Too early for a trip?

[MNBIGBEAR]

Thinking about planning a trip up there for the weekend of Jan 17-20. Is this too early to be able to get out on the ice with vehicles?

[MG - Fishin']

Well you never know what the weather will do, but last year we drive out at Morris Point the day after X-Mas when we came up. It was not the most comfortable ice to be driving on especially with 4 inches of water on top and you could see right through the ice no problem. Check with the resorts, but I wouldn't think it would be a problem.

[WCT]

In ice fishing as in life there are no sure things. That said, if they're not driving out on LOW by mid Jan. it will be a first! I wouldn't worry if I were you. Come on up and good luck fishing. Ol'Sneller

[Kaz]

MN Big: Well last year I was driving my Kawasaki Mule on the ice December 10. Several Resorts were pulling their houses out using Compacts that weekend and before Xmas I saw several full size units on the ice. Adrian's marks the road and Brian was driving his pickup marking the trail mid December...The next weekend was in full swing with everything on the ice. January should be no problems... Kaz

[MNBIGBEAR]

well, in that case I was thinking about Dec 27th-30th too but thought it was too early. I might have to take a second look at it

[hanson]

MNBIGBEAR-<P>It all depends on how this winter will shape up really. We've had one of the warmest Septembers on record in awhile. Does that mean the warmth will continue or does that mean its going to snap and we're going to get cold weather. I think it will be one of the extremes but I'm not sure which one.<P>Last winter was pretty early, Red Lake had 7+ inches Thanksgiving day out 2 miles onto the lake. I believe the year before I was up out of Zippel Bay on LOW around Christmas and we had 4-6 inches of ice and it had broken up badly before we got there. It was a little sketchy out there. Its pretty hard to say.<P>I would say later half of December would be a reasonable expectation but it is impossible to say.

[LOWguy]

Hey MN big; If you want a forsure on ice travel I recommend snow mobile or four wheeler. This would depend on snow or not. But if you want to get out and be mobile. Its the only way to go up here.