2022 Ice Out

[TrueNorth]

Just saw a video from Lake of the Woods.  30" of ice still as of today.  

 

https://fb.watch/cEcpvdvOw5/

[JerkinLips]

14 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

Has anyone besides me started fantasizing about ice fishing the opener on Vermilion?

Fantasizing about it?  I'm planning on it to validate that you can fish with two lines "through the ice".  Will be up May 1-2 and evaluate the possibility.

[Iron Ore Dog]

16 hours ago, JerkinLips said:

Fantasizing about it?  I'm planning on it to validate that you can fish with two lines "through the ice".  Will be up May 1-2 and evaluate the possibility.

Here's the regulation (there is no distinction in the law as to time of year.):
 

97C.315 ANGLING LINES AND HOOKS.

Subdivision 1.Lines.

An angler may not use more than one line except:

(1) two lines may be used to take fish through the ice

[SkunkedAgain]

It's going to be some kind of party on the ice.

[gim]

If I was planning to fish a lake in the northern 1/3 of the state on opener, I'd definitely have a plan B ready.

[TrueNorth]

Water Level question…was the winter harsh enough to bring up the water levels in northern MN?  

[delcecchi]

Looking at "vermilion cabin owners" on FB, there are some pictures that show it has come up some.    

[Skibo]

We're on the south side of Birch Point and the water is up 12"+, as of Thursday morning when we left there.  With Rootbeer Falls running wide open it is undoubtedly going to rise at least that much more on the east end before all the water pushes north through Oak Narrows.  The higher water has resulted in the ice sheet breaking loose and floating with 3'-6' of open water between the shore and the ice.  With 20"+ of ice most everywhere, it could be a very expensive ice-out if the wind starts moving the entire ice sheet around!  Lots of crib-docks already suffering damage from the low water ice lifting the cribs as the water rises.

[SkunkedAgain]

It's great to see the water levels coming up. 

 

How is Pike Bay doing so far? I don't remember who it was (Cliff?) who said that the main lake was usually two weeks behind Pike Bay in terms of ice-out.

[CigarGuy]

Are you a member of "Lake Vermilion Cabin Owner's Facebook page"? They have some updates posted!

[SkunkedAgain]

Yeah - I just don't think about going on FB very often. I'll go check it out.

 

..........10 minutes passes.........

 

I went out there and came away just as confused. I see Everetts Bay is still locked up, which leads me to believe that Pike Bay is too. But then somebody posted that Oak Narrows is almost open and therefore the rest of the lake is only a week away. That sounds ludicrous to me.

 

If anyone has a Pike Bay report, that would be good.

 

Black Bay is still completely iced over with no signs of black ice.

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by SkunkedAgain

[ReefWhooligan]

35 minutes ago, SkunkedAgain said:

If anyone has a Pike Bay report, that would be good.

Took this yesterday

[JerkinLips]

On 5/1/2022 at 11:51 AM, Skibo said:

The higher water has resulted in the ice sheet breaking loose and floating with 3'-6' of open water between the shore and the ice.  With 20"+ of ice most everywhere, it could be a very expensive ice-out if the wind starts moving the entire ice sheet around!  Lots of crib-docks already suffering damage from the low water ice lifting the cribs as the water rises.

That's what I was afraid of.  The ice pushed my Stuntz Bay boathouse off the cribbings in 2014 and this year looks like it could be worse.  The water was a foot below the deck in my boathouse when the lake froze last fall, and now the deck is 10" below the water level.  Couldn't even cross-brace the deck because the water was so deep.  Had 6" of water in the boat yesterday because I had pulled the plug with it sitting on the deck before freezeover.  May be the end of my boathouse.

 

13 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

somebody posted that Oak Narrows is almost open and therefore the rest of the lake is only a week away. That sounds ludicrous to me.

I agree.  Oak Narrows opens many weeks before the rest of the lake.  Previous years I have snowmobiled from end to end and recall Oak narrows being wide open at lest 4 weeks before the lake is ice free.

 

Pictures of McKinley Park May 1 and Stuntz Bay May 2.

[SkunkedAgain]

Yup, looks like an icy opener!

 

Sorry to hear about your boathouse. 11" of water already

[Fish Head]

The forecast looks great. I think we'll be able to fish open water on the opener.

[TrueNorth]

5 hours ago, Fish Head said:

The forecast looks great. I think we'll be able to fish open water on the opener.

100%. it'll go out next week. 

 

[delcecchi]

No expert, but seems as if some of those narrows areas are driven by current as much as temperature for ice out.  Doesn't oak narrows have a history of thin ice even in dead of winter due to current?

[JerkinLips]

8 hours ago, delcecchi said:

No expert, but seems as if some of those narrows areas are driven by current as much as temperature for ice out.  Doesn't oak narrows have a history of thin ice even in dead of winter due to current?

Yes, Oak Narrows always has questionable ice due to currents between the two basins.  Other narrows I know of that freeze late/open early are the west side of Pine Island, east side of Pine Island, and little narrows in Stuntz Bay.

[EyeWannabee]

https://www.facebook.com/lakevermilionhouseboats/videos/3036882649957435/

 

From this video Pike Bay should be open soon

[StateofHockey]

View from end of Moccasin pt north toward Bystrom bay.  Ice loose from shore Saturday's sunshine and wind accelerated progress toward ice out. Given the forecasted rain Sunday and high temps next week I believe Vermilion will be open before the Opener!

[StateofHockey]

Here's something to get excited about, walleyes in the shallows. Even they prefer open water!

[SkunkedAgain]

Black Bay opened up last night. I didn't think that the lake would open this quick, but with the forecast what it is, my bet is that the lake will be navigable by opener.

[SkunkedAgain]

Looking at the three webcams that I know if in Head O Lakes bay, the ice is moving today. It's tough to see any ice that is still locked in place, as the wind is pushing it around. If it is not out today, I would think that the west end will be completely navigable tomorrow.

 

I was looking forward to ice fishing the opener, but am relieved that now I can get my boat out.

[gim]

On 5/8/2022 at 12:29 PM, StateofHockey said:

Here's something to get excited about, walleyes in the shallows.

What's that floating in the photo, a nice big piece of discarded plastic?  Lovely.

[Better Than Working!]

Looks like a chunk of ice to me. 

[CigarGuy]

9 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

Looking at the three webcams that I know if in Head O Lakes bay, the ice is moving today. It's tough to see any ice that is still locked in place, as the wind is pushing it around. If it is not out today, I would think that the west end will be completely navigable tomorrow.

 

I was looking forward to ice fishing the opener, but am relieved that now I can get my boat out.

You'll have smooth sailing from The Landing to your place. Launching won't be a problem either, no wet feet this year. The Landings docks are underwater, Spring Bays docks are a twisted mess, they're working on them today. It's unbelievable that the lake level is this high after last year. I'm going to try putting my dock down tomorrow, but I'm worried it's going to be under water....crazy. The forecast is for it to continue to rise!!

[SkunkedAgain]

A smooth sail would be nice! I'll see you all out there this weekend.

[TomWehler]

My lil island is so purrrdy!

mainland neighbor sent us this shot.

Bit smaller as water rises.

North end iron crib dock under water. No help!

26 years I always leave a orange highway cone on end dock pole so snowmachine n early boaters don’t splatter the lil brains they own.

Remove everything else.

Zoom pic for a better view!

Years of High n low springs show ya where to stash yer in water stuff on shore in fall to bare this type water invasion.

For sure every year different!

live my Huge Pines n Birch n all the rest.

No hit her till water drops some as not to great an idea to tie up much on those BIG beautiful ROCKS!

Be safe n enjoy it all.

 

Big Smiles n Keep on Rocken!

T

 

 

[partyonpine]

Any update today?  Is big bay officially open?

[PSU]

Hearing a bunch of docks under water and many damaged from the ice. I am curious what others on this board are seeing as you arrive at the cabin