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Posted

APRIL 11TH WINTER STORM WARNING.... DRILLED A COUPLE OF HOLES LAST NIGHT, 32" OF ICE.... GLOBAL WARMING? YA RIGHT....

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Posted

Whens the Walleye Opener........ shocked

Mike

Posted

June 11th

Posted

Crazy year. I have a turkey tag for B season, but I will probably still be boiling sap.

Posted

Although it doesn't look like it will be off in time right this minute...I believe it will. Close but off.

Posted

June 11th

I think you meant May 11th. grin

It could be very interesting if this weather doesn't start to warm up.

Mike

Posted

No I meant June 11th. LOLLL.... Thats when ice out will be. smile

Posted

grin

Mike

Posted

I best update PRfisher, April 15th massive potential winter storm warning. Just checked weather potential for Pelican Rapids, 7-14" with possible localized amounts 14+. That gives the lakes roughly 25 days to thaw out.............buddies are having trouble augering holes yet as of last night due to thick ice/snow/slush, the current plan is to ice fish May 11th until proven otherwise. A tale of 2 springs, man.

Posted

Sorry Sunday the 14th lingering into Monday the 15th, be careful everyone.

Posted

At this rate you could plan on still driving out by the 11th for the opener. The 10 day forecast isn't going to get rid of the new snow we either have received or are going to receive... Lots of days with highs in the mid 30's and upper 20's for lows and clouds are not the recipe that we need right now.....

Posted

UGH!!!!

Today Apr 12

Snow Shower

32°F

25°F

Snow Shower

Chance of snow:

40%

Sat Apr 13

AM Clouds / PM Sun

34°

24°

AM Clouds / PM Sun

Sun Apr 14

Snow / Wind

36°

29°

Snow / Wind

Chance of snow:

70%

Mon Apr 15

Mostly Cloudy / Wind

34°

23°

Mostly Cloudy / Wind

Tue Apr 16

Mostly Cloudy

30°

26°

Mostly Cloudy

Wed Apr 17

Snow Shower

34°

29°

Snow Shower

Chance of snow:

40%

Thu Apr 18

Few Snow Showers

33°

26°

Few Snow Showers

Chance of snow:

30%

Fri Apr 19

Partly Cloudy

35°

26°

Partly Cloudy

Sat Apr 20

Cloudy

34°

24°

Cloudy

Chance of precip:

10%

Sun Apr 21

Mostly Cloudy

42°

36°

Mostly Cloudy

Posted

Unreal, no doubt what is the walleye spawn looking like ? Like Ottertail/Walker lake are they beginning or what stage is that in ? My best bet may be a 2' deep creek channel they spawn in for opener not that I would mess with that but things must be behind schedule ? My dad said a year ago he had 93 pocket gophers already lol.

Posted

Looks like I will have the best syrup making year ever. Might have to burn my turkey tag.

Posted

Quote:
My dad said a year ago he had 93 pocket gophers already lol.

Last year by now I had all my food plots tilled, gardens prepared, yard thatched and fertilized, trees were in full bloom,...... I just got really depressed.

Upside,,,, impossible to complain with the affect this will have on ground moisture....

Posted

Can't even imagine how difficult this must be for the resort owners. Hard to book for Walleye opener when the docks are not out and there's still ice on the lake. This could cost them a load of money.

Not to mention the impact to the local bait shops and small area economies that look forward to opening weekend.

Then there will be the DNR rushing to get docks in place and make repairs to any landings needing it.

Guess we will see what happens.....

Mike

Posted

Lets hope the ice is off for opener. The temps need to start changing.

Posted

Ya know, I really don't want to rain on anybodys parade, but lets take an honest look at the situation. Learned today of several lakes in the OT and BL area that have OVER 30" of ice on them yet. Can we realistically expect thirty inches of ice to go in thirty days. Ice that has snow on top of it. Ice that is still solid up against shorelines.

I believe we will be fishing the opener through the ice.

Posted

I think the Canadians may have come up with the answer. The bad part is the harmful effect on kittens.

Posted

I think the Canadians may have come up with the answer. The bad part is the harmful effect on kittens.

That was hilarious. grin

Posted

Ya know, I really don't want to rain on anybodys parade, but lets take an honest look at the situation. Learned today of several lakes in the OT and BL area that have OVER 30" of ice on them yet. Can we realistically expect thirty inches of ice to go in thirty days. Ice that has snow on top of it. Ice that is still solid up against shorelines.

I believe we will be fishing the opener through the ice.

Before depression sets in too heavy, keep in mind that 50-60 degree days in late April and early May have 3-4 hours/day more light for direct sun melt, higher sun angle, and (typically) higher low temps. Once the Siberian Spring abates the ice will melt FAST.

Posted

And just where in the long-range forecast do you see those 50-60 degree temperatures? Look again.

In fact, ol' Montana pal, have you checked the weather in Bozeman and Livingston this morning. Same as Fargo and Alex.

Hard water until May 12.

Posted

50 degree weather in 10 days...small lakes will be ice-free by opener, not sure about the bigger ones like ottertail. I just hope the big females have spawned and are out of the rivers so the they don't get picked off by the guys lining the banks this year. Can't imagine what the river access on ottertail is going to look like this year!

Posted

It is supposed to warm up bunch soon-- 60's by the 22nd. The ice will be off with not much time to spare. Relax.

Posted

My weather sources put 66 on April 25, but that wasn't my point. Nor did I mention how rain can help the melt. We've had ice out in Central Montana since March 1, and our local golf course are open and playable year round (I've played every month in 8 of the last 10 years). Played 3 times this week around the rain/snow storms. Just wanted to pass along a little warmth and hope from God's country, my friend. And no fair referencing Bozeman weather, 'cause if the weather sucks anywhere in Montana, it sucks in Bozeman.

Posted

Ha Ha Ha! Okay, okay....but my check this morning showed the temp at 36 in BZN. Normally at this time I'd be drifing tricos in the foam on Yellowstone or tossing some buggers for big browns.

And I still recall the late springs with sudden melt that brought the Yellowstone quite a ways up into Livingston. That's why we lived way up on a hill......I wasn't taking ANY chances.

I still say Da Opener be through the ice!!!

In MN I mean. LOL

Posted

Some of this optimism is really hope because I'll be on Leech Wednesday after opener. Left Minnesota for Montana 35 years ago, and haven't missed avoiding the zoo on opening weekend ever since!

Posted

Okay, now I'm really puzzled. You said you left Minnesota for Montana 35-years ago but you are back here to fish Leech for walleyes. With all those truly BIG walleyes right outside Helena and you come over here to fish these little doinkers?

Man, my buddies used to yard out 10-12 and larger walleyes all the time from the Canyon.

But as long as you are a happy and peaceful man it's all good.

Posted

My Dad drilled a hole on East Battle 3 days ago and the ice was still over 24 inches....

Forecast for the next 5 days has a high not over 35 degrees.

Last year ice out was March 18th... Average ice out is April 20th or so.... Ice out wont be in April this year on the lake...

Posted

Drilled lots of holes on a couple of the big area lakes this weekend and there is over 2 feet in most areas. It is getting soft though....With the low water last fall there are strange things happening though. The rivers are pulling current a LOOOONGGG way over the shallow flats. We watched a guy put his wheeler through the ice on Saturday. He was a little surprised to say the least....

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • carlsonmn
      That was a better study compared to last winter when they setup the vertical tube nets and tried to release exhausted fish from being studied and expected them to be able to swim straight down a 3' hoop net.     That lake's crappie population from this latest video was pretty deep at 40-50', and no doubt from those depths that is barotrauma for most.  That is deeper than most crappie holes but certainly how some are. However from helping give fish a good release from the 35' and less range and tracking them with live sonar most of them swim at a shallow angle back to the depths and I watch them rejoin the school and be active.  Uncut Angling's video helped counter some of the initial narrow findings.  
    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
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    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
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