A-Jay's 2nd Annual Ice Out / Open Water Countdown Thread ~

[A-Jay]

Since the Fat Lady has been singing for a while now - signaling a early end to this fishing season for us in the north woods, the time has come to spool this thread up again. 

This time I'm selecting 22 April 2020 as my "I hope the ice is gone" date.

This date is a exactly the same day the Ice went out on Lake Menderchuck this past 2019 season.

(why fight it)

What are the chances ? 

As of today, I'm looking at 161 days or 5 months & 9 days or 23 weeks (which makes it seem even longer). 

Either way, it is what it is and I'm hunkering down again (and I'm still not quite certain what that actually means, but I'm doing it). 

https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20200415T12&p0=2455&msg=A-Jay's+2nd+Annual+Ice+Out+%2F+Open+Water+Countdown+Thread+~&ud=1&font=sanserif&csz=1

 

Please feel free to add your comments, support, and yes, even the jabs; as I know they're inevitable & usually quite entertaining.

At least they were last time round.

And while you're at it, don't forget to add a few pics of recent catches.

All of which may help to pass the time . . . .

A-Jay

 

btw- this is what Lake Menderchuck looked like on last years 'projected' ice out date of 15 Apr 2019 - hoping for something a little earlier. 

 

[MN Fisher]

I'll jump in.

 

Average ice-out for Minnetonka - April 14

Last year ice-out for Minnetonka - April 20

My predicted ice-out for Minnetonka - April 17 (ya, splitting the difference).

 

If the ice is gone from either of my two regular launch points earlier - I'm going...panfish beware (evil laugh).

[rtwvumtneer6]

I'm still in denial that this is already happening, but I don't think I'll be on a boat Thanksgiving weekend this year. 

 

I usually cross my fingers to be on the water for March 21 (my birthday).  

[Crestliner2008]

Looks like ice up is almost here already! I just went out yesterday and took a snapshot of an oxbow lake just off the Ct. River system. Skim ice is everywhere today. Night temps from the single numbers up to a max of about 30 degrees. Not conducive to open water! Way too early for this. We are usually still fishing up to Thanksgiving, but that's not looking promising this year.

 

Mid April looks like a good bet, but up here in New England, no one can predict Mother Nature. Some years I've launched in early March. Other years it's been late April. What is it is, we shall persevere, as the old Indian once said.

[Hook2Jaw]

hey guys I think something is wrong with your water

 

But seriously, sorry you're all kicked off the lake because of the cold.  I'm currently staring out the window because I wanted to crawl a swimbait today but it is 100% chance of rain, all day long.

[12poundbass]

I’m pathetically optimistic ice out will get here earlier this year since winter came about a month early. I’m predicting March 25 will be open water around me. 
 

On the bright side we are closer every day to the new season of Zona, hopefully that will help pass the time. 

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I’m pathetically optimistic ice out will get here earlier this year since winter came about a month early. I’m predicting March 25 will be open water around me. 
 

On the bright side we are closer every day to the new season of Zona, hopefully that will help pass the time. 

Good Morning my friend ~ That one made be laugh.

I'll admit that I too, am guilty of that sentiment most all the time.

Especially as it relates to hunting & chasing down Big Brown Bass.

But these northern Michigan winters have a way of suppressing that and replacing it with Realism. 

#frozennads

A-Jay

[FryDog62]

The last 2 years here in the Minneapolis area have been ice out the first week of May... yes May not a typo... So I will predict our ice-off date at May 3, 2020.  Which is 172 days.  Argh..

 

I do try to sneak over to South Dakota in April most years as their ice goes off a little earlier and they don’t have a closed season like we do here in MinneSiberia. Here’s a couple pics from SoDak last April 25:

[MN Fisher]

16 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

The last 2 years here in the Minneapolis area have been ice out the first week of May

Where? As I posted from DNR report - Tonka was ice-free April 20 this year.

[BassNJake]

We got 3 inches of snow Monday night, but I'm headed out Saturday we're supposed to be in the mid 50's.

 

Saw some guys getting gas this morning and they are pre-fishing for a 100+ boat tourney Sat.

Looks like TN fishing is still going strong

 

[TnRiver46]

1 minute ago, BassNJake said:

We got 3 inches of snow Monday night, but I'm headed out Saturday we're supposed to be in the mid 50's.

 

Saw some guys getting gas this morning and they are pre-fishing for a 100+ boat tourney Sat.

Looks like TN fishing is still going strong

 

Just getting started!!!

[MN Fisher]

59 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

The last 2 years here in the Minneapolis area have been ice out the first week of May... yes May not a typo... So I will predict our ice-off date at May 3, 2020.  Which is 172 days.

Okay - went to the DNR site and here's a map of ice-out dates for 2019

Yellow pins - April 1-7

Green pins - April 8-14

Blue pins - April 15-21

Where's the May ice-out lakes in the Metro?

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/index.html

[TriStateBassin106]

Oh man, this is gonna be a long winter, here in NJ we have the temps reaching down into the 20s and 10s this upcoming week, all my spots are already frozen, honestly though A-jay I would start Fishing moving current, anyway you can fish some streams for trout or other panfish species if that's up your alley? 

 

I plan on going for some native brookies this weekend at a local river. Good fighters on ultralight gear. 

[JS Patterson]

This makes feel for you. I consider the end of my season the beginning of July when air temp gets to 98 and sunny with 90+ water temperatures. At least I get to go out and make a few casts into liquid water even though it is difficult to catch until October. I will most likely catch my biggest of the year before your ice out. Hopefully a trip down south is in the works for you. 

[A-Jay]

11 minutes ago, JS Patterson said:

This makes feel for you. I consider the end of my season the beginning of July when air temp gets to 98 and sunny with 90+ water temperatures. At least I get to go out and make a few casts into liquid water even though it is difficult to catch until October. I will most likely catch my biggest of the year before your ice out. Hopefully a trip down south is in the works for you. 

Thanks but it's all good.

I'll bide my time and when the lakes open up I'll have an opportunity to get back at it.

Incidentally, IMO, the fact that these fish go unmolested for almost half the year - contributes greatly to the quality of the fishery.

 

 

Finally a trip south was made in Oct this year - worked out well.

A-Jay

[Log Catcher]

You picked ice out to be 22 April 2019? I hate to tell you this but you have just missed out on 7 months of fishing. Maybe you medication is causing some strange side effects with you. Hope you get checked out and get well soon.

[A-Jay]

13 minutes ago, Log Catcher said:

You picked ice out to be 22 April 2019? I hate to tell you this but you have just missed out on 7 months of fishing. Maybe you medication is causing some strange side effects with you. Hope you get checked out and get well soon.

LOL ~ 

 Thanks, just goes to show how distressing this whole deal can be . . .

Appreciate the heads up.

A-Jay

[FryDog62]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Where? As I posted from DNR report - Tonka was ice-free April 20 this year.

I stand corrected MNFisher - it was late April this year, May 5 in 2018 and I think May 2 a couple years back.  Either way, with Winter starting early again this year, I’m sticking with my May 2, 2020 prediction.  I honestly hope that I’m wrong and it happens in April again (or even March)!

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

I think May 2 a couple years back.

More like half a decade before - here's the last 10 years of Tonka ice-out dates taken from

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/ice_out_by_lake.html?downum=27013300

 

2010-04-02,MNDNR-SCO,
2011-04-14,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater Foundation 5:14 AM Hennepin County Sheriff 6:00 AM
2012-03-21,MNDNR-SCO,
2013-05-02,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater Society
2014-04-24,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater Society
2015-04-05,MNDNR-SCO,freshwater
2016-03-17,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater
2017-03-27,MNDNR-SCO,at 5:06pm via Henn Co Water patrol and Freshwater foundation
2018-05-05,MNDNR-SCO,just after noon via Henn Co Water patrol and Freshwater foundation
2019-04-20,MNDNR-SCO,at 1:46pm via Henn Co Water patrol and Freshwater foundation

 

Given 2016 and 2017 - a March ice-out isn't out of the realm of possibility.

[BassNJake]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

LOL ~ 

 Thanks, just goes to show how distressing this whole deal can be . . .

Appreciate the heads up.

A-Jay

Or that Lake Menderchuck is stuck in the twilight zone

Judging by all those monster smallie pics, I'll keep my belief that Lake Menderchuck is not in this dimension

 

I'm pulling for an early spring for our Northern Bassers

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

I'm pulling for an early spring for our Northern Bassers

Doesn't matter too much really - in MN, bass season is closed from the end of February to the middle of May. So early open-water just means panfish.

[Raul]

Ok, let me get this straight, how come you fellas up North are talking bout ice out/open water ? ain't the stuff has just begun ? 

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Raul said:

Ok, let me get this straight, how come you fellas up North are talking bout ice out/open water ? ain't the stuff has just begun ? 

Blame @A-Jay- he started this last year once ice-in occurs. Gives us a countdown and everything.

 

I think he does it just to torment us.

[12poundbass]

5 minutes ago, Raul said:

Ok, let me get this straight, how come you fellas up North are talking bout ice out/open water ? ain't the stuff has just begun ? 

This thread is kinda like group therapy for us northern guys. 
 

My thread may look like it’s us complaining about the winter, but in reality it’s our way to keep you warm weather people away from our fish! ?

[Raul]

27 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Blame @A-Jay- he started this last year once ice-in occurs. Gives us a countdown and everything.

 

I think he does it just to torment us.

Something like scratching a skeeter bite ?