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Thanks. I'm definitely interested to see how all of the rain has affected the ice conditons.

 

Luckily it looks like the cold is returning later this week for a while. Hopefully the ice will firm up and allow for safer lake travel.

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Is anyone up by the lake that can drill a hole quick and report back on the ice thickness? I have family coming up and would like to get them on the ice if possible.? 

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I was on my way out to measure for you, but two steps onto the ice I went thru up to my knees and didn't complete the mission.  Definitely some thin ice around the edges.

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Join the Facebook lake vermilion friends and family or I think it's called lake vermilion ice fishing web page. Some current reports there.

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All of this just means that the ice is sadly still not safe. The ice fishing page that CigarGuy referenced says that they are seeing 8+ inches of ice. This morning he posted a video of a pressure ridge at Fectos that goes all the way across where it is open water.

 

So it sounds like the ice is safe in some areas and thin enough in others where someone like Brianf can fall through just with his own body weight.

 

I hope that we get -30 degrees for a week!

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A snowmobile pulling a portable just went by my place on the Partridge River going towards Black Bay. By the time I saw him, don't know if was solo or with someone. Hopefully, somebody else is with him in case something goes wrong. A few people out fishing in Ritchie Bay. Just saw the snowmobile head back, he was with another sled.

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Thanks CigarGuy. That's good news.

 

I'd be interested to know if anyone has ever caught anything through the ice in Black Bay. I never had any luck back in the day when I tried.

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The McKinley area has a good ice sheet out to birch island. Was up almost all weekend. 7.5” of ice. Nothing looked sketchy either. Took the wheeler out. 
 

thinking of trying Frazier bay off the public access. Anyone been out there recently?

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Beautiful fish and photographs.  Thanks for sharing.

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Ice was a solid 10” when I augured on Friday afternoon. Some shore areas had little spots of open water but the ice was strong immediately adjacent. 
 

Saturday’s snow added enough weight to push water up through those open areas. Slush was much more apparent this morning but not bad anywhere. The upcoming cold blast should help tremendously. 

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Had 9” in different areas around frazer bay .. west side , to around gold island and down to thirty six island. From what I could tell it looks to be a good ice sheet. Didn’t have any problem areas we found.. granted the snow could’ve covered up some stuff. 

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Great update. Thank you. Too bad the walleye didn't cooperate.

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That sounds like a little over a foot of fun for snowmobiles, a little over a foot of pain to shovel, and a little over a foot of weight on the ice. I hope that she holds without giving up the slush!

 

Beautiful picture.

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Measured 11" of ice this morning, with between 4" - 8" of wet snow on top.  A few slush pockets here and there, but not bad.  

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