Snow and Ice conditions

[ryrywilke]

Heading up Jan.2 and was kinda wondering what the ice and snow conditions were on the lake. I think that 8 of us are coming up with 2 half ton crew cab pickups and 2 20+ foot fish houses. Are we able to get on a be pretty mobile with that equipment? Are all accesses accessable? Are all lake roads open? Thickness of ice? Able to drive anywhere on the ice?

[fishforever7]

Had 14 inches today with lots of trucks pulling wheel houses out. Saw a couple of diesels out there which seems like a little early for that. Roads are good out of West Wind but not sure about anywhere else.

[ryrywilke]

I guess I really dont know which resort we are goin out of. I can imagine what I hear on here from the fish reports, but usually we go out of Hillmans. But have also gone out of West Wind too and others on the south end

[Random guy]

You should be fine with the half tons and smaller wheel houses.

[cluelessfisherman]

Dumb question, but what constitutes a "smaller" fish house? Are we talking 20' and less or a certain weight? Thanks

[Random guy]

Not a 24' dual axle wheel house with with bump outs, fully loaded and ATVs inside.

[ryrywilke]

I guess we are bringing up a 24' with tandem axle and a 20' with tandem axle (ice castle). The 24' was built very light though and wont be loaded up with a four wheeler or anything just probably alot of beer. Is it easy getting around on the lake with a pickup?

[camtis]

I have seen anywhere from 13 to 15.5 in. of ice of the main road. There are some 3/4 ton trucks with 20+ foot houses. Most of the larger houses are experincing minor flooding when the houses are left attached.

[ryrywilke]

Wondering what the snow cover on the lake is like? Will it be OK to get around with a pickup?

[mike morris]

There's still a good ammount of snow out there. I noticed as a plow was pushing out a new path, his chains went through a good layer of slush. Other than that, there are plowed roads forked off the main road. I'd avoid the deeper snow, but you're still fine chugging through the harder, thinner snow.

[Random guy]

For the most part you should be ok if you pick and chose where you go. Some of the drifts are deep enough and hard enough to hang up pick-ups. Little shovel work and you can normaly back out of them pretty easy.

Look out for slush and give the road banks/ tall drifts plenty of room.

[ryrywilke]

Thanks for the info, that should help before we get up there on Wed. afternoon. Any tips on where to try for some of those "Slabs"? Or just go anywhere away from other people, depth??

[Shoogs32]

Hey ryrywilke,

I'll be headin up there on Wednesday too. Not sure on the area yet, but I am tryin to figure if my 1 ton deisal will be fine with wheel house. Sounds like Jon and Kelly know whats going on, so I will probably go outa their area.

[Random guy]

Quote:

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Sounds like Jon and Kelly know whats going on, so I will probably go outa their area.

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Gonna cover some ground are ya? As of today we are spread out over four miles.

[Shoogs32]

Jon-

was out there twice last year this time and did great. Hopefully same result this year. I guess reports from other fisherman help too.

[Shoogs32]

Hillmans keeps their road in better shape too.

[Random guy]

This time of the year can be crazy, about the time you start to wonder why a guy ever wasted a minute of his life looking for crappies they show up in masses, normaly caught by little old ladies or guys that got lost and fished while they where waiting for a pull.

Keeps a guy humble.

[ryrywilke]

Sounds like a bunch of us are coming up and am pretty sure we will probably go out of Hillmans, but there will be 3 crew cab pickups one pulling a 24' house, another pulling a 23' house and the last one I'm not really sure how big it is. Cold snap coming for a couple of days here but getting milder later on in the week, hopefully triggering some of those big slabs again. Watch out for our convoy should arrive around noon or so give or take an hour or so. Hopefully enough ice to handle all of us

[SomethingFishy*]

You should be fine, it may be more of a challenge to head away from the roads. Next time up I am going to bring the plow for the wheeler so we aren't right off the road.

Hillmans has a real nice road going out. Here are a few pictures drom this morning.

[Shoogs32]

Nice house ya got there Somethingfishy,

How far out on the lake were you and did you catch em? It will be me dad's first trip to Red on Wends. and I don't want to completely dissapoint him.

[pauliepanfish]

Do you have info on what the fishing is like at Lake Winnie. I will be up their next Saturday thru Wednesday. This is my 2nd time to lake winnie. All I remember is we stayed at a place on the southern tip of lake winnie. Can you give me any info or can you contact someone who has the lastest fishing/ice conditions at lake winnie.

Thanks

pauliepanfish

[BKB]

Check the Winnie forum