Metro Ice Report...

[Matt Johnson]

Awesome! Excellent reports everyone! Looks like we are beginning to see ice (if it's not there already) across a good portion of the Metro area.

I'll be out in the Chisago area in the morning trying to hunt down a few bull gills. Hopefully the wind will die down a bit and I can find some shallow water fish...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[PikeMan Seank]

hey whats up

does anyone know if long lake in new brighton or lake johanna is frozen enough to fish on?

[mnwild]

I went to Long on Sunday and there was about 5" of ice out from the landing. Walked along the shoreline and it was pretty thick. This weekend you should be able to venture out farther onto the lake with the cold weather we have been having.

[Seeker of Clayface]

Has anybody checked Eagle Lake in Maple Grove recently?

[Carp-fisher]

I live in Eden Prairie, and I fished on Aburn Lake west of Victoria on Sunday. There was about 4" of ice but no fish. There were people fishing on Mitchell Lake on Saturday.

[hampster]

Anyone know ice depths on minnewashta?

[Duffer]

i second your question any report on eagal in maple grove?

[Matt Johnson]

I made it out in the Chisago area today and I found 6-7 inches on several different spots. I also watched a few wheelers go zipping by. Some permanent shacks are out too. I didn't do any fishing, just scouted around...

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[WalleyeSnob]

I was on Wayzata bay yesterday on lk minnetonka

the ice seemed to be pretty good

we were fishing on 4 solid inches

has anyone ventured off to the main lake

we caught a bunch on dinky perch, a enormous rock bass, and only one small walleye.

[Crappieman]

As of yesterday there were portables on long lake. I would think the whole lake would be ready for walking traffic now. I am going out this weekend.

[mtreno]

put 12 ft and a 16 ft permant houses out last night on 7 nice clear inches of ice. 16 foot is kinda heavy so that one is still by shore but the 12 footer should be ready for some hot crappie action tonight. cant wait.........

[Lostit@theHole]

I was out on Chisago last night and found 10-12" of ice. There were vehicles as large as full sized trucks out on the ice. I did decent fishing with a bunch of small crappies and some nice bass being caught. thinkin about heading back out on tuesday. Good luck.

[fugarwe?]

They were driving onto Minnetonka from the Spring Park access yesterday! Please note, I said "they"!!

[Dusty]

On lower Prior today I measured 11" and saw several cars driving on the ice. Not me however

[Fisherman For a Lifetime]

I measures 16" on Chisago 2 days ago in the south part of the lake.

Today, there was several full size pick-ups (on the ice...) in the channel.

[moby1]

I was on Fish Lake in Maple grove as well as Sarah and Bryant between Thursday and Friday. All 3 had the same 12"14". I drove out way out on sarah but only close to shore on Fish and Bryant. Thats just because Driving on clear ice freaks me out, not because it was too thin.

[SOS]

Does anyone know what bald eagle is like. We are going in the morning

[Duffer]

full size trucks on medicean

[Lost]

Okay, officially at the spot I was fishing on Crooked Lake this morning... 11 15/16 of an inch. Let's just call it a foot.

[WALTERCRAFT]

ARE FULL SIZE TRUCKS DRIVING OUT OF WAYZATA BAY ON TONKA??

[viking_fan]

How did you do out there lost?

[Dusty]

Full sized trucks are driving on Wayzata bay at least on the east end. I measured 13.5"

[markkstanley]

13" in Smithtown Bay/Island area. Lots of trucks driving out from Spring Park launch.

[Moses2531]

Hey lost, I live right near Crooked and love watching the people pile into the lake for the rather poor fishing... Cause it is so close I fish it alot and get some of those walleyes and little crappies and stuff... Just wondering how ya did??

[dsludge]

Phelps - 12 inches plus on Monday. Spring Park Bay - 16 inches Thursday. I saw a one ton dually dump truck on the ice this week.

THE ICE IS NEVER SAFE.

Dsludge

[mtreno]

talked to a guy at the access of spring lake last night. he told me there was at least 16 to 18 inches of ice. went out to my shack - moved it to a new location - stuck my arm/hand all the way in - put it up to the ruler ------ well lets just say it was a strech to say 11.5 inches. remember the best ice report is your own. some people just look down the hole and make up a number.

[SteveWilson]

I just take a sharpie to my ice chisel and mark off every four inches; very easy to tell the thickness.

[dsludge]

It was only 12 inches thick under a permanent about 50 feet away yesterday. I always measure ice thickness with my trusty Stanley depthfinder, fits right in my pocket, range - 30 feet.

THE ICE IS NEVER SAFE

Dsludge

[Lost]

I have a tape measure with me for measuring fish and to help set depth for tipups. I also use it to measure ice thickness by hooking the bottom of the ice with the end.

Was out on Long Lake briefly today. While walking around, a full size truck got on the lake and started driving toward the beach area. He was maybe 100 yards away and I could hear the ice cracking underneath my feet.

Would you consider that a safe thickness to drive on?

Heh, you should have seen the group of non-English speakers. It was hilarious! As soon as they heard the cracking, they ran around gathering up all their gear... were sliding and falling all over the place, and gave up eventually and ran toward shore (they were only a casting distance from shore anyway).

[dsludge]

Lost,

I love the sound of the ice. The phrase comes to mind, "Oh yeah, makin' ice!"

You know how it is before good ice - you can't wait. You're out on three inches of early ice, sitting in your portable, waiting for that first tasty walleye - there's probably still open water on the lake...

...First ice on the spot and you already caught a nice pan-size fish. Your candle goes out, you reach for the matches, and then you hear it coming. The sound gets louder and louder and then suddenly, like a lightning bolt, you see the ice crack right beneath your feet! You can feel the ice sink, water comes up through the chiseled hole, and you're going under! The adrenalin rush hits you so hard and fast at that instant that you only think survival. You breathe deep, hold your breath, close your eyes, clench your hand spikes, AND-YOUR-LIFE-FLASHES-THROUGH-YOUR-MIND-AT-LIGHT-SPEED!!!

Then...it's over...

...And you didn't even notice that your bobber was gone again, another nice fish!

Be careful out there.

THE ICE IS NEVER SAFE.

Dsludge