Spring river conditions this year?

[fishuhalik]

i know it's a little early but i'm already excited for the yearly pilgrimage up here! whats your predictions for this year? with the complete lack of snow (knock on wood) i cant imagine we'll be seeing the typical debris and increased current problems that are so frusturating. my prediction is that if this continues, we're gonna have a spring so good that we'll be telling our grandkids about it.

[Team_FBR]

Its hard not get excited about it when its this warm in Jan. I wonder how much ice is on the river now.

[BartmanMN]

The water was very Low this fall, so if there isn't a lot of snow it should be Low in the Spring too.

[HookedUp]

With the warm weather what ar ethe anticipations that the spring run will start and end earlier than usual this year? Trying to plan a spring trip and I am gogn to have to decide when to request tiem off work. Any help or advise is much appreciated.

[tearin' lips]

Well Gentlemen. I am hoping for a good spring season as well. Currently we only have about three inches of snow on the ground and some really cold weather. I believe that we will see a good spring if conditions continue, but alot can change in a few months or even weeks.

Hooked up, as for when it will start, that is always a hard question to answer But when it does start I will let you guys know.

[maxpower17]

Quote:

With the warm weather what ar ethe anticipations that the spring run will start and end earlier than usual this year? Trying to plan a spring trip and I am gogn to have to decide when to request tiem off work. Any help or advise is much appreciated.

Sorry, but this is impossible. Could be mid-march. Could be mid-april. I've seen both within a year or two. Best to take a month off.

[tearin' lips]

I agree with Maxpower. Sometimes its earlier and sometimes its later. Its usually best to just drop everything and head up when you catch wind of when the bite starts. I know its hard, but it is the best way to ensure you will get on a decent bite.

[ANYFISH2]

Tearin' lips, How far east did the river freeze solid this year? Just wondering if you had noticed.

[shamrock7]

There is open water north of Loman. Not bank to bank but still more water than last year.

[ANYFISH2]

Thanks shamrock.

[slammer]

Shamrock, anything new as far as open water goes?

[tearin' lips]

Hey guys, sorry I have been busy, hence I have been spending little time on here. The river is always open near Loman, even in a cold year, there is enough current there so little or no ice ever forms there.

There is fishable ice everywhere from Manitou to the lake. Currently there is 22+ inches of ice near Birchdale and people are driving out fishing and there are permanent houses out there.

I will keep you posted when the river starts shedding ice, but it probably won't be until Mid-March at the earliest.

[shamrock7]

Came through this afternoon and there is open water to Emmo. Just a seam open up there but still is water. Farther to the south, just north of Loman, the river is open bank to bank except for shore ice. Still houses on the river by Frontier and still vehicle traffic from Birchdale towards Frontier but 1 house that had been just north of Frontier has been pulled.

[shamrock7]

Had to fly up to Baudette this am and got a good look at the progress. The river is open bank to bank except for shore ice almost all the way to Emo. Then thins down to just a small open seam to nothing 1 mile west of Emo. Open around Manitou Falls and then open again east of Birchdale as it always is for those 2 areas. Still a ways to go but at least it is doing something other than freezing up more.

[MWard4400]

Thanks Shamrock7,

My first "Over the Ice" boat trip depends on info from reports like yours. Thanks again.

Mark