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I can't get a hold of my neighbor. I assume that he's been hunting. Are the small bays frozen yet? The Pike Bay East webcam (https://www.lakevermilionresorts.com/webcams/) makes it look like the bay is frozen. I'm more interested in Black Bay specifically. Anyone know if the ice is walkable yet? I'm trying to decide if I can walk it this weekend.

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I can't speak specifically for Black Bay, but the channel leading to Black Bay was still wide open yesterday. Some of the small bays along the channel started to get a little ice in them. I'm assuming BB is still wide open though.

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I'm up here right now hunting.  Was on a bluff close to my place looking toward Black Bay, it's wide open the full length of the Partridge River.  Like Big V said, BB has to be wide open.  It's also been pretty windy the last few days, which doesn't help.  I'm pretty sure Gary is your neighbor-is John L, also one of your neighbors?  If so, the little bay in-front of the new property he purchased is iced-in about 75yds out.  Lows are forecast for single digits a couple nights this week and Thursdays low is -1. 

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Yup, Gary and John are my neighbors. Thanks for the reconnaissance. I would bet that it will ice up this week but I'll check in later this week. I appreciate the info. I'm at least glad that the bay didn't slush up with last week's snow. I would love some solid ice this season.

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Great news! Now I just need to convince my daughter that it would be a fun trip to go up and finish installing the baseboard heaters....

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It worked! She's in and we will be wheels up tomorrow night or Saturday. Walkable ice this early is pretty unusual as it usually takes until December to set enough with all of the snow cover.

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Checked the ice out of the Casino landing this morning. 4+ inches of solid, clear ice out about 100 yards from the landing!

It will not be long now before I will feel safe to walk out in a few sheltered spots!

Cliff

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The ice in Black Bay was 5-6" deep on Saturday. It was beautiful, strong ice.....perfect for my daughter and I to skate on.

I did get those new heaters in Del, but the wood fire did most of the work. It was nice to set the heaters to 50 degrees overnight and have the heaters kick on after the fire had died out. I've always liked rebuilding the fire in the middle of the night, but I like sleeping even more!

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Tonight on Pike Bay under an inch and a half of snow. Closer to 6 inches on the bare ice areas. Unreal how quick things happened this year. If this storm on Friday holds off we'll be in great shape looking at forecast.

20171113_191447.jpg

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Yes, Pike Bay is on the east end of lake Vermilion, Cliff is speaking of Everett Bay just west of Pike Bay but also on Vermilion and Black Bay too is on the NW side of the lake. 

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These are all smaller bays of course, and main lake areas are still open. In the fourteen years that I've owned my place, I have not gotten to my place on solid ice much before mid-to-late December. This year is a real treat. The layer of snow gave decent traction for walking, but my neighbor's snowmobile needed a push to get moving because the ice was so slick.

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Most of the snow has melted off the ice on Pike bay today, warmed up to 40 degrees today and it's raining right now. ;) "Ace"             

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Looks like Big Bay is still open, so I don't think I'll be ice fishing Thanksgiving Day weekend.  I'm guessing the Big Bay will freeze this Sunday or Tuesday.  Lake should be walkable by December 2 when I plan to go up.

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Thanksgiving would be nice...but first week of December still works!   Rogers on Red is already allowing wheelers and sleds...no side by sides yet.

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  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • jparrucci
      Very low, probably 2 feet lower than last year at ice out.
    • mbeyer
      what do they look like this spring?
    • SkunkedAgain
      I might have missed a guess, but here are the ones that I noted:   JerkinLips – March 27th, then April 7th Brianf. – March 28th Bobberwatcher – April…. MikeG3Boat – April 10th SkunkedAgain – early April, then April 21st   Definitely a tough year for guesses, as it seemed to be a no-brainer early ice out. Then it got cold and snowed again.
    • mbeyer
      MN DNR posted April 13 as Ice out date for Vermilion
    • Brianf.
      ^^^45 in the morning and 47 in the evening
    • CigarGuy
      👍. What was the water temp in Black Bay? Thanks....
    • Brianf.
      No, that wasn't me.  I drive a 621 Ranger. 
    • CigarGuy
      So, that was you in the camo lund? I'm bummed, I have to head back to the cities tomorrow for a few days, then back up for at least a few weeks. Got the dock in and fired up to get out chasing some crappies till opener!
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Lots of ice on the main basin, but it is definitely deteriorating.  Some anglers have been fishing the open water at the mouth of the Rainy River in front of the Lighthouse Gap.  The rest of the basin is still iced over. Pike enthusiasts caught some big pike earlier last week tip up fishing in pre-spawn areas adjacent to traditional spawning areas.  8 - 14' of water using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring has been the ticket.  Ice fishing for all practical purposes is done for the year. The focus for the basin moving forward will be pike transitioning into back bays to spawn,  This is open water fishing and an opportunity available as the pike season is open year round on Lake of the Woods. 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. With both the ice fishing and spring fishing on the Rainy River being so good, many are looking forward to the MN Fishing Opener on Saturday, May 11th.  It should be epic. On the Rainy River...  An absolutely incredible week of walleye and sturgeon fishing on the Rain Rainy River.     Walleye anglers, as a rule, caught good numbers of fish and lots of big fish.  This spring was one for the books.   To follow that up, the sturgeon season is currently underway and although every day can be different, many boats have caught 30 - 40 sturgeon in a day!  We have heard of fish measuring into the low 70 inch range.  Lots in the 60 - 70 inch range as well.   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...  Open water is continuing to expand in areas with current.  The sight of open water simply is wetting the pallet of those eager for the MN Fishing Opener on May 11th.   A few locals were on the ice this week, targeting pike.  Some big slimers were iced along with some muskies as well.  If you like fishing for predators, LOW is healthy!  
    • Brianf.
      Early bird gets the worm some say...   I have it on good authority that this very special angler caught no walleyes or muskies and that any panfish caught were released unharmed.        
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