Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Recommended Posts

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 94
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • hockeybc69

    12

  • foo

    7

  • jerkin'm

    5

  • slammer

    5

June 11th

I think you meant May 11th. grin

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

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

That was hilarious. grin

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • mulefarm
      With the early ice out, how is the curlyleaf pondweed doing?
    • 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~~
      Nice fish. I moved to the Sartell area last summer and just thought it was windy like this everyday up here? 🤭
    • Rick G
      Crazy windy again today.... This is has been the norm this spring. Between the wind and the cold fronts, fishing has been more challenging for me than most years.  Panfish have been moving in and out of the shallows quite a bit. One day they are up in the slop, the next they are out relating to cabbage or the newly sprouting lilly pads.  Today eye guy and I found them in 4-5 ft of water, hanging close to any tree branches that happened to be laying in the water.  Bigger fish were liking a 1/32 head and a Bobby Garland baby shad.   Highlight of the day way this healthy 15incher
    • monstermoose78
    • monstermoose78
      As I typed that here came a hen.  IMG_7032.mov   IMG_7032.mov
    • monstermoose78
      So far this morning nothing but non turkeys. 
    • monstermoose78
      Well yesterday I got a little excited and let a turkey get to close and I hit the blind!!
    • 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!!!
    • monstermoose78
      How is everyone doing? Holy moly it’s chilly this morning I stayed in bed and will hunt later today when it warms up.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.