How much ice is on the lakes?

[Huntin&Fishin]

How much ice is on the lakes? thanks

[Gissert]

Pretty much zippo with the winds. This week's forecast looks good. It wont be long now!

[CabinBoy]

Fishing in boats on W. Battle yesterday.

[ChuckN]

I found a lot of small (deep) lakes covered in ice. Large lakes have quite a bit of time...

[B. Amish]

some of the big lakes are ringed with ice. i walked out to my duck hunting spot on ice the other day. along the shore and dragging our boat behind of course.

[Smokey]

Little Pine was still wide open this last weekend.

[jwhjr]

Quote:

---

Little Pine was still wide open this last weekend.

---

I'm hoping to hit Little Pine this winter for the first time (my mom has a place there, but I've never been up for the ice). When does it typically ice over? I've been hitting some smaller lakes further East the first weekend in December the last couple of years (under 200 acres), but I'm not familiar with how soon a larger lake freezes up. It's a long drive up, so I don't want to make the trip too early if I can't get out on the ice. Any assistance is appreciated. Thanks.

[Smokey]

As you know, it varies from year to year. 5 years ago we were ice skating on Thanksgiving day, staying fairly close to shore, but there was about 3-4" of ice there. The last couple of years, nothing. Right now my guess is that walking out the second weekend of December should be possible.

Staying near shore.

And away from the river in/outlets.

[sandbagger]

Poked some holes on a small lake (less than 100 acres) today - only wandered out to where I knew I was still in shallow water (less than 4 feet). Was about 3.5 inches of ice in most places. Would think many of the smaller lakes should be fishable this weekend with the forecast looking frigid. Will still need to be very careful.

[jwhjr]

Thanks for the info Smokey. I may be at my early ice location that weekend so it sounds like it may be worth a trip to check it out.

[Gissert]

-6 this morning, and South Turtle is freezing before my eyes. It could be a go by this weekend. Of course, I have our RMEF banquet.....Doh.

[fishlakeman]

Anyone know if OtterTail is showing any signs of icing?

[Gissert]

I drove by the west end yesterday, and a lot of it had iced up. In fact, there was ice as far as I could see about 11am. There was some steam out in the middle, however.

I have never seen the outlet have so much ice surface. The flows must be pretty low. Even the launch ramps had ice on them.

Just about everything was tightening up yesterday. I watch South Turtle go from nothing at sunrise to 3/8 to a half inch by sundown.

[fishlakeman]

Thanks Gissert! The report is much appreciated.

Hopefully I can get out there sometime mid next week. I'll throw a ice report out if/when I do.

[PRFISHER]

I can tell you that the north end of Clitherall was wide open shore to shore at 5:30 last night.

Bass and Norway are froze solid. With some spots having ice since last wednesday night and some just freezing over in the past 36 hours or so. With the light skiff of snow seeing those spots that have been froze for a week and might be pushing that 5-6 inch mark and the 2-3 inch stuff isn't going to be easy. Bass for instance had slivers 10-12 feet wide kept open by the wind since last wednesday when we had our first cold snap. These spots stayed open right up until monday night when the bottom dropped out.

The best fishing is right now, but remember you can't fish when your dead.... Be careful!!! With that being said, I will be out on some lake in OT county this weekend.

[jwhjr]

Any updates on Little Pine?

[island guy]

Drove by West Battle late yesterday afternoon. Open with whitecaps rolling in. With the wind today I'm sure Battle and other larger, deeper lakes are open. If the wind goes away, it should freeze.

[B. Amish]

little pine is frozen with at least 3" on shore

[PBullet]

We had 4-5 inches on Rush, 3 on Little Pine and 4 on Big Pine. -2 this morning, making ice fast....

[jwhjr]

Thanks for the updates on LP guys, keep them coming. I like what I hear so far.

[Mark Christianson]

I heard on the radio today that 6-10 inches of snow is forecasted tomorrow. Not sure whats forecasted up there, but wouldnt that be fitting to get a couple inches of ice and then a bunch of snow on top to sink the ice, get water on top and make a real mess of it. Cripes.

Could make things interesting.

[fishermatt]

I heard 12-24" for around here!

[GRAND DAD]

I hope not that will put a damper on my fishing plans this week end the weather report am looking at is saying flurrys and watching the weather on the news last night just said some snow 6 to 24 inches is a pretty big spread

[giwoyna5]

Hey Gissert, have ya checked the ice on South Turtle lately? I'm looking at trying it tomorrow...weather permitting that is.

[Gissert]

I took the spud bar in front of my place this morning. It looks to be about 3-4 inches of nice clear looking stuff.

A word of caution - I could see steem rising down areoud the access area. I have not had a chance to take a closer look as of yet.

[giwoyna5]

Thanks, sounds like I might need to go do some scouting today. Any other suggestions? I just recently moved back to the area(breckenridge) after beeing in the Brainerd area for the last 6 years. Great fishing out there, mille lacs is awesome! I'll let ya all know what I find for ice. G5

[Mark Christianson]

What station gave the prediction of up to 24 inches of snow up in that region??

All I have found online is 4-6 for that general area.

[GRAND DAD]

4 to 6 I can deal with..anything more ????

[fishermatt]

Just trying to give the Sled Heads some hope! The weather people never know for sure on the first storm of the year, so I think anything's possible. I'm hoping for NONE myself.... 5 1/2 inches as of this morning on the lake I'll be fishing tonight.

[kdotz]

Does anyone know if West Battle has ice yet?