Metro Ice Report...

[blk94fiveoh]

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I am also intrested, looking to head out on sunday. We might be able to make it to the EV off the landing.

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I just saw a couple people out by the EV. I didn't check the thickness though.

[Joe Harty]

OK, I apologize for the flip-flopping on when I'm opening....It WILL BE Christmas Day after all. Alot of juggling with family. I'm excited and it looks like we will have decent ice for getting around. I will have shuttle service available for free, involving 4-wheeler and trailer. I'll have Crappie minnows, Fatheads, Shiners and Suckers,waxies, and euro-larvae. I'll get around and see exactly what is out there for ice as well. Really looking forward to seeing everyone !

Lakeman

ps. Hey RyWheat....still got big red....it gives me no reason to update !

[Browning83]

LindyRig---I was out there fishing this evening....probably the first out there. There is about 5 inches where the wind didnt break it up then there is about 3 where the newer ice is. Yeah I just finished up my finals as well....good to be done. I caught 4 walleyes tonight.....no craps or gills(no idea where they went) I'll probably see you out there....I drive an 04 Grey Silverado with Browning and Foiles Decals on the back window. Good luck

[Mr. Pike1]

So Had, I as well did a little walk out from the beach on Garvais late afternoon. I did not punch any holes just wandered out to get a look an feel of the ice conditions. I am going to do some searching on Saturday to see what the ice is like on some other local ponds. I am certain some of the Lakes just North of St. Cloud have fishable ice but not as confident on the local lakes. I think I am going to check on Lost, Round, Garvais, White Bear, and long to see if anyone has ventured out....

[blk94fiveoh]

Bald Eagle has a solid 4 inches all the way out to at least the E.V. just south of the point. (possibly further, We didn't check ) There were about 5 groups of people out there earlier tonight. We didn't catch anything, but I believe a few walleye were caught by others.

[Ole #1]

Does anyone know how much ice is on turtle lake in shoreview?

[Lost]

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Anybody check ice conditions on Crooked Lake yet? Thought I might check it out this weekend.

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Nope. Never made it out there on Friday. I'm hoping to have some relief from my girlfriend's family tomorrow so I can check at least some ice thickness. Won't have time for fishing if it's thick enough. Just enough time to wander and measure.

Question is... shall I just hack away with the spud or bring my battery powered hand auger?

[PA4life]

you dont know nothin. you big wig!

[Duffer]

where on bald egal would be the safest place to hit for some fishing?

[cubbies11]

I have heard it is a go for walking all around the lake, the safest would probably be the north end.

Cubbies

[tisch008]

We're gettin closer to good ice. I saw three guys out on the west side of Medicine on saturday right off of the beach. They said they had 3.5 of ice.

I'd say by christmas!

[schr0563]

I was on Excelsior Bay of Lake Minnetonka this evening. I went about a half mile out from shore, walking on 5 inches of solid ice the whole way. This was about 2 inches more than what we found when we tested it the day before (Saturday). Unfortunatley the fish were not cooperating.

I also took a walk on Christmas Lake this morning. Even after the subzero temps last night there was still open water steaming away out in the middle.

[Snag]

Thanks for the excelsior ice report Schro. I drove around the lake this afternoon and only saw about 10 people fishing. I might try Wayzata or Spring Park tomorrow afternoon. Wayzata still had a couple spots with open water around Noon on Saturday.

Did anyone check Calhoun and Harriet to see if they were frozen over today?

[bigminnow]

While driving to home depot today I saw 2 portables on Parkers Lake, I stopped out there yesterday and it had approx 3.5' of ice.

[irvingdog]

Snag

Where are you in Robbinsdale? I'm across from Crystal lake.

P.M. me. It's in my profile.

[schr0563]

I just wanted to post a prediction. I think there will be 10-12 inches of ice on most of our metro lakes by Christmas Day. This should be sufficient for the more cautious ice travelers to get out fishing, as well as enough for the first brave souls to start driving on. At any rate, there will be vehicles on the ice by next weekend. Of course this is assuming that we don't get any snow between now and then.

[Ole #1]

I fished Turtle lake last night. There is 4-5 inches on all the spots I checked, didn't catch a fish though.

Ole

[scalescratcher]

Walked out on Busk Lake on Sat and talked to Corey from Vexilar. There was a good 3.5" and I'm sure more now. Feeling much better with the cold yesterday and the forecast for the week. IT'S TIME, finally!! Still need to be careful.

[Powerstroke]

Great Tonka reports.

Anyone tested the ice in the SW metro....Eden Prairie area? I'm looking mostly for Red Rock lake, but Riley too if you've been there.

[rscabin]

I stopped on the way home from work and there was a guy on Lake Riley fishing with a portable out in front of the boat landing.

[Metroguy99]

Any ice reports on Harriet or Calhoun? Saw a couple houses close to shore earliet today.

[McGurk]

On Bush Lake in Bloomington last night, 5-6 inches every where I checked. What a night to get on the ice! 25 deg, moon showing through, but no fish.

[scalescratcher]

Hi Mc,

Kinda what I figured. I haven't fished Bush in quite a long time but live pretty close. Do you get out there often? Maybe we can hook up and tag team it!

[Simon M.]

I live in Eden Prairie and have not driven by Riley, looking to get out to Tonka or Waconia tonight though. I am new to the area and looking for any direction on where to go on Tonka.

[Kodiak]

drive by riley everyday, there is a small frabill flip over out there every day at 4pm but i have only seen one person each night. i might stop tonight on the way home and see how he is doing.

[Simon M.]

not a bad idea. say are there any lakes close to EP that hold eyes? I was thinking of going to tonka or waconia tonight but would like to stay closer than that.

[Bogey911]

I've never heard of a battery powered hand auger! Is that a joke or not? If it is real, where do you get those?

[korn_fish]

Bogey, it's for real. From my experience, they cut pretty slow. I could cut two holes by hand and drink a beer before the electric auger cut one. But that was 10 years or so ago and who knows what kind of shape the auger was in.

Any big name like Cabelas, Gander should have them.

[SCHAAKATTACK]

Bogey, Strikemaster makes a great electric unit! I bought mine last year. You can think of it as a big cordless drill and I can tell you it cuts pretty quick! I could never outcut it w/ my hand auger w/o having a heart attack. Best part is no fumes!(hey it's a little smokey in here!) You also have the option of running it off the car battery. I am planning on getting to use this weekend my company graciously has given us Friday & Monday as paid Holidays. In other words I'm going to get paid to fish!

[Fergus Mor McErc]

Harriet is frozen over. I didn't see Calhoun but I imagine it is too. I fished Harriet tonight for a couple hours on the SE side. There were two other portables out there. Didn't do so well but at least the lake is fishable now. There was about four inches where we were (23 ft.). I'm not to sure how thick it is out towards the middle of the lake though.