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

Posted

WIth the opener in May just 5 weeks away, about 3' of ice on the local lakes, about a foot of new white snow on top, no reported open lakes yet shown on the DNR ice out map, and the forecast showing below freezing temps for the rest of this week it is looking pretty likely that we could still have a lot of ice on the lakes for the opener even around here. I usually go to Vermilion for the opener but I highly doubt that will work this year. Maybe this is the year we break the old record since May 14, 1950?

Posted

If I recall correctly, next week will be in the 50's with thunderstorms.  This type of weather will knock a lot of ice off the lakes.  The sun angle is higher in the sky and that too will work fast.

Posted

It’s possible but not really likely. Yes we will be making ice this week but next week with temps in the 50s it doesn’t take long then. Even if we did still have ice around it probably wouldn’t even be safe to fish. Its like that time like in the fall when there’s to much ice to get the boat though but not enough to “safely” ice fish. Lake Superior is ice free so I’m not even remotely worried if there’s to much ice the salmon bite will be banging around opener so no big deal to me.

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

I remember 3 years ago when we were dodging icebergs in Big Bay on the opener Saturday! We could only get out as far as Birch Island from Pike Bay area!

I saw a boat with 3 or 4 guys in it pulled up to the main ice flow and the guys sitting on the ice in lawn chairs!:lol:

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

Hey cliff do you think vermilion will be fishable on opener this year in the boat?

Posted

I think there will at least be some open water to fish!

Sure hope so anyway! I am going stir crazy!!

Cliff

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

I don't think 50 degree temps will melt the snow cover and then the ice very fast unless it is accompanied by bright sun. 

Posted

There's a good chance that the entire northern half of the state will still have ice on May 12.

Posted

2013 was a late spring with ice lingering late.  I wonder how this year compares with that year as far as temps and ice thickness across the state?

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

By the looks of the forcast this year might be worse. time will tell.

 

Posted

I went back on the Ottertail forum and looked at '13 conditions.  You might be right eyeguy.  Looks like the ice went fairly quick on OT once it warmed up.

Posted

It's been a lot of years since I recall ice this thick around here. 

Posted

It really depends on how many "sunny" days we have; if we'll be dodging ice bergs on opener or not. Even after a record low of 2 above last night, by 10 am this morning, that sun's energy feels great out here right now..... :D

Posted

Let's all hope I'm wrong!  :D

Got a new bow mount to put to the test.

Posted

I doubt the low temps we are having right now are adding any new ice.  All its doing is refreezing snow that melts in the sun.  Even now with temps in the 20's and 30's snow is melting with the power of the sun.

Extended forecasts shows 50's and even some 60's for the metro area.  Add in some rain and as much sun as we can get and I'm sure everyone will be able to find a place to put a boat in.  There may be some ice on some northern MN lakes that limit options to some extent but if you look I'm sure you'll have some open water to tool around.  

 

  • Official Fishing Report Team - MN
Posted

Well you definitely will be ice fishing  on some lakes that's for sure! Was on Osakis today drove my full size pickup out. Ice was still rock hard 36-38 inches. Its as good as it was in mid January for sure. Going to be interesting on a lot of lakes unless we get some warm temps and for sure some rain. 

Posted

trucks and ice castles out there today, several of them too!!!

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators
Posted

Well I checked the St Cloud forecast.  2 60 degree highs on 4/28 & 4/30.  A total of 6 days where the nights stay about freezing.   I hope I'm wrong but this looks worse than 2013 where many of our lakes in central mn were still locked up opening weekend.  

 

Positive thing is long term forecast are rarely correct.  I'm hoping that it's not actually colder.  :angry:

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

3 wheel houses came out on osakis today

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

I am loving it

  • Confused 1
Posted

Looks like I will be hitting the river

And you be quiet with the loving it talk Moose

Posted
12 hours ago, eyeguy 54 said:

3 wheel houses came out on osakis today

or more!!!  I was looking at them too...

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

couple from april 1 last year in the kayak. yak is in the backyard buried in snow right now. LOL 

41b.jpg

April 1 2017.jpg

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Glad you got the new drill! We got weeks of ice fishing yet

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

Indeed:)

Posted
On 4/7/2018 at 5:51 PM, monstermoose78 said:

Glad you got the new drill! We got weeks of ice fishing yet

Moose, your positively about our extended ice season both :grin: and :sick:!!

 

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted
8 minutes ago, ANYFISH2 said:

Moose, your positively about our extended ice season is both :grin: and :sick:!!

 

It’s grand to be ice fishing on 30 inches of ice on April 8

  • Thumbs Up 1
Posted

It sure is fun ice fishing on april 8th, I would prefer, fishing thru 20" of ice in 50° temps!!

Enjoy, we may be able to ice fish in May at this pace.  

Interesting spring for sure.

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders
Posted

indeed, gonna be a fun week!

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 :)

    • carlsonmn
      That was a better study compared to last winter when they setup the vertical tube nets and tried to release exhausted fish from being studied and expected them to be able to swim straight down a 3' hoop net.     That lake's crappie population from this latest video was pretty deep at 40-50', and no doubt from those depths that is barotrauma for most.  That is deeper than most crappie holes but certainly how some are. However from helping give fish a good release from the 35' and less range and tracking them with live sonar most of them swim at a shallow angle back to the depths and I watch them rejoin the school and be active.  Uncut Angling's video helped counter some of the initial narrow findings.  
    • SkunkedAgain
      If you fished with me more often, you'd never have to make this statement...   38" of ice - love it. I'm really going to have to dig around for my auger extension. I don't think that I've needed it in over a decade.   Too bad nobody has a locomotive chugging across the ice to do some logging, like the good old days.
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the South Shore...  Ice fishing remains strong across the south shore of Lake of the Woods out on Big Traverse Bay.  Resorts and outfitters on some parts of the lake have ice roads extending over 16 miles staying on nice schools of walleyes and saugers.  Many fish houses are over deep mud.  Some are on structure.  It is always fishing of course, but overall, February has been very productive for most anglers.   Extensions are being used on ice augers as the ice continues to thicken.  The thick ice this year will be good for the extended ice fishing season Lake of the Woods enjoys with fish houses out through March 31st, walleyes and saugers open through April 14th and a pike season that never closes. Most fishing activity is taking place in 26-32 feet of water.  Anglers are finding a healthy mix of walleyes and saugers, with a good number of jumbo perch in the mix this year.  Some big eelpout are also showing up.  Anglers are reporting plenty of fish for fresh fish frys and usually extra fish to bring home.   The one-two punch of a jigging line and deadstick is the way to go.  On the jigging line, jigging spoons with rattles tipped with a minnow head have been consistent.  Lipless crankbaits and jigging rap style lures also doing well.     Lures with a light have been working well in the stained water.  Please remember, in MN, lures with a light or water activated light can be used as long as the battery is mercury free and the hook is attached directly to the lure and not as a dropper line.     On the deadstick, a plain hook or a small jig with a live minnow 6 inches to a foot off of the bottom.    Some days, mornings are better, other days, it's the afternoons.  There is no distinct pattern, they could come through at any time. On the Rainy River...  The start of the day and end of the day have been best for those targeting walleyes on the river. A jig and minnow or a jigging spoon tipped with a minnow head is also producing some fish. Some big sturgeon being iced by ice anglers targeting them.  It is a catch-and-release sturgeon season currently.   Although ice conditions on the river are good, they can vary significantly due to the current, so anglers should always consult local resorts or outfitters for the most up-to-date safety information and fishing advice. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing has been strong in the islands area of Lake of the Woods. Resorts continue to move their fish houses around, staying on the best schools of walleyes.     Anglers are catching a nice mix of walleyes, saugers, and jumbo perch with an occasional pike or tullibee as well.     Big crappies are still being caught just over the border.  Fish houses are available, check with a NW Angle resort for info on crappie fishing.   Lake of the Woods enjoys an extended ice fishing season with fish houses on the ice through March 31st and walleye and sauger seasons open through April 14th. Perch, crappie, and pike seasons remain open year-round.    
    • leech~~
      Maybe you should put rattle wheels down, if your going to sleep for 6hrs! 🤭 😆
    • JerkinLips
      Monday was my worst day of winter fishing on Vermilion in the last 4 years.  Caught only one 14" walleye in nearly 8 hours of fishing.  Missed two other bites and was marking very few fish.  Maybe the fish were taking Monday off after a big weekend.   No more water came up on the ice under my house.  Think it was because I haven't banked snow around it for a couple of weeks so the bare ice around the house is getting very thick.  I measured 38" of ice under my house and the Ion barely made it through even with the extension installed.  Needless to say I banked around the house this time.  Another lesson I learned today is don't drill holes if ice is frozen on your blades.  I did that on one hole and it didn't center properly and drilled at an angle on the edge of the opening.  Hope I can correct the location and angle on my next trip up.   Not much change in the surface lake surface conditions.  The drifts may be a little higher and are definitely harder.  There are still a few bare ice spots on the lake.  Very little activity on the lake today.  There are about 3 dozen houses from McKinley Park out to Birch Island.  Another person pulled there house off today, and I am sure many more will pull theirs off this coming weekend.  Only 13 days left of walleye season.    
    • leech~~
      A good start for never picking up a bow!   IMG_1910.mp4
    • leech~~
      Um, #metoo   leech~~ Author 'we have more fun' FishingMN Builders Posted January 26 My whole goal for the rest of this season.  Is to watch KC lose and Taylor cry!  🥳
    • smurfy
    • Wanderer
      Smurfy is happy.
    • Dash 1
      Great looking food. So far not much of a game and I thought the halftime show was worse I've seen. 
×
×
  • 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.