A-Jay's 4th Annual Ice Out / Open Water Countdown Thread ~

[A-Jay]

Made my first RECON trip of the year this morning.

Checked in on 3 Lake Menderchucks and to no one's surprise,

they all looked like this ~ 

 

 Except for a few downed trees across them, the access roads & ramps all seemed to have come through the winter unscathed, so that's a good thing.

 While air temps are still averaging at or slightly above freezing day/night,

there's still time.

 

2 weeks 4 days to go.

A-Jay

 

                                         

 

[gim]

40 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

they all looked like this

What's out on the ice, ice anglers?  Is that a truck out there still too or an ATV?

 

If its a truck out there, it's probably going to still be a while. ?

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, gimruis said:

What's out on the ice, ice anglers?  Is that a truck out there still too or an ATV?

 

If its a truck out there, it's probably going to still be a while. ?

It's the ice fishing Perch Patrol on ATV's

There were maybe a dozen anglers enjoying the morning on the ice.

A-Jay

[DitchPanda]

Ice went out here about 5-6 days ago...got out yesterday a couple hours and got the ol ice out skunk. Snuck out to a different pond this morning with a buddy...I caught 2 dinks and he got one. No size at all but those first bass of spring are always exciting...we both got our first fish curse lifted for the year.

[MN Fisher]

31 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

we both got our first fish curse lifted for the year.

Great that you got out...

 

Meanwhile in MN - 7 weeks, 6 days until we can legally target bass.

[12poundbass]

Just took a Sunday drive by what will be our new lake and I’d say we have 10-15% open water. The rest of the lake I’d guess will be open by the end of the week. 

[A-Jay]

17 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Just took a Sunday drive by what will be our new lake and I’d say we have 10-15% open water. The rest of the lake I’d guess will be open by the end of the week. 

"Our New Lake"

Bet that feels pretty good to say.

A-Jay

[slonezp]

Got the pond hopper ready to go today. New gear lube and she started after 4 pulls. I still have to get a new sticker for the plates and fishing licenses. Weather is all over the place this week

 

[12poundbass]

22 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

"Our New Lake"

Bet that feels pretty good to say.

A-Jay

It is, especially since it isn’t a big soup bowl and has two other lakes connected to it. 

[FishinBuck07]

Got out today and managed my first largie of the year, on a jerkbait!  Never caught a fish on a jerkbait.

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, FishinBuck07 said:

Got out today and managed my first largie of the year, on a jerkbait!  Never caught a fish on a jerkbait.

Well, now you're sunk...Bait Monkey is gonna have you filling a box with Vision 110s before too long.

[12poundbass]

44 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Well, now you're sunk...Bait Monkey is gonna have you filling a box with Vision 110s before too long.

I need to train the Baitmonkey to rob banks so I can buy some Vision 110’s. 

[T-Billy]

On 3/18/2022 at 6:42 AM, A-Jay said:

No doubt.

So less than it was but still probably more than it needs to be.

A-Jay

 

My tackle load lightens as the season wears on and they become more predictable. Early season... Everything goes, including the kitchen sink. Ya just never know.

[FishinBuck07]

12 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Well, now you're sunk...Bait Monkey is gonna have you filling a box with Vision 110s before too long.

Nope I was using the Berkley Stunna, little cheaper!  Lol

[J Francho]

We're totally open as far as I can tell.

[Smokinal]

On 3/20/2022 at 2:56 PM, A-Jay said:

"Our New Lake"

Bet that feels pretty good to say.

A-Jay

Was thinking the same thing....I'm jealous

[A-Jay]

Air temps here are just above freezing,

but it's been raining hard almost All Day.

Back forty is a giant mess with a delightful combination of slush & mud.

However the ground snow is being eliminated in whole sale fashion.

Got to think the the hard water is too.

Might do a second RECON trip on Monday morning,

just  to see.

 Down to a mere TWO Weeks ~

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Back forty is a giant mess with a delightful combination of slush & mud.

Yesterday, my back yard was just mud - no snow in sight...this morning woke up to this.

[A-Jay]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Yesterday, my back yard was just mud - no snow in sight...this morning woke up to this.

Ya well you can keep that.

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

Snow was melted by this morning - and running an errand I saw this.

 

OPEN WATER!

 

Ya, it's only about a 6'-8' stretch along the bank...but still.....

 

It has begun.

[gim]

34 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Snow was melted by this morning

I pretty much had the same thing.  Rained all day Tuesday and a coating of snow on Wed morning, which completely melted by the end of the day.

 

In total I received 1.25 inches of rain prior to the snow.  We're slowly digging out of the drought.

 

The ice I see around here doesn't quite have that "dark gray" look yet.  Once it gets to be that color its gone in like a week.

[Smokinal]

3 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Snow was melted by this morning - and running an errand I saw this.

 

OPEN WATER!

 

Ya, it's only about a 6'-8' stretch along the bank...but still.....

 

It has begun.

You're about the same stage we are at in Maine...maybe a day or 2 behind. Edges are opening here and ice is pretty black at this point.

I'm hoping for April 2nd or 3rd

[MN Fisher]

Okay - this just popped up in my FB Memories. Last year, 24th of March.

 

We're at about the same stage now - so ice-out is probably going to be close to last year's date of April 13.

 

Looks like my original guess for this year is gonna be off.

[J Francho]

It's 60 and sunny. Snow predicted Sunday. 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

It's 60 and sunny. Snow predicted Sunday. 

Ya - we had 67 earlier in the week...now we're looking at 30s and 40s for highs the next several days.