Ice-In

[JerkinLips]

Was up Wednesday-Friday this week.  Had 11½ inches of ice, but I still walked out to fish since travel was so easy.  The warmer weather and light snow smoothed out the rough ice a little.  About half of the ice was not covered with snow which made walking a little tricky on the bare slippery ice.  ATV's and a few SxS drove out close to Birch Island.  A very small SUV drove along the length of Ely Island.  They were probably a quarter mile away from me but the water still moved a lot in the holes when they traveled west.  When they came back to the east there was barely any water movement.  Maybe they were traveling different speeds on the two passes.  The pictures of McKinley Park were from this afternoon since I didn't fish today.  It was very warm today with a little drizzle.  This weekend is definitely not going to help the ice at all.

 

Fishing was good but the walleyes were quite small.  The biggest I caught was the pictured 24 inch.  Then my next biggest was only 15 inches.  A lot of 11-13 inchers.  Rainbows were definitely better than chubs, and the smaller minnows had better action.  I was able to trigger a lot of bites by dropping my sinker to the bottom then slowly lifting it up.  Maybe I should have bounced a jig/minnow of the bottom but I am too lazy to work hard at it.

 

If you venture out, good luck fishing and be very careful of the ice conditions.  Don't think I will be back up for 2-3 weeks.  Hopefully I can put my permanent out then.

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2023 by JerkinLips
Typo

[SkunkedAgain]

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.

[Joshua Knapp]

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.? 

[Brianf.]

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.

[Joshua Knapp]

Thanks for your efforts! 

[CigarGuy]

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

[Brianf.]

I just now measured 7 inches on the south shore of Niles Bay. 

[Esox62]

Open water in front of my place in the middle of the lake. I will be waiting a few days at least.

[SkunkedAgain]

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!

[CigarGuy]

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.

Edited December 30, 2023 by CigarGuy

[SkunkedAgain]

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.

[Tolson93]

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?

[ReidgSaarela]

Got out for a few days between Christmas and the New Year. Found 6-7 inches of ice on the east end with the top inch being soft. The just started to heal up on our last day so I’m sure it’s in much better shape now.  Overall fishing was good, slow but steady. Never had any big flurry’s but caught some nice keepers and a few big ones to go back. We were forced to fish new areas with having to walk out, we keyed in on 26-30ft. Tried much shallower the first day  and had very limited success.  Unfortunately I think that will be my only ice trip to vermilion this year for walleyes 

[Hookmaster]

Beautiful fish!!

[mbeyer]

Especially good photography.

[JerkinLips]

Beautiful fish and photographs.  Thanks for sharing.

[SkunkedAgain]

Great report.

 

I just snowmobiled through Head O Lakes to my place. The lake ice was in good shape where I was, with no concerns. I could see a few pressure ridges in the distance. However, there was only 1/4" to 1" of snow this morning. I saw my temp gauge climbing so we stopped and let the sleds cool down. When we tried to leave later, our newest sled would not move. After coming back with my ATV, I tipped the sled on its side and discovered that the hyfax had melted to the track clips in a few spots! Luckily that was an easy fix. Tonight's snow should fix the problem.

 

Be careful out there.

[Brianf.]

Measured 9" in three different holes tonight in front of our place on the South shore of Niles. 

[SkunkedAgain]

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. 

[Tolson93]

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. 

[JerkinLips]

Was up Monday to Wednesday this week.  Had 11" of ice, the same I had 3 weeks ago.  There was a nice coating of snow on the lake and I didn't hit any slush at the McKinley Park landing or the half mile trip out on the snowmobile.  Lots of snowmobiles, ATVs, and SxS running around so I pulled my small skid house out with my SxS Tuesday night.  Lots of heavier traffic was going out including a full-size pickup/plow half mile out, a SxS/plow towing a good size wheel house out toward Birch Island, and several smaller vehicles out by Birch Island.  The ice appears to be in good shape but please be careful of the ice conditions this weekend if you head out.  With the warm weather we had the last couple of weeks the ice conditions could vary a lot.  With the fresh snow Wednesday the lake is in excellent condition for snowmobiling.  The snowmobile club was out putting out their signs, but hadn't staked the lake trails yet.  I assume they will do that before this weekend.  Be prepared for the cold this weekend.  It will help to thicken the ice for the following weekend.

 

Fishing was very slow Monday, decent on Tuesday, and a little slower on Wednesday.  Over the 3 days I averaged a little over a walleye per hour.  Unfortunately the fish were all small.  My biggest was only 16 inches and most were 10-12 inches.  Didn't catch a fish before 9am and only caught one after 3pm.  The early morning and late afternoon bite we use to have on Vermilion appears to have disappeared.  Maybe the lake is more stained now.  Good luck fishing and be courteous to others.

 

 

[SkunkedAgain]

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

[BWpineisland]

Your updates are always informative and appreciated. Thanks for posting

[CigarGuy]

Probably have a little over a foot of light powdery snow. 

[SkunkedAgain]

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.

[Brianf.]

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.  

[SkunkedAgain]

What an unusual year for ice and snow.

[JerkinLips]

Was up Wednesday to Friday this week.  Ice thickness increased from 11 inches to 13 inches by my house.  The ice condition was beautiful on Wednesday but by Friday there was a layer of water under the snow from the warm weather.  Full size pickups were driving out by Birch Island so I assume the ice is good out there.  A lot of people were fishing out in the open Thursday and Friday in the warm weather (37º on the lake today).  The first picture is the McKinley Park landing as I left the lake today.

 

Fishing was fair on Wednesday, good on Thursday, then poor this afternoon.  My best fish was the pictured 26 inch caught this morning.  Caught this fish shortly after I put on the extended bobber that I found on the ice last trip up.  I like this bobber because I can easily see it above my fish house floor without using the mirror.  It came off my line when I landed this fish but floated over to the other hole shortly after.  I went a couple of hours without a bite this afternoon so I finally tried my Dad's trick and put two chubs on a single hook.  I landed a nice eater soon after which finished my day.

 

Good luck fishing, be careful of the ice conditions, and be courteous to others.

[Hookmaster]

I always enjoy your reports JerkinLips!!

[maxamillion]

Hey, 

I’m not on vermilion but on Eagles Nest between Tower and Ely. Was out today and seeing 10-11” of ice with 3” of water between it and the 3” of snow.  We only walk out from our place but it’s a chore this year.  Fishings been slow but fun. Enjoy this thread, thanks to all who keep it going.