Any lakes without ice yet?

[Blackpolar2021]

Hey guys just wondering if there are any lakes in the metro that are fishable yet? I'm getting antsy over here.

[MN Fisher]

Tonka is still socked in - some melting along the shore, but if you cast more than 5yds, you'll end up on ice.

[gim]

There is an annual page maintained by the MN DNR that tracks the ice out on lakes in Minnesota.  Looks like there's a couple in far southern MN so far.  I don't think its updated daily, but its definitely updated weekly.  Based on the warm temps this week and possible measurable rain this weekend, you might see some open up in about a week.

 

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

 

 

[Blackpolar2021]

Good stuff. Thanks for the link.

[MN Fisher]

Latest report

 

Spoon by 36 & 61 in Little Canada has made the grade - shows a boat ramp, so boats should be fine.

So has Taft by 62 & 77 in Richfield

 

Many, many years ago I use to shore-fish Taft, back when I lived in Richfield.

 

Just remember - it's panfish only for another month+

[gim]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Spoon by 36 & 61 in Little Canada has made the grade - shows a boat ramp, so boats should be fine.

Spoon isn't really a lake.  Its just a small area in between Gervais Lake and Keller Lake with nothing but a boat ramp and a fishing pier.  The whole area there only deepens to about 4 feet.  If I was going to launch there, I would make sure that either Keller or Gervais were open too.  Otherwise you'd just kind of sit there in front of the access.

[MN Fisher]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I would make sure that either Keller or Gervais were open too.  Otherwise you'd just kind of sit there in front of the access.

Now I know - never been fishing in that part of the metro. It was always Richfield/Bloomington when I lived down there - now it's Tonka and environs.

[MN Fisher]

21 hours ago, gimruis said:

I would make sure that either Keller or Gervais were open too.  Otherwise you'd just kind of sit there in front of the access.

Ok - Keller has been declared open now

[gim]

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ok - Keller has been declared open now

I think by early next week a bunch of smaller "metro" lakes will be wide open.

[MN Fisher]

12 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I think by early next week a bunch of smaller "metro" lakes will be wide open.

Dutch and Whaletail are the one's I'm looking closely at....

[gim]

On 4/13/2023 at 1:42 PM, MN Fisher said:

Dutch and Whaletail are the one's I'm looking closely at....

Whaletail is open according to the DNR's ice out map.  Quite a number of lakes are listed as being open now, and even a few further north around St Cloud.  What's the word on Tonka?  I thought it would be listed as ice out by now.

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, gimruis said:

What's the word on Tonka?  I thought it would be listed as ice out by now.

Some have said it is - but yesterday when I was out I noticed a swath of ice about 20yds wide on the north-west side of Phelps Island...Al and Alma's docks eastward almost to Emerald Lake channel. Until any ice pushed against shorelines is gone, it's not ice-free.

 

Though there are boats out - saw a couple launching at Spring Park.

[Blackpolar2021]

Thanks for all the info guys. Went to spoon yesterday and could hardly find a spot from shore. So many people out there. I got skunked but saw several people pulling out some Crappie and sunnys. In my defense I didn't stay very long. Just wanted to make some casts and throw a couple of new lures I bought.

[bush_man26]

On 4/11/2023 at 3:39 PM, gimruis said:

There is an annual page maintained by the MN DNR that tracks the ice out on lakes in Minnesota.  Looks like there's a couple in far southern MN so far.  I don't think its updated daily, but its definitely updated weekly.  Based on the warm temps this week and possible measurable rain this weekend, you might see some open up in about a week.

 

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

 

 

Thanks for the link.