A-Jay's Inaugural Ice Out / Open Water Countdown Thread ~

[MIbassyaker]

27 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I predict a two week spring then straight to summer like last year! 

Even though ice-out was later this year and Jan-Feb were worse than last year, I seem to recall last year's March-through-April as being much more miserable than it's been so far. 

 

Last year, I didn't actually get on the water anywhere until April 26, although I was able to cast into open water from shore a few places in early march.

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

Even though ice-out was later this year and Jan-Feb were worse than last year, I seem to recall last year's March-through-April as being much more miserable than it's been so far. 

 

Last year, I didn't actually get on the water anywhere until April 26, although I was able to cast into open water from shore a few places in early march.

We got hammered with 2 ft of snow mid-April last year.

My first day brown bass went in the net on the 5th of May;

Which was two days after open water on Lake Menderchuck. 

Unless there is another major snow event - I should beat that this year by at least weeks.

Maybe more - if we get lucky.

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

Yesterday my back yard was clear of snow - this is what it's like now...with another 6"-10" predicted

 

On the ice status? Smaller bodies of the Minnetonka chain like Black Lake and Tanager Lake are about 50% clear. The larger bays such as Spring Park, Lafayette, Smiths and Browns (the ones I passed today on an errand) are still about 90% ice-covered.

[Manly Studson]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Yesterday my back yard was clear of snow - this is what it's like now...with another 6"-10" predicted

 

On the ice status? Smaller bodies of the Minnetonka chain like Black Lake and Tanager Lake are about 50% clear. The larger bays such as Spring Park, Lafayette, Smiths and Browns (the ones I passed today on an errand) are still about 90% ice-covered.

I can’t imagine. I moved from the south to Indiana. Although it isn’t nearly as cold as it is there, the move did shave two months off fishing season. But I have heard that the fishing in MN is excellent. The winter may be worth it.

[MN Fisher]

17 minutes ago, Manly Studson said:

But I have heard that the fishing in MN is excellent. The winter may be worth it.

From a blurb last year about the Classic Bass Champions Tour.

 

"This will be the first time the Champions Tour has visited “Tonka”. It’s no secret that the lake is one of the best bass fisheries in the Midwest. The lake is loaded with bass of all sizes and the structure that these fish live on is seemingly endless."

Full article: https://classicbass.com/blog/last-stop-lake-minnetonka/

 

This is the lake I live by - I'm on an Island...no matter which way I go, I'll hit part of Minnetonka.

[Glaucus]

We've got 3 straight days of 25-50 mph winds. Temps have gone from high 60s and low 70s to several days with highs in the 40s and lows in the 30s. Most days on the extended forecast are 50s with lows of 30s and rain, rain, rain. I think I quit until May.

[A-Jay]

 

We got a little snow last night - and looks like there's a little more on the way.

I might sleep in the Pro-V bass all weekend, just because.

A-Jay

[Manly Studson]

I’ve fished streams in March with success—lots of smallmouth and spotted bass. But lakes are different. I can’t get a bite, and even now in April I can’t get lake bass to bite. My new plan is to fish streams in late winter and fish lakes in May. This may help me get a jump on the season.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

We got a little snow last night - and looks like there's a little more on the way.

I might sleep in the Pro-V bass all weekend, just because.

A-Jay

Trade ya...

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Trade ya...

No Thanks and good luck with all that.

We got a taste of that last April.

I will openly admit that I'm not a big fan.

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

 

Snowing today ~  Hate it.

A-Jay

 

[Log Catcher]

5 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

Snowing today ~  Hate it.

A-Jay

 

Instead of dealing with snow I mowed my yard for the first time this year on Tuesday. After the snow melts there is mowing waiting for you but at least it won't keep you from fishing.

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

Instead of dealing with snow I mowed my yard for the first time this year on Tuesday. After the snow melts there is mowing waiting for you but at least it won't keep you from fishing.

Oh it's even better than that ~

Last fall we got a ton of snow BEFORE the Oak Trees dropped their leaves.

So besides the lawn work - once this mess melts in July, I get to clean last fall off my property.

Nothing like wet, frozen, waded up, piles of stank leaves all over the place.

Good Times 

This pre-spawn better be EPIC !

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Oh it's even better than that ~

Last fall we got a ton of snow BEFORE the Oak Trees dropped their leaves.

So besides the lawn work - once this mess melts in July, I get to clean last fall off my property.

Nothing like wet, frozen, waded up, piles of stank leaves all over the place.

Good Times 

This pre-spawn better be EPIC !

A-Jay

You too, huh. Trees dropped the leaves, then we got snow too soon after that for me to clean up the yard. So lots of leaves have been 'fermenting' under the snow all winter.

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

You too, huh. Trees dropped the leaves, then we got snow too soon after that for me to clean up the yard. So lots of leaves have been 'fermenting' under the snow all winter.

Yup - 

I couldn't take it and despite 80% of my property still under a foot of snow - yesterday I started cleaning up anything I could just to try and get a head or it. 

 With today's dumping that put's the whole deal on hold - again.

A-Jay

[Jigfishn10]

Wet leaves take leaf blowing out as an option. Old fashion rake work....Good times!

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

Wet leaves take leaf blowing out as an option. Old fashion rake work....Good times!

True - 

The other option is to wait a bit for them to dry out.

But I'm afraid if I wait too long, it will snow again !

Then I'm right back where I started.

It's a vicious circle I tell ya . . .

A-Jay

[Jigfishn10]

ROFL, yeah you maybe looking at September/October before they dry out, especially with the way you guys get snow @A-Jay. If your blower pushes out some serious CFM, maybe the blower will dry them for ya...But we're talking tornado type CFM.

[A-Jay]

Just now, Jigfishn10 said:

ROFL, yeah you maybe looking at September/October before they dry out, especially with the way you guys get snow @A-Jay. If your blower pushes out some serious CFM, maybe the blower will dry them for ya...But we're talking tornado type CFM.

I have two - A Stihl Back pack model that's really good and my Go To. 

And a Toro push model that blows like a Motha but lacks the 'directional' qualities to make it as effective as the Stihl.

Sort of like a hurricane on wheels

 

A-Jay

 

[Jigfishn10]

@A-Jay, You know you have a lot of leaves when you own more leaf blowing equipment than a professional landscaper...

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, Jigfishn10 said:

@A-Jay, You know you have a lot of leaves when you own more leaf blowing equipment than a professional landscaper...

Something like 35 Oak Trees - 

Bad decision looking back.

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

28 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

I have two - A Stihl Back pack model that's really good and my Go To. 

And a Toro push model that blows like a Motha but lacks the 'directional' qualities to make it as effective as the Stihl.

Sort of like a hurricane on wheels

 

A-Jay

 

Our house we sold last year we were surrounded by trees. My neighbor had a blower like your red one, man that took care of the leaves in quick fashion! It was lacking in the maneuverability department but did the work in a quarter the time.

[Glaucus]

Braved the hurricane force winds (/s) and got out on the pond for an hour. Caught a 1.5 on a Z-Man spinnerbait. I'm OK with this. Better than nothing!

 

[FryDog62]

Here’s the latest in Minnesnowta:

 

Just traded my my old boat in for one that will work year round here:

 

[MN Fisher]

11 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Here’s the latest in Minnesnowta:

 

Just traded my my old boat in for one that will work year round here:

 

Then of course, this happens...

 

This spring doesn't know what it wants to do.