Super User A-Jay Posted April 21, 2018 Super User Posted April 21, 2018 Like much of the northern part of the country, northern Michigan in particular, got hammered this month with what ended up being a record amount of snow (and cold). Swung by a local lake today to access open water potential – looks bleak. Hopefully the melt off & open water will come a lot sooner rather than later. A-Jay 1 Quote
Smokinal Posted April 21, 2018 Author Posted April 21, 2018 ^^^WOW! Ima quit my crying! I checked my web cams on my home water and I'll be open tomorrow!! Some big changes happened today. I actually saw ripples and waves on the water for the first time in months!! So excited! Still some floating ice but it will be gone by tomorrow night. And I'll be out next Sunday, 29th, smashing em on jerkbaits!! Good luck everyone! 1 Quote
LadiMopar Posted April 22, 2018 Posted April 22, 2018 Hey A-Jay it was nice to "see" you, but you certainly have my sympathies. Guess my sun/fish god requests for you and everyone out there aren't getting to the right department.. HR must be holding up the paperwork or something. Our winter blast this month wasn't nearly as bad, and am almost ashamed to say I was out in my yak today. If it's any consolation to you though there wasn't a bass to be seen...but did manage to hook a feisty chain nose pickerel, which was exciting until I had to take the crazy thing off the hook. Thank goodness for fish grips! Hang in there...open water has to be just around the corner. LM 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 22, 2018 Global Moderator Posted April 22, 2018 Sooooo, does that Water just go from 32-52 in like a week???? Hydrology is weird in the north country Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 22, 2018 Super User Posted April 22, 2018 23 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: Sooooo, does that Water just go from 32-52 in like a week???? Hydrology is weird in the north country Not quite that fast - but sort of close. Shallower lakes will warm quickly and no surprise, the big deep clear lakes can stay fairly cool - for a-while. But that's usually a good thing. And once they all open up the hardest part is deciding where to fish . . . . A-Jay Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted April 22, 2018 Global Moderator Posted April 22, 2018 7 minutes ago, A-Jay said: Not quite that fast - but sort of close. Shallower lakes will warm quickly and no surprise, the big deep clear lakes can stay fairly cool - for a-while. But that's usually a good thing. And once they all open up the hardest part is deciding where to fish . . . . A-Jay Water water everywhere. Since we don’t have true “lakes” our water doesn’t warm up quite so fast. Some smaller rivers without dams can warm up quickly but nothing like what seems to happen in natural lake country. From the perspective of someone who has only fished the top half of the USA a handful of times, I have noticed one thing. That long period of cold water makes those fish feed with reckless abandon when it’s warm. Our southern fish gorge all winter on shad so they can ignore a fishing lure whenever they want. I’ve even had tough days in perfect conditions with big live shad. I still wouldn’t trade it for that icy cold weather though Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted April 23, 2018 Global Moderator Posted April 23, 2018 On 4/21/2018 at 2:11 PM, A-Jay said: Like much of the northern part of the country, northern Michigan in particular, got hammered this month with what ended up being a record amount of snow (and cold). Swung by a local lake today to access open water potential – looks bleak. Hopefully the melt off & open water will come a lot sooner rather than later. A-Jay Are those 4-5' tall snow mountains right in front of the ramp? If they are why in the world would somebody do that? The water could potentially be open and you couldn't launch because of the snow mound blocking your way. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted April 23, 2018 Super User Posted April 23, 2018 Could hit 70° today. Got out yesterday, froze my butt off for two brown trout. 4 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 29, 2018 Super User Posted April 29, 2018 With tomorrow being April 30th, there is a distinct possibility that we'll be iced over going right into May. Well, that hasn't happened since I've lived here (2007) . . . . until it did. So my pre-spawn time is looking like it may be fairly 'condensed'. (insert super short) Most all access roads & ramps are wide open - just waiting on soft water. Over night temps Still, in the 20's & low 30's - in not speeding this up any. #impatiencemeterpegged A-Jay 2 Quote
Smokinal Posted April 29, 2018 Author Posted April 29, 2018 Well not to rub it in but I finally made it out today for the first day. We opened last Sunday on my home lake. I let it get some sun for the week and took a couple kids out today. We had a good time, catching between 10-20 bass each, and somewhere around 40 big crappie. One of them caught 6 different species; lmb, yellow perch, crappie, pickerel, 1 brookie and 1 brown! All while targeting LMB on jerkbaits! They had a good time! Good luck A-Jay! Keep us posted!! 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 29, 2018 Super User Posted April 29, 2018 5 minutes ago, Smokinal said: Well not to rub it in but I finally made it out today for the first day. We opened last Sunday on my home lake. I let it get some sun for the week and took a couple kids out today. We had a good time, catching between 10-20 bass each, and somewhere around 40 big crappie. One of them caught 6 different species; lmb, yellow perch, crappie, pickerel, 1 brookie and 1 brown! All while targeting LMB on jerkbaits! They had a good time! Good luck A-Jay! Keep us posted!! Hey it's not rubbing it in - It is what it is. Catch some for me. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User gim Posted April 29, 2018 Super User Posted April 29, 2018 A few small lakes and lakes with rivers feeding them have opened up here but most lakes still have ice in MN too. Our official "opener" is in 13 days and I think most lakes in the southern portion of the state will be open, but not in northern MN. 75 degrees here tomorrow with potential t-storms on Tuesday would go a long ways. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 29, 2018 Super User Posted April 29, 2018 April 29, 2018 ~ Bummin'. A-Jay 1 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted April 29, 2018 Global Moderator Posted April 29, 2018 15 minutes ago, A-Jay said: April 29, 2018 ~ Bummin'. A-Jay If your forecast for this week is looking anything like mine your ice should be gone by the end of the week? I'm way behind the 8 ball because of work. First launch is scheduled for Friday evening. Fingers crossed. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted April 29, 2018 Super User Posted April 29, 2018 2 minutes ago, 12poundbass said: If your forecast for this week is looking anything like mine your ice should be gone by the end of the week? I'm way behind the 8 ball because of work. First launch is scheduled for Friday evening. Fingers crossed. Yup - Crazy - high 70's. I'm sleeping at the ramp . . A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User MN Fisher Posted May 1, 2018 Super User Posted May 1, 2018 Smaller bays/lakes in the Minnetonka group are opening. Emerald, Seton and Black are open, however Cooks, Phelps and Spring Park bays still have honeycomb ice covering a majority of the surface. Since the launch points are still ice-bound, canoe or yak is the way to go to get into the smaller bodies. Quote
sully420 Posted May 1, 2018 Posted May 1, 2018 Mpls st paul metro area lake should be open thus weekend. Lake Harriet is 70% open Quote
drscholl14 Posted May 2, 2018 Posted May 2, 2018 Two boats were fishing the north bay of White Bear Lake today. The ice is only about 100 yards from shore but they must've really wanted to get on those panfish. I can't say I blame them.....Bald Eagle is 90% open. Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted May 2, 2018 Global Moderator Posted May 2, 2018 11 hours ago, A-Jay said: Close ~ but not yet. A-Jay If the rain heads your way tonight/tomorrow that should finish it off for ya. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted May 2, 2018 Super User Posted May 2, 2018 80s today. Was snowing last Monday. As I predicted, no spring. 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted May 3, 2018 Super User Posted May 3, 2018 11 hours ago, J Francho said: 80s today. Was snowing last Monday. As I predicted, no spring. As of yesterday my water's were still iced over - but last night I had to run the A/C in my house ! W T H But at 6 pm local time . . . OPEN. WATER. A-Jay 4 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted May 3, 2018 Global Moderator Posted May 3, 2018 30 minutes ago, A-Jay said: As of yesterday my water's were still iced over - but last night I had to run the A/C in my house ! W T H But at 6 pm local time . . . OPEN. WATER. A-Jay Yup turned on the A/C last night too. Made it to 83. When's the Lund getting launched? 0700? ? Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted May 3, 2018 Super User Posted May 3, 2018 While there's no wind in tomorrow's forecast - there's no sun either and some lingering rain. I Hate a wet boat but after waiting this long I may bite the bullet . . I've got a work out to do (early) Then I'll probably play it by ear - Either way - I'll be ready to go and will continue to go every time the opportunity presents it self. A-Jay 4 Quote
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