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I was on a small lake on Friday 4-5" but when I hit 14 fow it dropped to 3.75" I stopped going forward.  Clear ice like last year though!

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Most bigger lakes are still open for the most part. With the forecast looking the way it does I don't seen any thing happening this week. Some sheltered bays have some ice, but this snow load is hurting that.

 

 

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snow has melted off all lakes, now its just a matter of sustained coldness especially overnights which isnt really happening.

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  • 2 weeks later...

My brother says most lakes in that area closed up on Saturday , I would have a hard time believing 6 " of has formed in 2 Days. If you do go out Papa please be careful .

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I live on a 700 acre lake, and it locked up Friday overnight, Today on new ice in front of my house there is 2.5 inches. Hopefully we can build some more soon.

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A little tid-bit of info on how lakes freeze.

Weather forecast for Ottertail about parallel with Brainerd, Crosby, Mile lacs. Starting tonight, temps should be dropping.

567af96394075_OttDecTmp.jpg.ace8485bf58f

Here is a Lake Freeze Rate chart based on Temp and Ice thickness. If wind holds to under 25 for a bit without much snow we should see Wheel House ice by Jan 9 2016 I hope.

Ice_th1.thumb.jpg.9eccb91e618521016e17b3

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Got email from my favorite Ottertail resort. 6" good ice on the lake, he had guys fishing a mile out at the break with 2 8x8 and another two guys is a flip at the saddle. Both catching nice eater walleye. Last night below 0 to -6 this AM should have added another inch or two of ice. Still looking good for Wheel House ice by Jan 7.

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1 hour ago, chochie said:

So how was the fishing Darv?  Any reports?  Is there really 6"?

The email was from the resort owner. I stay there often and totally believe his email on 6" on Ottertail. I have the cabin reserved starting Jan 7 party of 6. I'll post fishing results in 2 weeks.

Edited by papadarv
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1 hour ago, Weathertite said:

3 days difference , Maybe both !!!

Adding the 2 inches from 4" to 6" in 3 days with night temps at 12, 16 and 8 quite achievable. 

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Was out on a few smaller <200-300 acre lakes over this past weekend. Pretty average of 5-8" of surprisingly good, crystal clear ice. Shouldn't be long for wheel houses and ATV's to start showing up on lakes if they haven't already. 

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Put my wheel house  (homemade 7 x10) on 6.5 inches yesterday. I did check several spots between shore and where I set it.  6.5 to 7 everywhere I checked. 

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yes those 3 days made a HUGE difference from my 1st time on the lake to sunday.

anyways. 6-8 all over ottertail now,  seen a 4 wheeler and snowmobiler already, so this weekend should be going gangbusters.

lots of small walleyes, ottertail had a such a great bite this summer/fall with the great weather, i feel its gonna hurt this winter fishing.. what do you all think?

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OT Resort owner today said 7-10" from his landing to the mile off shore break. Re-scheduling my next weeks trip to first week in Feb. Always best to error on the safe side. Now wondering if we will ever get cold temps this year at OT. Next week Wed - Friday in the 30's again.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Finally Ottertail is Good To Go.

Todays email exchange between Resort Owner and I.

"Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Droid

On Jan 18, 2016 12:04 PM, Darv Wrote:

T------, thinking with last week cold temps and last night –24 should have made adequate ice to driver smaller truck with lighter wheel house out to the breaks. Anyone driving on the lake yet?

Looking forward to Thursday, Feb 4. Four or five of us should be arriving sometime around noon or so, one person still undecided.

Thanks

Darv

 

Reply

Yes, there is 12-16" of ice.  Trucks and houses going all over the lake.  Fishing has been pretty good."

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9 hours ago, papadarv said:

Finally Ottertail is Good To Go.

Todays email exchange between Resort Owner and I.

"Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Droid

On Jan 18, 2016 12:04 PM, Darv Wrote:

T------, thinking with last week cold temps and last night –24 should have made adequate ice to driver smaller truck with lighter wheel house out to the breaks. Anyone driving on the lake yet?

Looking forward to Thursday, Feb 4. Four or five of us should be arriving sometime around noon or so, one person still undecided.

Thanks

Darv

 

Reply

Yes, there is 12-16" of ice.  Trucks and houses going all over the lake.  Fishing has been pretty good."

Thank you for the update Papa , I can make pretty quick decisions !!! :P

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I was out on Ottertail this past weekend.  Lots of truck traffic.  The ice is quite variable, but I found anywhere from 13-18 inches of ice.  The bite was ok, however a lot of small fish being caught.  Found fish anywhere between 12 and 45 feet of water, both shoreline breaks and midlake humps.  Seems small walleyes were everywhere; just couldn't locate a school of decent fish.

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Any idea of how ice will react to the warmer weather this weekend? I drive a 1 ton pickup wondering if ice will remain safe to drive on

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I would think this weather is not going  to hurt it any. It has not been much above freezing and is the forcast is for mid to upper 30s during the day with below freezing at night.  I've driven a 3/4 ton on a smaller lake with no issues, but I am unloaded and not pulling a house. 

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
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    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. The limit is 3 pike per day with one being able to be more than 40 inches. All fish 30 - 40 inches must be released. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   The sturgeon season continues through May 15th and resumes again July 1st.   Oct 1 - April 23, Catch and Release April 24 - May 7, Harvest Season May 8 - May 15, Catch and Release May 16 - June 30, Sturgeon Fishing Closed July 1 - Sep 30, Harvest Season If you fish during the sturgeon harvest season and you want to keep a sturgeon, you must purchase a sturgeon tag for $5 prior to fishing.    One sturgeon per calendar year (45 - 50" inclusive, or over 75"). Most sturgeon anglers are either a glob of crawlers or a combo of crawlers and frozen emerald shiners on a sturgeon rig, which is an 18" leader with a 4/0 circle hook combined with a no roll sinker.  Local bait shops have all of the gear and bait. Up at the NW Angle...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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