Ice Conditions - Post here

[Rick]

Keep us posted right here on the Brainerd ice conditions.

[walleyedan]

Some small lakes and bays are frozen, but the main bodies are still open. North Long's 371 bay was frozen this morning but there were some open spots scatttered throughout. I haven't seen anyone on the lakes yet!!

Walleyedan

[Sportland_Bait]

Wow I'm stuffed 3 turkeys in 4 days. Time for a diet. Hopefully the ice conditions should improve this week. There is a little ice in the area but it is limited. North Long and Round have both had some ice cover but they also have patches of open water along with the skim of ice. Nobody has been fishing any of the lakes that I am aware of. We'll keep you posted on all the changing conditions.

Jason Erlandson

[JP Z]

After 3 turkeys you better be waiting to get out on that ice Jason

From what I've heard. A few of the smaller lakes up by Tromald are ice over with a few inches. Enough to walk on, although I wouldn't do it.

[walleyedan]

The forecast doesn't look good. Hopefully by the middle of next week we will get a blast, but for now maybe it's time to start thinking about open water fishing. The 371 bay of North Long will be fishable by the weeekend I would guess, but most everything else is open (except for the edges).

Walleyedan

[smartguy]

Just got back from checking 3 smaller lakes in the Merrifield area. All had about 2.5-3" of ice - still not quite enough for me, especially when the top layer is melted snow. One night below 10 degrees, things should improve, though the forecast doesn't look encouraging. Mother nature is teasing us!

[Paul S]

I saw 2 permanant houses out on a small lake west of Brainerd yesterday and there was 2 permanant house on 2 small lakes between Deerwood and Aitkin today.

[Sportland_Bait]

Nisswa area update!!!

-some small lakes will be fishable by this weekend, please use caution

-we have 2-3 inches on many smaller lakes and bays, North Long, Mission, Nisswa, lakes on the Gull chain.

-The bigger waters are wide open

-See a few of you guys this weekend

-Good luck!

Jason Erlandson

[AWH]

Unlike most of you, I'm liking this warmer weather. I'm just heading out to the garage to hook up the boat and spend the day on the open water. Nothing like a December day in the boat when others are thinking ice fishing!

[Sportland_Bait]

Ice Update!

Round Lake iced over last night. Gull is still wide open.

The forcast after the weekend looks very good for making ice. We should be going strong by next weekend. This weekend I would still be very careful.

Jason Erlandson

[smartguy]

Just got in from ice fishing the bay on Lake Edward. Didn't manage to get any deeper than 12 feet due to the safety of the ice, but the spot I fished a had three inches of solid, clear ice. If I can venture another 25 feet, I'll be at 20 feet in depth, which I'd prefer, as the water is very clear right now. Perhaps I'll do that this evening.

No fish as of yet.

[smartguy]

It's a No Go: tried to venture out deeper on Edward, but didn't trust the ice. Will have to wait several days, dangnabbit.

[LoveToFish]

Thanks for the updates. I am heading to LOW on the 16th and hoping to get out this coming weekend so I will be reminded of all the things I should bring to the big puddle.

[Northern Stearns]

I went searching for some safe ice and found it on Bay Lake. The main body is mostly open but Hansons bay did have 4 good inches. However, I did not catch or even mark one fish, which shouldn't really surprise me because I always do poorly on that lake. I also read on another forum that Upper Dean had good ice, which I comfirmed. No crappies, but half a limit of so so sunnies. It could have been worse though, I could have taken a cold bath.

[pathogen]

My brother and I checked out several smaller lakes (I don't care to test ice on lakes with whitecaps!)on Saturday in the Crosslake area. All had between 2 1/2 to 4 inches of solid ice. We didn't try fishing until Sunday, the overnight temps definitely added some ice thickness. We were able to carefully walk and fish anywhere we wanted to on the lake we tried. Nothing but a couple of small perch, but at least we were able to get out there. I don't think we found a spot with ice thinner than 4 inches.

[Sportland_Bait]

Small lakes are the only lakes with ice. Most anglers have reported 1-4 inches on small lakes and bays. All bigger waters have lots of open water. Gull is still wide open, Round opened back up. Too much warm weather along with wind. Use extreme caution if you venture out this week.

Jason Erlandson

[smartguy]

Well, I can't believe my eyes. It's almost 10 pm, and I see two snowmobiles cruising across the middle of Lake Edward . . . . There is a good 4-5 inches in the bay, but the big part cannot be safe - especially with the heavy 4 or 5 inches of slush out there. Extremely risky to be driving out there during the day, plain idiotic at night.

On a lighter note, the fishing has been decent. Managed three walleyes last night.

[Sportland_Bait]

Bad News Fellas. Up here in the North Country we ended up with about 4 inches of wet heavy snow in some areas. I'm sure thats not helping the ice factor on the lakes with existing ice. The good news is that the bigger lakes are still wide open and waiting for a cold snap. We'll see what happens in the next couple of weeks. By the looks of some extended forcasts we may not have ice until X-Mas. Right now I'm guessing it a little tough getting around on the small lakes too. Lets hope for cold.

Jason Erlandson

[walleyedan]

Finally a pretty good blast of cold! It is still 10 degrees right now (noon) and it was 6 degrees when I got up this morning. The west side of Gull has floating sheets of ice, but we are going to have to have a calm night to seal the whole deal!! The smaller lakes that were already sealed up should be good to go, but the rest need some time yet.

Feel free to call or email for the latest.

Walleyedan

[Sportland_Bait]

Gull Lake was steaming this morning. All we need is some flat water and she'll ice over.

Sure looks cold out there!

Jason Erlandson

[Fisherman1526]

Any help on the ice conditions on the smaller lakes around crosslake would be appreciated too. Just a spearer from down in Buffalo with a cabin near there looking for ice by this weekend. Getting the itch. Adney, Greer, Big Pine, ect, are what I am most interested in. Any help from here to the weekend would be appreciated.

Thanks

[FinallyBackNorth]

Gull lake finally iced over last night.

[crappieslapper]

Hey All,

I'm up to Brainerd this weekend with my PeeWee hockey team for a tourney, and am thinking about bringing up the ice fishing gear. We're staying at Craguns, but it doesn't sound like Gull will be fishable yet. Can anyone direct me to another lake close by, with good ice, where me and the boys might wet a line. Appreciate any info.

Dan

[Seeker of Clayface]

Any Round Lake updates out there? I'm itchin' to get out to my early ice walleye spot. Thanks.

[3pronghook]

Checked out the public access off ojibwa, somone pulling a sled walked out 100 yards. Looking through the binoculars i couldnt see any fished areas. I think they had second thoughts. There was still some open water on Monday. The ice still looks questionable. I did see some guys fishing the west side off of 371. Checked out pelican too. Ice is real rough at the 118 access. There were two people fishing out to the left 2-300 yards. I'm dying to get out. Maybe tomorrow.

[Seeker of Clayface]

Thanks for the info 3PRONG'. Let us know how you do tomorrow.

[Lone Wolfcry]

Crappie Slayer,

Please be careful taking young kids out on any ice just yet.

I would hate for anything to happen to youngsters who will

follow anyone out on dangerous ice for a few fish.

Be safe

[Sportland_Bait]

Today was the first day I've seen fisherman out on Round. Looks like they were walking out to the first break from the 371 access. My guess is they have about 3-4 inches right now. On the Merrifield bay of North Long there is a good 4-5 inches of ice. So most lakes are starting to provide decent walking conditions.

Jason Erlandson

[fishrog12]

Was out on pelican tonite-north side by resort. Was out 200 yds from shorein 22'. About 4" ice. Wallys were passing thru but only slightly interested in jig and minnow. One thing I couldnt believe. There was a jeep and a 16' sleeper house about a quarter mile away on a droppoff I know is 19' deep. It couldnt have been much thicker than where I was. What are these guys thinking? Ice should thicken real fast with this cold weather comin up.

[Only Eyes]

Jeep on 4" crazy mo @#$%$##$$#