Ice-In

[SkunkedAgain]

I had my first snowmobiling dream of the season last night. Therefore I'm starting the first ice-in thread. We are still a little bit away from seeing shore ice, but it won't be long and I'm already excited to get out there.

[SkunkedAgain]

It looks like ice in our bay this morning. Who’s ready to ice fish?!?

[SkunkedAgain]

Hmmm, that picture didn't show it the way it looked. It appeared that most of the bay had skim ice with open water to about 20-25ft from shore.

 

 Wrong picture, that’s why. Senior moment….

Edited October 30, 2023 by SkunkedAgain

[CigarGuy]

Here's infront of my place on the Partridge River. Had to do the dock myself today. My deer hunting crew of 3 had to put off the opener for a week because of a funeral. Didn't want to chance it. I'm too darn old to be doing this myself!

[JerkinLips]

Lake was still warm last Thursday (50F) and 12-day forecast looks quite mild.  I am predicting Vermilion will freeze over December 3 this year.

 

Edited October 31, 2023 by JerkinLips

[leech~~]

11 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

Hmmm, that picture didn't show it the way it looked. It appeared that most of the bay had skim ice with open water to about 20-25ft from shore.

 

 Wrong picture, that’s why. Senior moment….

Dang, you go down these steps in the winter?  

[SkunkedAgain]

That's picture is from the midway point down the hill. Shoveling gets the heart pumping but it's usually rewarding. Shovel down all of the stairs. Get to the dock and shovel that off so that I can drill for water. Then stand there and listen to the wind howl through the trees. Stare up at the stars. Listen to the ice expand. There are few things that I enjoy more in life.

 

However, CigarGuy probably has a steeper hill and it's straight down. I've always thought that you should build a sitting bench half-way up the hill. I'm not even retirement age yet but think that those stairs would wear me out. It's part of the reason that I built a gazebo halfway up my hill. My parents and my in-laws all stop there to catch their breath. I will too when I'm near 80!

[leech~~]

2 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

That's picture is from the midway point down the hill. Shoveling gets the heart pumping but it's usually rewarding. Shovel down all of the stairs. Get to the dock and shovel that off so that I can drill for water. Then stand there and listen to the wind howl through the trees. Stare up at the stars. Listen to the ice expand. There are few things that I enjoy more in life.

 

However, CigarGuy probably has a steeper hill and it's straight down. I've always thought that you should build a sitting bench half-way up the hill. I'm not even retirement age yet but think that those stairs would wear me out. It's part of the reason that I built a gazebo halfway up my hill. My parents and my in-laws all stop there to catch their breath. I will too when I'm near 80!

Water from the lake no well?  

[CigarGuy]

10 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

That's picture is from the midway point down the hill. Shoveling gets the heart pumping but it's usually rewarding. Shovel down all of the stairs. Get to the dock and shovel that off so that I can drill for water. Then stand there and listen to the wind howl through the trees. Stare up at the stars. Listen to the ice expand. There are few things that I enjoy more in life.

 

However, CigarGuy probably has a steeper hill and it's straight down. I've always thought that you should build a sitting bench half-way up the hill. I'm not even retirement age yet but think that those stairs would wear me out. It's part of the reason that I built a gazebo halfway up my hill. My parents and my in-laws all stop there to catch their breath. I will too when I'm near 80!

The bottom half is pretty steep, about 1/2 up, I have a landing, I just lean against the railing and rest. I could put a bench, but I don't rest too long, the mosquitoes will eat you alive. The top part is more gradual. If you're not carrying anything, it's not to bad, it is what it is! I fish with the neighbor a lot and we take the side by side down his boathouse road. I never go down my mountain in the winter. I use the same road in the winter with my sled. Your idea of rewarding is a lot different than mine

[SkunkedAgain]

No well for us. That would be quite the expense. Besides, I only need water for the sauna. I haul in drinking water. The water in Black Bay is very iron-rich with lots of tannins. It's not very drinkable and would instantly destroy filters that I used to use.

[SkunkedAgain]

16 hours ago, CigarGuy said:

...but I don't rest too long, the mosquitoes will eat you alive.

What mosquitos?? 

[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Cigar Guy - how far out is the ice? Can you see it from your place on the river?

[CigarGuy]

4 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

Hey Cigar Guy - how far out is the ice? Can you see it from your place on the river?

Wide open in front of me as far as I can see. Yesterday, there was skim ice out about 60yds, it was gone by afternoon. What's your camera show in front of your place?

[SkunkedAgain]

I appreciate the update.

 

Nothing but ice. It looked like maybe the north side of Black Bay opened up in the afternoon (hard to tell) but I decided not to chance it, especially with it getting into the low teens last night. I decided against boating through the ice for once.

 

Instead I drove up to get one of my snowmobiles and get the others ready for winter. I ended up bringing two back unfortunately. On my 2010 Arctic Cat, one of the track tension adjuster bolts seized. I twisted the bolt head off so now I have some more work to do. At least all three of my sleds started up, except the 2002 Polaris definitely wanted to run on full choke for quite a while. It was a fun 8hr drive with a 3hr fun stop for sled prep & maintenance!

Edited November 4, 2023 by SkunkedAgain

[CigarGuy]

6 hours ago, SkunkedAgain said:

I appreciate the update.

 

Nothing but ice. It looked like maybe the north side of Black Bay opened up in the afternoon (hard to tell) but I decided not to chance it, especially with it getting into the low teens last night. I decided against boating through the ice for once.

 

Instead I drove up to get one of my snowmobiles and get the others ready for winter. I ended up bringing two back unfortunately. On my 2010 Arctic Cat, one of the track tension adjuster bolts seized. I twisted the bolt head off so now I have some more work to do. At least all three of my sleds started up, except the 2002 Polaris definitely wanted to run on full choke for quite a while. It was a fun 8hr drive with a 3hr fun stop for sled prep & maintenance!

Good call on trying to make it out, it froze all the way across overnight. A guy in a John boat with a mud motor went by this morning busting ice. He made it back out late this afternoon. Long day behind the wheel for you!

[SkunkedAgain]

I might need to start a separate "Ice Out" thread:

 

[SkunkedAgain]

Looking at the forecast, you may be able to fish Thanksgiving on open water in the main lake areas but I think that the small bays will freeze quickly by Monday/Tuesday of next week.

[JerkinLips]

My October 30 forecast of December 3rd ice-in looks pretty good yet.  Won't take me long to get out ice fishing after that.

[JerkinLips]

Looks like Pike Bay is fully frozen.  I think on average Big Bay freezes over 1 week later.  Looking at the short range forecast, I think Big Bay will freeze by Tuesday morning when the temp is 5 and the wind is very light.  That would be only 5 days earlier than I predicted 4 weeks ago.  Think I will be out ice fishing by December 6th.

[jim curlee]

I came by St. Marys lake yesterday afternoon on 53, and there were a couple of guys' fishing out from that retread plant.

When I went by on Friday it was open water where they were fishing.

I want to go ice fishing too but is it worth risking drowning for a 6" bluegill.

I've gone through the ice a few times, it is very scary, especially if you're not standing on the bottom.

 

Jim 

[SkunkedAgain]

Not for 6" but maybe a 7" bluegill 

 

Let's hope for lots of cold before any snow hits.

[JerkinLips]

A lake home owner reported on Facebook that Frazer Bay froze overnight last night.  My local expert in Soudan said that Big Bay is frozen over this morning.  I am going with November 28th as the official ice-over date this year.  Somebody walked out to the big narrows in Stuntz Bay yesterday.  A little too early for me.  Think I will wait until Wednesday, December 6 to venture out from McKinley Park.  Will report on the ice status after that.  Be careful out there.

 

[SkunkedAgain]

That's great news. Now let's keep that warm weather away. Cold baby cold!

[SkunkedAgain]

On 11/28/2023 at 11:35 AM, JerkinLips said:

Think I will wait until Wednesday, December 6 to venture out from McKinley Park.  Will report on the ice status after that.  Be careful out there.

Are you still planning on walking out there tomorrow? Has the ice actually thickened yet?

[StateofHockey]

Measured 6" good clear ice today about 50 yards off the north side of Moccasin point. Walked out for a little ice fishing.
Remember ice conditions vary around the lake, depending on sun exposure and current in channels/narrows. Be cautious, safe and verify your local ice conditions. 

Directly off the Moccasin point boat landing, in the channel ice conditions looked poor. Picture is from Northside of Moccasin point I the early morning  when ice looks the best

[JerkinLips]

On 12/5/2023 at 10:51 AM, SkunkedAgain said:

Are you still planning on walking out there tomorrow? Has the ice actually thickened yet?

Walked out about half a mile on Tuesday with max safety (life jacket, ice picks, long rope to house, and chisel).  Ice was very solid and I measured 7½" today (Thursday).  The first 1/8 mile was nice dark ice that was large chunks frozen together, but quite smooth.  Then there was about 40 feet of very jagged white ice.  Had to lift the portable over the points of ice otherwise it would hang up on them.  Then the next mile of ice was rough white ice as shown in the picture with the ice scoop.  At the small island before Birch Island the ice appears to be dark (and probably smoother).  Several snowmobiles and ATVs were running out as far as Birch Island but it was easy walking for me.

 

Fishing got better each day.  Rainbow and chubs were about equal.  Couldn't catch a fish on pike suckers.  Best fish was the 27" (8#-3oz) hog shown in the picture.  Had a hard time getting her head into the hole.  Picture quality is bad because I wanted to release her quickly to avoid further stress.  Good luck out there and be careful on the ice.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 8, 2023 by JerkinLips
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[Wicheesehead37]

Any updates on ice conditions and thickness?

[Esox62]

Went out yesterday… I measured 8 inches of good ice .that being said the ice is not stable. I tried to make it out to 30 or so feet of water and was watching it heave in front of me. so I retreated to more stable ice. This may be a dangerous year. It seems like the ice is good but it is not that good. Careful and good luck out there.

[StateofHockey]

Friday morning getting light rain with temps around 30. Not the positive signs we'd like to see for safe and enjoyable ice fishing.

 

[SkunkedAgain]

Looks like spring thaw to me