for vehicle traffic.  If you'd prefer not to drive yet, we have a large plowed parking area on the ice near shore.  Keep in mind, access fees for vehicles are $2 per day, or $25 for a season pass.  As always, drive at your own risk.

We will be putting out more rental houses later this week!  Get your reservation on the books by calling (952) 442-2096.  We'll have the heat on and the holes drilled for you!  Don't forget we have all your bait and tackle needs, licenses as well as snacks!  Get in on the bite!

We hope to see you at the lake!

1/4/15 Update

As of this last weekend we started to allow vehicle parking on the ice at our marina. Where we plowed on our frontage, we have 12-14 1/2" of ice for folks to park on. With our ATV we plowed a road out to the Walleye hole, Waconia Bay, Under the Wires and Center reef.

After a subtle warm up, the cold temps are back which will obviously speed up ice growth. We look forward to some good ice gains, especially on those plowed areas! We will be more comfortable driving out further soon.

Thanks for checking in,

The Mase's

Sorry, No Update

We will not be able to do an expansive ice update today as previously promised. We are running a skeleton crew at the moment due to sickness/crud going around. Sorry for the inconvenience. We will update asap!

Stay healthy and Happy New Year!