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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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