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Annandale-Buffalo-Big Lake Ice Reports


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Thought I'd start a thread here where we can help track ice progress on our local lakes. Any input will be appreciated.

I haven't gotten out to explore yet, but I noticed on the drive into work this morning that the ponds by the Outlet Mall in Albertville have now iced over.

Anybody else see anything on the local lakes?

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Drove home around the north side of Pelican yesterday. Main lake was open. Calm and cold last night might have locked it up. Didn't get by to check today.

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as of yesterday Dean had 1 inch at the access. Birch by monti is maybe at 1/2 inch with clearly visible lines in the ice were it opened up and refroze. eagle was like this also with the same distict lines. Ida was mostly open water(checked it this afternoon) with some ice on the side opposite of the access. tons of geese sitting by the access along with about 8 trumpeter swans.

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Has anyone found 2 or more inches on any of the areas fishable lakes (I will not walking on 2 inches, but is getting very close)?

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The bays on clearwater are iced over from what I can see but not good looking ice by any means in most areas.

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I stoped out at dean lake tonight. there was some crazy fool fishing quite a ways out. i walked out about 10 ft or so and and punched a couple holes and had about 2 inches, maybe. Ill give it a few more days for me atleast.

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I stoped out at dean lake tonight. there was some crazy fool fishing quite a ways out. i walked out about 10 ft or so and and punched a couple holes and had about 2 inches, maybe. Ill give it a few more days for me atleast.

was this around 4:45PM. I seen the truck but didn't see where the person was.

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I stoped out at dean lake tonight. there was some crazy fool fishing quite a ways out. i walked out about 10 ft or so and and punched a couple holes and had about 2 inches, maybe. Ill give it a few more days for me atleast.

Good Grief..... eekeek

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Putting My Shack On Buffalo This Season .. Thanks For The Updates .. Won't Be Out That Way Till Then ..

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Dean is at 3 inches out about 10 feet from the access. evevn with the 3" it scares me because there is a lot of small cracks in that area(dry but still look like they could give out). off to the right there is a clearly visible large crack where water is coming up. the ice and snow is wet. I seen the tracks were that person went out towards the middle. that is too much for me. I will wait for 4 to 5 inches without the small cracks in the area. my goal is next weekend. it wouldn't surprise me if there is someone out this weekend.

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Man, some people....Check out the reports of the guys who floated away on Upper Red. Chunk of ice broke off and the fellas were trolling.

I love chasing fish as much as the next guy, but I always shake my head when I see guys walking out on ice like that. I sure hope he caught some fish!! smile

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Man, some people....Check out the reports of the guys who floated away on Upper Red. Chunk of ice broke off and the fellas were trolling.

I love chasing fish as much as the next guy, but I always shake my head when I see guys walking out on ice like that. I sure hope he caught some fish!! smile

Yea I read that red lake thread. to me that is just being foolish. I did how ever get a laugh at the comment about them ice trolling and the question of could they use two lines or just one. My guess would be two if they had the lines through holes in the ice but one if there were on the edge of the ice with the line in the open water. would be interesting to see how a CO would look at that.

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Dean 3.5-4 inches out from the access after you get past some thin stuff next to the access. But a caution, not all ice is the same thickness found some ice that was around 2 inches and less on other parts of the lake.

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I drove past many wright county lakes today that had areas of open water still. Once they do lock up Be Ware that the ice thinkness will very a lot, so be careful on that early ice.

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with the temps coming this week next weekend i think would be a safter bet to get on the lakes

that is why I am holding off going. I want there to be more ice. and like was said the ice that is out there is varied. lakes west of monti are only like 1 to 2 inches. they have very distint lines in them where you can tell the ice is thinner plus I have seen cracks that are leaking water on top of the ice all the snow in the area is washed to the sides of the crack. eagle in particular had a clearly visible thin round spot with better ice around it. I didn't walk out there but seen it from the road. My guess there must be some type of gas that was coming from the bottom of the lake. the only other thing that would cause something like this is a large group of carp or other rough fish under the ice.

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Dean 3.5-4 inches out from the access after you get past some thin stuff next to the access. But a caution, not all ice is the same thickness found some ice that was around 2 inches and less on other parts of the lake.

so you went out there and tried. did you catch anything.

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Do you carry your gas auger out there? Noob question but I just can't see dragging mine out there this early. Or is that what the Chisels are for?

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Dean 3.5-4 inches out from the access after you get past some thin stuff next to the access. But a caution, not all ice is the same thickness found some ice that was around 2 inches and less on other parts of the lake.
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Do you carry your gas auger out there? Noob question but I just can't see dragging mine out there this early. Or is that what the Chisels are for?

I use a strikemaster lazer hand auger until there is more then a foot of ice then I go to my gas auger.

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Checked Eagle, Ida, Birch on Saturday night. Eagle had about 2 inches in front of the access, Birch had about 1.5, and Ida was wide open.

Pelican had 2"-3" off CR37 and 2" off the 117 access. Ice on Pelican varied so if you venture out there be careful! 3" by CR37 shore, 1.5" a hundred yards out, then back to 2.5". Water is very cloudy/dirty again, just like last year.

I think we'll be in good shape on a lot of our local lakes next weekend for walk on fishing. I'm wishing I wouldn't have made plans for next Saturday now!

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