Ice just formed

[roadwarrior]

 

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=35.09520980000008&lon=-89.78102689999997

[Standard]

17 hours ago, gimruis said:

Uhhh, you know muskie season closes on Dec 1, right?  Friday is your last day to legally target them here.

 

Yup was planning on heading up early Friday and getting one last trip in, but seeing more reports of ice so may just go searching for some fishable ice instead.

[33oldtimer]

It astounds me that people drive their trucks out on the ice and fish. 

[MN Fisher]

48 minutes ago, 33oldtimer said:

It astounds me that people drive their trucks out on the ice and fish. 

Oh, more than that. When I went to Bemidji State University - once the ice behind the Student Union was thick enough, the maintenance crew would plow off an area. The U gained about 500 parking spots by the education buildings from about mid-December to mid-March.

[TnRiver46]

Well I just watched a recent ice fishing video from Minnesota, now I can get my fix without walking my fat arse out there 

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well I just watched a recent ice fishing video from Minnesota, now I can get my fix without walking my fat arse out there 

Just watch the 'Grumpy Old Men' movies...they were shot here in MN.

[MAN]

22 hours ago, Gera said:

How?? I lived in Mexico for a few years (2.5hrs from the TX border)  and even there I had snow some winters. 

I live on the Gulf Coast.   

[Texas Flood]

I went up to the twin cities for Thanksgiving and I was excited when I saw Albert Lea Lake was frozen. Then I remembered the whole lake is about 4-5 feet deep.

[MN Fisher]

And so it begins - DNR COs pulled a couple guys off the ice on Como Park Lake today. The ya-hoos didn't fall through, but one of the COs commented that 'They were very lucky'.

[MIbassyaker]

18 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

And so it begins - DNR COs pulled a couple guys off the ice on Como Park Lake today. The ya-hoos didn't fall through, but one of the COs commented that 'They were very lucky'.

 

"I'll take 'Predictable Debacles' for 400, please, Alex..."

[Smokinal]

I'm out tomorrow!!

Some small ponds have skimmed over but my home lake is wide open!

And we're getting 45 degree rain right now so everything should be back open tomorrow.

Every day could be the last day though. I'll go throw some blades in 40fow while I can

[gim]

On 11/29/2023 at 6:50 AM, TnRiver46 said:

Well I just watched a recent ice fishing video from Minnesota, now I can get my fix without walking my fat arse out there 

I don’t ice fish anymore but everyone that still does says that when the trucks and castles come out, the fishing gets exponentially worse because of the commotion and noise on the ice. Every single noise you make scares or alerts fish to your presence, even more so than from a boat in open water.

 

Early ice is the most productive ice fishing period, but it’s also the most unsafe too.

 

The crowd is on Upper Red Lake as we speak. They are letting people walk out there now and last I saw there were already hundreds of portables.

 

Also, litter, waste, and other items left on the ice are a complete eye sore here. The problem only compounds as winter progresses and people spend longer periods of time out there. Ice anglers are the biggest demographic of slobs in the outdoor community.

 

I know people in the south may think that ice fishing is a novelty worth experiencing. I’m here to tell you it isn’t. Your better off dangling a plastic purple worm in the Tennessee River.

[NorcalBassin]

Wow, looks like I'm one of the rare few who still love living up in the snow as an adult! Granted, I'm about a 30 minute drive to a really good year round bass lake that never gets ice on it, but I still enjoy the peacefulness of watching it snow and build up in the yard. 

[Bankbeater]

Snow doesn't bother me as long as I don't have to shovel it or drive in it.

[33oldtimer]

17 hours ago, Smokinal said:

I'm out tomorrow!!

Some small ponds have skimmed over but my home lake is wide open!

And we're getting 45 degree rain right now so everything should be back open tomorrow.

Every day could be the last day though. I'll go throw some blades in 40fow while I can

A few days ago my ponds were skimmed over with ice, as were parts of the river. Warm rain from the south and warmer temps got rid of the ice. Going out for a short time today. 

[killobet]

On 11/25/2023 at 2:51 PM, Pogues2300 said:

Ice just formed over my local lakes, please enjoy and tell stories about your open water winter bass fishing so I can have a little hope for next spring here in Minnesota

Cmon down here in Commiefornia😂

[MN Fisher]

And the wackos have fully appeared. Last week at this time, Seton Lake (another in the Minnetonka chain) was open water...running an errand today I saw three separate groups out on the ice covering Seton.

[gim]

12 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

And the wackos have fully appeared. Last week at this time, Seton Lake (another in the Minnetonka chain) was open water...running an errand today I saw three separate groups out on the ice covering Seton.

Gonna be a very warm week here too. Near record high temps for December. I’m sure the Hennepin County Sheriff is on high alert.

[MN Fisher]

17 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I’m sure the Hennepin County Sheriff is on high alert.

I know that one of their air-boats is already stationed out here...saw it behind the Spring Park station last week.

[WaskaCrank12]

There were many people out on the hard water on Lake Reno (near Alexandria, MN - west central MN) this past weekend - the boat ramp areas were full. Risky this early in the year and with the relatively mild temps we have had. I was surprised to see that many people out on the ice.

The crazier people (only a hand full) were going out on Lake Minnewaska (MN) -- still some open water near the drainage areas and the ice not looking very thick at all. I think that is way too risky. 

 

[WRB]

My wife’s family lived MN and West Ontario Canada and she knows living in below zero for months the reason she moved to California.

I grew up in SoCal mountains Big Bear lake and it’s cold, lake freezes over and snows a lot. The difference is we can drive an hour and be in 70 degree weather. Now we live in 70 degree weather and drive an hour to play in the snow. 

Tom

[TnRiver46]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

My wife’s family lived MN and West Ontario Canada and she knows living in below zero for months the reason she moved to California.

I grew up in SoCal mountains Big Bear lake and it’s cold, lake freezes over and snows a lot. The difference is we can drive an hour and be in 70 degree weather. Now we live in 70 degree weather and drive an hour to play in the snow. 

Tom

I can also drive an hour to play in the snow on the mountain but when I get home it’s pouring rain and 39 degrees instead of 70 and sunny 😂 

[Pogues2300]

14 hours ago, WRB said:

My wife’s family lived MN and West Ontario Canada and she knows living in below zero for months the reason she moved to California.

I grew up in SoCal mountains Big Bear lake and it’s cold, lake freezes over and snows a lot. The difference is we can drive an hour and be in 70 degree weather. Now we live in 70 degree weather and drive an hour to play in the snow. 

Tom

Sounds pretty dang good. 

[MN Fisher]

Latest lake status:

Main bays of Minnetonka are still 90%+ ice free

Small lakes (Black, Emerald, etc) are ice covered, but it's still looking pretty dark - I wouldn't consider it safe.

 

Saying that - passing by Black Lake on my way home...east of the bridge, Spring Park Bay is almost ice free...you could even launch at the Mist Ramp as it's clear.

BUT

West of the bridge - there were about a dozen yaa-hoos out on the ice.

 

I'm keeping an eye on the local news cause one of those wackos is sure to go through.

[WaskaCrank12]

Here in west central MN (Alexandria/Glenwood area) there were several dozen people out ice fishing on Lake Reno (with the warmer temps most were sitting out on a chair - while some were in portable shelters) -- another two dozen or so were out on Lake Minnewaska - it does look like most of them were using common sense and staying in areas where the water is more shallow/ice is thicker. I hope they are all wearing their life jackets and have safety/rescue gear nearby.