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In Your Memory- Latest Minnesota Ice Out?


zamboni

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Ordered an extension for my auger today. Ice is THICK. In your memory how late in the spring was the latest ice out?

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Airjer- thanks, thats pretty interesting. Looks like a few years the walleye opener was affected by ice. I am curious about how this year will be, ice in southern MN is very thick

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It is odd how the S.W. part of the state has had some of the best ice conditions in the state!

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several years ago the govenors open was worried about Lake Bemidji,it was close but it opened

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Here in the SW the snow cover early was thin and SOOOO many consecutive days below freezing were incredible for ice building, I don't think since early December we have had 5 - 8 days where we have hit over 32 degrees. Just remember, there is a lot of ice right now, but it can go away in places real fast too. I think the flat area we live in with very little cover and then add the strong winds here, all played a big factor in keeping this one of the coldest winters in a long time.

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Several years ago we were crappie fishing on April 1st and were drilling ice on LOW right down to the end of a 18 inch extension . 4 weeks later we were crappie fishing from the boat. Ice out depends more on the average temp than ice thickness.

The latest ice out I remember was around 2000 when were looking at ice on Vermillion two days before the opener. It did go out the next day.

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ON MY LAKE (BIG TURTLE) THE LATEST WE'VE SEEN IS MAY 20.

USUALLY ITS OUT BY MAY 1 BUT WE'VE LEARNED TO GIVE IT A GOOD 2 WEEK SWING AREA

CHAOS69

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Wow, if this is an average year, we in the south central part of the state have just 5-6 more weeks of ice.

I can't believe it! Open water is almost here! cool.gif

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Normally on Upper Red it can be nerve racking if the ice will clear in time, this year I think it will be early enough to go after some crappies before walleye season opens.

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I'm just not ready to say good bye to the ice yet but April will be here before we know it!

I suppose it's time to dust off the Lund.

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Yeah, I'm not a real big ice fisher person, but I look forward to any and all opportunities to get out. Heck, I'm already losing sleep in anticipation of this Saturday! tired.gifgrin.gif

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In the Alexandria on the "Chain". The latest ice out date since 1944 is May 14th, 1950 and the earliest ice out was March 25th, 2000.

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To me, its really surprising how fast this year/winter has gone by. We only have 14 days left in the 3rd. Quarter of our school. Thats crazy talk. I'm gonna try to get out as much as I can and hope for a fast ice off after conditions go south so I can do more fishing. LOL

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Last year was the latest I was ice fishing, April 19th! But then the ice went fast and I was fishing in a boat and sucker spearing by May 1st. So when it gets warm and it rains she goes fast.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   The big basin, otherwise known as Big Traverse Bay, is ice free.  Zippel Bay and Four Mile Bay are ice free as well.  Everything is shaping up nicely for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th. With the walleye / sauger season currently closed, most anglers are targeting sturgeon and pike.  Some sturgeon anglers are fishing at the mouth of the Rainy River, but most sturgeon are targeted in Four Mile Bay or the Rainy River.  Hence, pike are the targeted species on the south shore and various bays currently.   Pike fishing this time of year is a unique opportunity, as LOW is border water with Canada, the pike season is open year round. 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. Back bays hold pike as they go through the various stages of the spawn.  Deadbait under a bobber, spinners, spoons and shallow diving crankbaits are all viable options.   Four Mile Bay, Bostic Bay and Zippel Bay are all small water and boats of various sizes work well. On the Rainy River...  Great news this week as we learned sturgeon will not be placed on the endangered species list by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.     The organization had to make a decision by June 30 and listing sturgeon could have ended sturgeon fishing.  Thankfully, after looking at the many success stories across the nation, including LOW and the Rainy River, sturgeon fishing and successful sturgeon management continues.   A good week sturgeon fishing on the Rainy River.  Speaking to some sturgeon aficionados, fishing will actually get even better as water temps rise.     Four Mile Bay at the mouth of the Rainy River near the Wheeler's Point Boat Ramp is still producing good numbers of fish, as are various holes along the 42 miles of navigable Rainy River from the mouth to Birchdale.   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...  A few spots with rotten ice, but as a rule, most of the Angle is showing off open water.  In these parts, most are looking ahead to the MN Fishing Opener.  Based on late ice fishing success, it should be a good one.  
    • leech~~
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    • Rick G
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    • monstermoose78
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    • smurfy
      good......you?? living the dream..in my basement playing internet thug right now!!!!!! 🤣 working on getting the boat ready.......bought a new cheatmaster locator for the boat so working on that.   waiting for warmer weather to start my garden!!!
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