Ice conditions 2014-2015

[Boar]

heading to LOW friday bring the big 20ftr plus, roger outa bugys is gona tow it out for me because of all the rough ice. i talked to him two nights ago and the lake area where they are putting houses  had 13-14 by friday they feel it should be around that 15-17 mark which is my minumum. Game on people.

[DDSBYDAY]

     Good luck Boar.   We will hopefully see you and momma bear in Ely.   

[glenn57]

HEY DDS!!!!!! even though I think your behind the shenanigans on the leader board  I figured i'd still be a nice guy and let ya know Roosevelt is completely iced over. no activity on it yet though. there is what looks like some ice break out south of the bridge. my guess its an ice build up from the wind.

[DDSBYDAY]

  Thanks Glenn.  I'm thinking about heading up soon.  Once I get the house out you will have to swing in for a sunset bite.  It's hit or miss.  Mostly  miss but you never know.   

[DDSBYDAY]

   Walked out from a residence on Bald Eagle Sunday.  Ice was 6-7 inches.  Snowmobiles and 4 wheelers seem to be pretty comfortable going wherever they want.  The spot we went to was pretty quite.  I actually was able to hook a nice shiner minnow on a waxie.  It was mostly a test run to see if everything was working. 

[glenn57]

I drove down to the public access on big Jessie today. there were 12 houses out. all but one on the east end by the access and most looked to be spearing. there were 2 good sized trucks on the ice. seen the blocks and not enough for me to drive on yet!!

[MTCOMMER]

   Walked out from a residence on Bald Eagle Sunday.  Ice was 6-7 inches.  Snowmobiles and 4 wheelers seem to be pretty comfortable going wherever they want.  The spot we went to was pretty quite.  I actually was able to hook a nice shiner minnow on a waxie.  It was mostly a test run to see if everything was working.

I will be headed out to BE on Friday to try my luck for the first time this year.... Unless I change me mind and go to Demontraville.  Im thinking the ice is in good enough shape that this warm spell this weekend wont affect too much.  Just might cause some water on the edges to pool up.
Ill let you guys know where I go and what I catch (other than a buzz) 

[Wyofish]

15" on North Long today.  Lots of trucks and houses out there. Fawk and I will be getting after them tomorrow.

[glenn57]

DDS Roosevelt is still iced over. no activity on the lake yet.

stopped by the cabin further north and the warm spell  doesn't appear to to have hurt the ice one bit.

[DDSBYDAY]

DDS Roosevelt is still iced over. no activity on the lake yet.

stopped by the cabin further north and the warm spell  doesn't appear to to have hurt the ice one bit.

   I hit the lake of no fish Friday.  I had a long weekend and was going to try to get after them.  I grabbed the hand drill and auger bit and started punching holes.  8 inches for the most part with a pocket of 6 inches.  The word on the street was there was still some open water on the South end.  By Saturday the lake was pretty much unfishable with all the water on top.  Sunday was even worse.  I checked out in-front of our place on the north side of the bridge and found the springs to be chewing up the ice along shore pretty fast.  The lake of no fish had frozen over and a few spots opened back up a while ago.  A pressure ridge formed on the south end and with the warm temps  we were staying clear of it.  I have no problem being the first one crossing the lake in a vehicle as long a I have verified a minimum of 12" the entire way.  There is no activity because it is not close to being safe yet.   

[glenn57]

12 inches  man you got bigger gahoonas then I do. like most union thugs that are trained properly on safety I gotta have at a bare minimum of17 inches but prefer 20 to drive my vehicle.

[DDSBYDAY]

 
  Yeh, I know you union guys rely on the ice thickness guy.  I rely on myself.  I honestly was told in town that there had to be 12-14".  I did report back to the Union guys that they should mention that a scab came up with lower numbers.  True story.  I don't count white ice or care what the date is.     12" of solid ice and I am good with the atv and the perm.  Once the perm is out I will take the truck to it.  Only on the lake of no fish though.  If I don't know the lake I would prefer 20" with lot's of vehicle traffic.

[glenn57]

ATV those I GI out on 6 - 7 inches.  Thought you were thinking vehicle. No scabs aloud and you must a consulted with the union safety director.

[DDSBYDAY]

  After a very good start the ice conditions have not improved.  9 inches on the lake of No Fish in Northern Minnesota.  I set a bottle of water out over the weekend and it did not have any ice formation what so ever.  I fished Friday eve and was able to kick my holes open Sat. night.  If we don't get a cold spell soon it could be a long winter.  I saw a couple of small vehicles on Mille lacs.  When I left this afternoon it was sleeting north of Garrison and started turning to rain south of that.  The rain does kill the little bit of snow on the surface but without some below zero soon the ice might not be drivable until late January.   

[corny13]

Might have driven by u yesterday afternoon DDSBYDAY on west edge of Millacs.. I was heading north to garrison to head west to nodak.   Ice was good everywhere I fished on Isle bay this weekend and thurs and Friday pre fishing.  Was a bit worried but 10-11" hard ice everywhere, didn't find any open cracks.  Did see a lot of trucks out plowing and sat moving houses out deeper.  With the forcast after next weekend it should be a LOT safer...remember its still early ice.... most dangerous time, wind rain and warm weather do make unstable areas.  Fishing was tough but did bring in the 16 each day of the tourney, thanks for the tips from those that gave them.  I fished deep on the mud flat that was in the tourney area... had to go micro tungsten white or gold jigs with single waxie matching the hatch( mayfly larvae).  Finished in the middle of the pack.  Winners sat on a crappie hole both days  32lbs of fish...they used hand lines sight fishing with jigs you need loops on to tie... learned a lot as not much of a crappie/ gill fisherman... know where to look now.

[DDSBYDAY]

Winners sat on a crappie hole both days  32lbs of fish...they used hand lines sight fishing with jigs you need loops on to tie..

 

  Corny I make some of those.   If you ever want to try them send me a pm.  The hook eyes are so small that they will break if I get paint in them and try to open them up.

[DDSBYDAY]

  According to Cookies Red Lake Report all the snow melted on the Red again.  That would mean all the lakes south of there should be without snow as well.  For us at the Lake of No Fish it is a good thing.  We are still only at 9"s.  I was hoping we would pick up a couple more by Christmas but it looks like that is out of the picture for now.   I'm still praying for the snow gods to hold back for a while. 

[MTCOMMER]

I was out fishing on Minnewaska this past week - the ice was 12-14", cars and trucks everywhere.
I did hear a report from the Pope County sheriff's office that a truck went through over by the school landing.  I haven't been able to confirm yet, but this was last week.
The ice was pretty strong after the high temps, but it hasn't had too many days of 'ice making' weather since.
Fishing was slow to average.  Ending up catching 2 walleyes (one I threw back), and a few Jumbo perch around 10".  Lots of small perch and northerns.

[glenn57]

DDS there was a fishouse out south of  the bridge today. looks like he walked out from that little access in town.

[DDSBYDAY]

   He had that out last weekend.  He is fishing out of his ranger side by side most of the time.  I think he puts that out in case the wife wants to come out.  My concern is that ice heave that crosses the south end.  I can get around it with the atv and portable but with New years coming up there will be more people and some not so bright ones.  That current eats up the ice just a little west of that ice house in town pretty quick in these temps.

[glenn57]

man that ice turned dark today! wouldn't be surprised if theres no vehicle traffic by Thursday.

[DDSBYDAY]

  I was out Sat.  The ice was solid but the access was collecting water. 

[glenn57]

  I was out Sat.  The ice was solid but the access was collecting water.

so was I DDS. I drove by a couple lakes mid morning and didn't notice the dark color then but man it turned dark today. no way is glenn driving out no more!!!!!

[walkingstick3]

Anyone up by Winnie? I'm heading up there this weekend. Hoping it will be safe for ATV still.

[glenn57]

Anyone up by Winnie? I'm heading up there this weekend. Hoping it will be safe for ATV still.

I am in grand rapids. went over to tioga beach tonite and there was 8-10 vehicles still on the ice. was water on the ice but still not looking to dark.

on the other hand I am seeing reports the ice in the cold spring area is deteriorating fast!

[glenn57]

UPDATE...........read that a vehicle went down on becker lake just west of Richmond. part of the horseshoe chain of lakes!!!!!!!

[DDSBYDAY]

   Update:  ice conditions are bad.   

[Retired on Osakis]

People still walking out here. Not me, I'm done. Time for open water. 

[Boar]

Time for pik on LOW

[corny13]

People are still driving on Lake Winnipeg, two more weekends of the season open!