Minnesota Outdoorsman
Minnesota - Specific Areas => Ely- BWCA- Gunflint Trail => Topic started by: greatoutdoors on January 01/17/12, 08:18:29 PM
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With cold and breezy weather the last few days, it appears that the ice on Burntside and Snowbank Lakes is getting better.
Both had a consistent 12 inches of clear, soft ice for almost 2 weeks, but never got any thicker.
I checked it for the first time since last Saturday, and found the ice today to be very solid, and 15 inches thick.
It was cold and windy this afternoon, so will try to check about a half dozen more spots tomorrow if it's warmer just to make sure that other areas hold the same good ice.
Fishing was slow on both of these lakes last weekend, with most fish taken being smaller than normal.
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How did this last weekend go? I would assume truck traffic is picking up. Are there still areas you know of with less than 12 inches?
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Most of the ice reports I have from Burntside have been 15 inches of ice, more in some areas.
I'll contact Smitty's on Snowbank this morning to see how the ice, and fishermen are doing.
Burntside produced more trout this weekend than the opener, and the size is getting better with some in the 27 to 30 inch range being taken.
I expect more people to be fishing next week when the temps get warmer.
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Spoke with Glenn at Smitty's on Snowbank, and he reports 17-19 inches of ice on the lake.
Fishing had picked up a bit last week, as did Burntside, & the weather report is looking a bit warmer this weekend.
Trout on both of these lakes seemed to be caught equally between tip ups and jigging, with most activity near the bottom.