Ice Fishing Minnesota Ice Formation Reports - Statewide

[Rick]

If  you want to go ice fishing or  you check the lake and pond ice out...It would be great if  you let us know your area of the state..and how the ice is looking.

Thanks for helping.

 

The ice that was forming here in Southern MN is no. where to be found today

 

[MN BassFisher]

This 43 and Sunny day in the Cities didn't help the ice making process. Might be heading north this weekend to try and scout some ice.

[monstermoose78]

I heard of 1.5 inches around Princeton on some lakes and that was the thickest ice. 

[otis]

I know of at least one crazy person in Brainerd who has already punched a hole in some shallow water in search of fish.  I noticed 371 Bay of N. Long was mostly frozen over, as was Nisswa today.  Any other reports of smaller lakes skimmed over?

[MN BassFisher]

Someone got out in Ely/Tower area yesterday on what he called 3" of ice.

[bluewater2]

Looking at Lake Kabetogama web cam and its still open.

 

[redneckdan]

Been out several times this week on smaller range ponds. Finding 3-4" measured accurately. Mostly tipups and then sit in the truck on shore.

[Davon]

Let me know when anything close to forest lake freezes 

Let me know When anything close to Forest lake  mn freezes up so I can check it 

[Sculpin]

Saw a couple guys with small portys out on Shakopee, (Onamia) yesterday, there was only 2 plus inches, but nice clear ice over the entire lake...Couple more days before I would trust it.

[monstermoose78]

Some lakes were so close to hitting that 4 inch mark and now snow. BOO!! If we get 5-10 inches they are talking about it will shut down my early ice lakes. Only good thing is that the bigger lakes that just skimmed over or still had open water will just sink the ice it should melt. I hope. 

[mrklean]

With the snow coming I am glad most of the metro lakes have nothing to just skim on them

[LeeY]

I went hunting close to elbow lake, mn last weekend  and was suprise the ice up there are at least 2-3 inch during that time. It will not break as much as we want it to. But it's a shallow lake so that could be a cause.

Edited November 30, 2015 by LeeY
shallow lake

[clayton08]

I made it out this weekend in western mn. Seen about 25 other fisherman on the way to the lake we were fishing. But only 6 on the lake I was on all people we knew.  Ice was anywhere from 3-4.5 on the lake we were on. The bite was ok lots of small walleyes my first fish was a 14.5'' crappie that was released (a great fish to start the year on)! Got a couple more then took an lunch break came back out with my brother his first fish was a 10.5'' super tanker gill. I had life vest on with a throwable and a life vest around my rod bag (if that thing sinks thats about $2,000 easily), brother had a striker suit. Safety is key this time of the year and respect the ice is always my main priority. Good luck and stay safe but pretty sure the snow is really gonna mess up the lakes that were fishable guess we will find out. Heres a couple pics.

[Rancid Crabtree]

Any word on the metro lakes?

I am hoping the weather has been warm enough to not allow any of the snow to build up on the water. 

[papadarv]

Snow on Coon lake and other lakes just north of the metro turned to slush today so the 3-4 in. layer of ice may most likely be sinking. Expected 37-40 deg. daytime high will further reduce the snow to water. Hopefully next week the temps will again drop and re-freeze everything getting us out for a not quite an early fishing start. Looking ahead on Accuweather, 10 days out night temps in teens and lower. Maybe the cooler air will arrive a few days earlier.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Any lakes that had ice on them in the Tower area are now coated with slush! Good thing in a way as that will refreeze into ice anyway.

Cliff

[monstermoose78]

I checked a local lake that had anglers on it before the snow. Please stay off the ice!! The melting snow has made holes larger and cracks now have small holes in them. Think about the people who would miss you and the people who have to risk their lives to try and save you or recover your body. It is not worth it. 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Very true!

It is tough waiting for safe ice but even tougher if you are dead!

Cliff

[MN BassFisher]

I heard murmerings of a cold-ish snap coming this weekend. The 10 day forecast shows daytime temps just below freezing next week.

[slammer]

Smaller ponds and sloughs froze over but got some snow on them.   Bigger lakes are still open.

[sunniewally]

yesterday on a annadale  area lake the water temp was 38

[JKelso]

Out here at rice lake in Brainerd, there are 5 guys out there right now on 4 inches of ice. Thinking about possibly giving it a shot, just don't know how big my man parts are to do it yet haha.

[LP]

Going out "checking" today thinking of taking the 12' car topper I use for duck hunting along. Last I checked there was open water on most of the lakes in the Mankato area. Watching the news last night they showed a guy watersking on Roberds Lake by Faribault yesterday.  Hmm doesn't sound good. I'll post results. 

BTW when was the last time you were bothered by a waterskier in December? 

Edited December 12, 2015 by LP
added to post

[mrklean]

My goal of going out before the New Year is looking slim to none judging by the forecast couple cold days followed by lots of high 20s and low 30s yuck

[LP]

Well I left the boat at home due to trailer issues. As it was I should probably have stayed home and fixed the trailer lights. All of the lakes I checked were open and with the rain today we'll get set back a while. The good news is that it is supposed to get cold next week with highs in the 20's and low 30's. So maybe we'll have some ice in a week, and possibly get out for Christmas.

[bootstrap]

 Dec 15th and no ice in southern Mn may have to flip husky jerks 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

I checked a couple of shallow water areas on Vermilion this morning that I thought may be safe to fish.

Found a couple of fishermen on the second spot! They had around 4 inches of decent ice there!

One party had zero fish but the second party had one nice keeper walleye and had released a couple that were in the slot. Nice!

Hope to get out in a day or two. 20 degrees here this morning and all day. Hope that this weather hangs in there a couple more days as is predicted.

Cliff

[Mike Stark]

Hopefully we can dodge some of the snow in the forecast for tomorrow.  If we don't get too much snow we should finally make some good ice in the Ely area.  The bigger lakes should be fine regardless of the snow since there is no ice on them right now anyway!  Which is encouraging for lake trout opener.  

[Mike Stark]

Got about 3" of wet snow in the Ely area so far.  

[Mike Stark]

Went and checked ice off the Sandy Point landing on Shagawa.  Found about 3" of fresh heavy snow and about 3-4" of ice.  There was what looked like an open lead off of Sandy Point. Could just be slushed out.  It looked to be going pretty far across the lake.  They are calling for another round of snow at some point today/tonight.  Be safe out there.