Ice on Small lakes?

[VMS]

Hi Everyone,

Will be up this weekend and wondering if I will see open water or ice on the small lakes (under 200 acres and only 30 feet deep). Would be nice to get a dock and lift in if possible.

I know it's been cold too...so...

Anyone know?

Thanks

Steve

[JIMBO55428]

I was up a few weeks ago fishing the small lakes and it took my whole auger to get thru the ice, i think its going to be a very late ice out this year

[jwhjr]

I was also up a week and a half ago on a small lake and there was around 20" of ice, but the latest report on that same lake is that the ice is now about 20+ feet from shore so it won't be long now until it's out.

[JIMBO55428]

Thats great news, thanks for the info, sounds like we will be able to get out on opener, I was worried.

[Nutty Fisherman]

Ice took some beating with the 1/4 inch of rain we had here so far today. what ice we have on the lake now you can't see for the fog riseing from it. Where I live the ice is out about 75 feet from shore. Come on water. If things work out tonight I will be putting in the dock tomorrow.

[JIMBO55428]

Nutty fisherman, are you up in the Lonville area?

[Waylon&Willy]

Nutty Fisherman is Insane! I am here right now at Hand Lake and the Lake is froze solid with very, very little open water at the shoreline. I am saying there is 8-10 inches of ice once you get out 20 yards. It is currently snowing with 6-10 inches expected. With the weather supposed to be in the 40's for the next weeek, I am wondering about the opener. I think we are looking for ice out on the larger lakes of the Longville area to be around May 3rd or 4th.... WOW !

One piece of good news is that we were at the DNR Stripping site between Woman and Child this morning. This was only Day #3 for them and we were looking at at least a couple of dozen 8-12 pound females in the pen from today only. The male Walleyes were thick enough that you could not see that bottom. It is amazing that when the river in 5 days is solid with fish like that, it is less than 10% of the lake population.

[Heartman]

W&W, where is your place on Hand? We've the last place on the southwest corner of the bay with the island and access. Just curious - hoping to come over and open up on May 17.

[Waylon&Willy]

Heartman, are you the brown place with the boathouse, or the last place before you come to the access? We are over down Shadywood Shores drive next the Lars. Do you know who Duane Larson "Lars" is? We have the 50 acres on the other side of the road from the lake.

You should be good to go on the 17th and the Crappie fishing will be very good then.

[Heartman]

On the west shore, last one before you go through the channel in the weeds around the island. We own part of the island as well -it's been in the family for almost 60 years now. We've had our place on the mainland since '68.

[Nutty Fisherman]

W&W I might be INSANE, but if it kept raining like it was the ice would have been gone on Ox Yoke where I am right NOW, I'm just telling it like I see it. Some lakes open up faster then others. The ice is away all around the lake except on the south end where the sun isn't getting to it that good yet.

[Morneau132]

Waylon&Willy..... Are you still up at Hand Lake? I have a place on Hay Lake and am heading up on Friday...Wondering what the ice situation is if you've driven over there by chance.....

[Waylon&Willy]

Nutty Fisherman, you are correct. All lakes' ice differ greatly. I was just posting in the heat of the amazement as I watched the snow fly harder than it had all Winter thus far. Morneau, I would like to hear how that trip Friday night went! HA That had to be an ugly one. We took off Saturday late morning, deciding we would come back the weekend after opener. I can be sure there will be open water then, and I will be able to avoid the choas of Ametuer Weekend on the opener.

Good Luck