Local Lakes - - Ice Conditions?

[wormburner]

Any reports on the shape of the ice on the local lakes?

This weather has to be making them a little on the slushy side along with the warm temps and snow we have had.

I checked the extended forcast, next week it looks like the cooler weather should arrive!

Doggone it, they call it winter, why doesn't it act like it?

[Northlander]

Was on Fish tonight and its getting slushy. Only about 2" where I was in 17' of water. Backed off into 14 and had about 3.5" of ice. I think I will go out of highbanks for a while till the cooler weather comes. About 8 groups on Crappie Village tonight. I guess there was between 2.5 and 5 " depending on where ya were. Be careful and dont go alone. At least make sure there are others around you should ya need help.

[wormburner]

Doesn't sound like the best conditions out there?

They way things were sounding earlier in the week, heading out alone on 4-5" did not seem like a big deal until that 2.5" word came up!

Doggone it, they call it winter so why don't it start acting like it?

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

Around the mouth of the narrows we had a solid 5" yesterday. We did pretty well too. Our best fishing came between about 8:30 and 12:00. I was one short of a limit of eyes, and quickstrike was 2 short with a nice perch. Then Cheffrey came along.... Managed one crappie about 11-12" and only one more little walleye after he showed up and dropped a brat into the lake.

There were several wheelers and sleds out in that area as well. I think that there's enough ice that this weather won't make it unfishable, might get kinda sloppy though...

[wippersnpr]

anyone know what ice conditions on island lake would be like?

say around the otter river area where it is narrower?

[Northlander]

I wouldnt trust anything on Island yet. Maybe back out of the wind bays but stay away from in and outlets and between Islands.

[Tom Linderholm]

Blame it all on me! I managed to pull 4 more eyes and a pike once I got there, none of them till dark though. There was a good solid 5 as Porter said out there. Just hope it gets colder again soon. Not for nothing though I am down in the cities right now and they were showing on the news last night a guy out about 20 yrds from shore on thin ice with a canoe with him trying to ice fish, he fell in and luckily there was people around to help him get out. No ice down around here

[89Bronco]

He was actually trying to pick up his decoys. He was a goose hunter---not fishing at the time. They did a follow up with him and he admits it was a mistake. Only took a second....be careful out there!

[andy j]

Hey Wormburner,

I am thinking about going out early in the morning of Fish on the 18th for the FM get together. If you want to go with me you can I have a new 2 man fish trap. Us bass guys got to show these walleye guys how to catch fish AJ

[Granny]

AJ & Burner,

If you guys are going against the eye guys I may have to try and make it up and even out the odds .

Granny

[wormburner]

AJ - Granny,

That would be a great deal, if nothing else it would be a good B.S. session!

[Quickstrike]

Porter, that was a nice article in the statesman. I especially like the picture you where it looks like you are 2 walleyes over your limit and you are jigging with your spoon still connected to the eye on your rod. Gotta love it!!!

[Surface Tension]

I stopped for bait at Minnowette on my way to Fish Lake.

The clerk said the Game Warden was just in and advised everyone to stay off the ice and it was starting to honeycomb.

I usually don't look for or expect ice reports from the DNR and make my own decision when to head onto ice.

I decided to scrub the fishing today and headed back home. With reports of 7-2" and this past weeks warm temps I'm going to error on the side of caution till we get some 10 degree or colder nights.

While I have a pretty good idea what areas of the lake to stay off, I'm afraid some unsuspecting individual won't.

Be careful out there!

[I'llTakeWhatiCanGet]

Quick, nobody likes a wise a**

[Quickstrike]

what exactly does honeycombing ice mean? i guess all i know is that it doesn't sound good.

[Granny]

As the ice starts to melt it digs grooves in the ice and it looks like honeycomb. When the ice does this it gets very weak. This happens every spring when temps warm up.

Granny

[wormburner]

S.T., HHHHHMMMMMMM? I can't stand this roller coaster!! One minute I am all wound up to get out, and the next ya hear more about the crappy ice conditions. Are you planning for tommorow still or holding off, any one else?

Thanks for the heads up!!

[wormburner]

Not too take things to the extreme, but gave hi banks a call and she said there lot was full and quite a few people on the ice with the same reports we've heard, 3.5" - 5".

[Northlander]

I was out on Fish tonight. The ice was no worse than the past week. 4 wheelers and sleds running back and forth. Make sure you bring a spud. The narrows was ok but once to the mouth I found anywhere from 3" to 5". The ice looked fine where I was. I suggest you stay a good distance from eachothers houses and if ya see a wheeler or sled dont go walking up on it. I will be out tomorrow AM off of the narrows. Please dont think Im saying the ice is safe. NO ICE IS EVER SAFE!!! Use your own judgement on this one. If your looking for 6" of ice I doubt you will find it.

On a lighter note the fish were biting. I kept a 14" and a 17" or so. Still reel light bites and all fish were caught within 8" of the bottom. Had some lookers up high ( Crappie?) but no takers. I did see a real nice Northern caught next to me. Maybe 12# or so? I will have my cell and FRS on Channel 7.

[walleye_boy]

I was on fish as well tonight. caught quite a few eyes 2 keepers 14 inchers and a northern. about 5 inches where i was sitting. i was the one in the black ht polar escape.

[Northlander]

Man I walked RIGHT by you. I was pulling the funny looking black Quickset. Tall guy and Black Carhart Bibs. Will ya be out tomorrow? If so look for me and S.T. or call us on Channel 7 on the 2 ways. Any other FMers out there tonight?

[wormburner]

Northlander, you guys going to be at hibanks at 7am, if so I'll let you lead the way?

[Northlander]

See ya there.

[Casaloma]

Not Exactly In our Backyard, but I fished Little Pine Lk near Finlayson today with BlackJackDavey of the East Central Forum. First time on this lake for both of us currently 3 in of ice & growing. Could not pick up any panfish but ran through all our sucker minnows on Pike. They were really hitting, not so much the size but good action ( insert Joke here ). Anyway it felt good to be pulling fish out & returning them thru the hole for the first time in 5 winters.

Good Luck All..

[Crappie_King_04]

12-14 put my ice house out on chb lake had exactly 7" of ice gained almost a good 2" of ice in one night not to mention did very well fishing with a couple of buds managed to get 3 pike in about 2 1/2 hrs well over 2 lbs each.