Ice and the Warm Weather

[Hellafishin]

How are folks dealing with this warm weather spell? Are you still fishing even though the temps are well above freezing? At what point is ice deemed unsafe?

[monstermoose78]

When you feel unsafe it is unsafe! We are melting snow yet so no worries from me!

Also thanks for posting and welcome to Fishing Minnesota 

[ZachD]

I feel we don't have to worry its been warm but I wouldn't think we are losing much ice at all

We don't have the long intense sun yet like we have in the spring in my eyes that is what kills the ice quick

 

I may rethink driving on some of the lakes depending on how much ice they had before the warm up

But as far as sleds atvs walking every lake I have been on this year I wouldn't hesitate on going on one bit.

[Luttes]

yea, 13"+ on the lake i was on last night.  Not a second thought if it will be unsafe by the end of this warm week.  But, as always, use common sense, safe for me walking and pulling a sled is different than someone with their f250 and an 18' castle. 

[SaintPaulPaul]

Even in the metro the little bit of snow pack is insulating the ice pretty well so far. I've been out 3 days in a row and haven't noticed any significant melting. The forecasted rain for the next few days will probably change things a little.

[icepike 1]

Was out on Minnetonka Sunday Monday Tuesday and again yesterday The Landings are looking a little wet but the ice is still good. spooky seen all that black ice out there but drilled on top of the black ice and was still seeing 17 18 inches a very good ice. When you start seeing the ice honeycombing up is when I start to worry and start watching the ice very closely. 

[ZachD]

12 hours ago, icepike 1 said:

Was out on Minnetonka Sunday Monday Tuesday and again yesterday The Landings are looking a little wet but the ice is still good. spooky seen all that black ice out there but drilled on top of the black ice and was still seeing 17 18 inches a very good ice. When you start seeing the ice honeycombing up is when I start to worry and start watching the ice very closely. 

Ya I was going to say the landings are going to take a beating with the run off especially the steep ones

[BobT]

On 1/20/2017 at 0:19 AM, Hellafishin said:

How are folks dealing with this warm weather spell? Are you still fishing even though the temps are well above freezing? At what point is ice deemed unsafe?

Ice is never truly safe. We should always tread with a certain level of caution. 

 

Until the snow melts off the surface to allow the sun's heat to penetrate, the ice won't change a lot although I suppose it can begin to get a little softer or more mushy if you will.

 

But, to my opening statement I'll share a couple examples.

 

Back in 2003 I had an experiene I'll never forget. it was late December and as I was driving to a local lake I was wondering if the ice had become thick enough to chance driving on the lake. When I arrive at the lake access I saw that there had been some traffic on the ice and could see large permanent houses out on the lake. I decided to drive out but after I got out a short distance I decided to check to see how thick it was. I fired up my ice auger, drilled a hole, and measured about 14" of ice. Should be okay so I proceeded to continue to my destination about another 50 yards or so out. When I fired up my auger again I nearly fell on my face when it went through within just a couple turns of the shaft. There was only about 5" of ice! I put my auger back into my truck and with the door open I slowly backed off the lake and went home to change my shorts.

 

Back in the late 90's I had organized a run up to the LOW for some mid-February walleye fishing through the Cyrus Resort out of Buadette. That year, as in most years, there was about 3 feet of ice over most of the lake. About two weeks prior to our trip I had heard about one of the neighboring resort's transport vehicle going down in 35' of water somewhere. I called the resort to check on the ice conditions and was assured there was plenty of ice. I asked about what happened and was told how the ice had shifted, splitting open about a 6' wide crack, refroze with a thin layer and then got covered with a little fresh snow which hid the fissure. The driver of the transport vehicle was unaware of the thin ice and drove right down. Only the driver managed to escape and his two passengers drowned. 

 

 

8 hours ago, ZachD said:

Ya I was going to say the landings are going to take a beating with the run off especially the steep ones

Not to mention the road salt and sand that is dropped on the ice as well.

Edited January 21, 2017 by BobT