Ice conditions

[jramsber]

I was hoping to take my kid out this weekend on a smaller local area lake. How does everyone feel about the ice conditions?  We would be walking for sure. 

[Rick G]

Should still be ok for this weekend....maybe. We have 13-15 inches on most of the lakes. Watch for shorelines by access points to start to pull away.

[smurfy]

walking yea fine but i'd think twice about vehicles......just my opinion. i'm pretty skeptical driving on anything less then 17 to 20 inches of ice......but that's me!!!!! especially with the current weather!!!!!!

[smurfy]

well made the trek around horseshoe earlier. there were a few people out.......on wheelers. no one is parking on the ice. only seen 3 houses on the lake.

 

and the ice is starting to turn dark!!!!!! just and FYI!!!!!!!!

[smurfy]

drove by grand pearl and carnielian today.

grand........access parking lot was full. I did see 2 vehicles out on the lake. most were smart and used other means of transport on the lake. ice didn't look as dark as horseshoe.

pearl..........no vehicles out on lake. access has full but not packed. ice looked about the same as grand.

carnelian.........saw 2 people out...........no vehicle and no ATV!!!!!!!!! ice looked about the same as thee above 2!!!!

 

Edited February 19, 2017 by smurfy

[Rick G]

Was at Carnilian a few days ago....looked like the front end of a truck went through just in front of the access.

 

 

[smurfy]

I have a BIL that lives south of there a bit. He says carnelian has lots of springs in it and wouldn't drive out there for no amount of money.

[Fishing Frenzy]

Was out on Grand today and saw a SUV drive out and he had his door of the SUV wide open ready to jump out if he would go through. Some people just aren't smart, to lazy to walk out.

 

[smurfy]

WOWZER!!

[Rick G]

1 hour ago, Fishing Frenzy said:

Was out on Grand today and saw a SUV drive out and he had his door of the SUV wide open ready to jump out if he would go through. Some people just aren't smart, to lazy to walk out.

 

 crazy.... 

[Fishing Frenzy]

Anybody been out? Wondering how some of the lakes are with the rain yesterday.

[smurfy]

Wasn't out but just drove by Locke lake by hasty on 94. There were about 8 people out on the lake. All walked out. Not even ATV's. Best I can give ya.

[Bass Thumb]

I was on an Annandale area lake yesterday with only about 9" of ice which was getting rotten and black in places. The lake had 15" of clear ice and I was driving a Silverado on it a week earlier. There were quite a few areas where water had drained though cracks and opened up fist-sized holes within the crack.

 

All in all, the lake was perfectly safe for walking and more than likely not rotten or thin enough to make it unsafe for ATVs at this point. The landing was is pretty good shape, all things considered, but if one were to put an ATV in the drink, that'd be where it'd happen. 

[Stick in Mud]

The lakes on the road into SJU are looking pretty rough.  The shores are starting to pull away, though I'm sure someone could get on with a little ingenuity.  Ice looked dark but I bet it's still walkable...I didn't venture out there, though, so I can't say for sure.

[Fishing Frenzy]

Good Reports thanks for the information!

 

[Fishing Frenzy]

A buddy of mine was out fishing last night and some guy drilled a big spear hole in the ice and never marked it or out the ice back in the hole. My buddy told me the ice block wasn't even by the spear hole he almost fell in! Reminder to always mark your spear hole and keep a careful eye out to make sure you don't step in one!

[Stick in Mud]

Yep, I assume people won't walk into the open water.  

 

I just drove by today, and the shoreline on the south end is well away from the shore; on the north end, it looks accessible still.  Ice is pretty dark, though, so I'm guessing it's pretty soft on top. 

[matt320]

Any of the lakes in the area still have walkable ice? Got some new toys that were on sale and really want to try them out.

[Bass Thumb]

I was out yesterday and broke through multiple times into ankle deep water as I was trying to step from shore to the ice sheet. Once on the lake, it was about as honeycombed as I've ever seen a lake get. Not easy to walk on, even with chains on the boots. 

 

Ice was 8" thick, very soft, and a mix of chalky white and sickly gray. It seemed to take about 8 spins of the auger to get through. 

[Borch]

2 hours ago, matt320 said:

Any of the lakes in the area still have walkable ice? Got some new toys that were on sale and really want to try them out.

Go north or west. 

[matt320]

Was thinking about trying my luck at some perch on Mille lacs. Got a new ion 8" and a humminbird 688ci HD flasher.