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

[gim]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Could still be a full 2 weeks before it's even remotely decent enough to launch.

 

2 weeks would still be 13 days ahead of the scheduled "countdown/prediction"  Take what you can get.

[Deephaven]

There is open water on Gray's Bay of Lake Minnetonka today as well.  Also 61° atm...

[12poundbass]

4 hours ago, MIbassyaker said:

High of 70 expected tomorrow.

 

I need to go check out the situation on some of the area lakes yet, but the residential ponds and the river are all open water.

 

And I am off work next week...

I saw ice last week on some of the lakes around GR and by me, but after yesterday and today I’d guess it’s gone again. No way I’m launching the boat just yet but I might hit a bank or two.

[A-Jay]

Crazy warm here today - broke a 73 year old record .

I actually pulled the Pro-V Bass out of hibernation and gave her a much needed bath.

Be a while before that happens in February again

 

 

Of course there's a winter advisory for 6 inches of snow tomorrow.

36 days to go.

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

Just now, A-Jay said:

Crazy warm here today - broke a 73 year old record .

Broke it?

 

It threw it on the ground and stomped all over it - crazy times.

[Glenn]

And we had late-season snow last night.  Tomorrow?  Torrential rains in the forecast.

[MN Fisher]

@Glenn - don't you just love it when the weather can make up it's mind what it wants to do?

[A-Jay]

Parties over but it was nice despite being short lived.

As wild as this sounds, we had big time thunder & lightning all night.

With big dogs trying to sleep on my face, good times.

We're Back to reality.

A-Jay

[casts_by_fly]

You'll be right back on an early thaw track shortly.  I bet even if you get 5" it is gone before the end of the weekend with the 10-day forecast you have.  And with the wind, that will break up the ice.  if I were you, I'd be planning to fish next week.

 

So far so good here today.  The wind forecast has dropped 5 mph and its only 10 mph later today.  And, its lighter here than the forecast so here's to hoping. Either way, I'm pretty confident I'll be on the water this afternoon for my first February start to a year.  Now I just need to catch my first February bass.

[MIbassyaker]

Yep, back to 27 degrees today, with some snow and 23mph wind. But things should be back in the 50s-60s by Friday. 

 

I'm planning to hit the bank a couple times next week, but I'm honestly wondering if I could get out on a kayak one of the days.  I need to do some scouting this weekend.

[MN Fisher]

Obviously the day or two of cold temps isn't affecting the melting much

 

Tonka report

Narrows Channel is open - probably see some shore-fisherpeople going after panfish before too long...was surprised there weren't any out there today

Small inlets - usually the one's dug for private dockage - mostly open

Black Lake - 20%-25% open on the north side.

 

The ice in several of the larger bays is looking pretty dark - expect them to start breaking up soon.

[A-Jay]

With 33 days to go,

Two very positive events happened today.

First, I purchased my 2024 Michigan all species fishing license on line today.

Second, after a little more RECON, Local Lake Menderchuck appears to be 60 to maybe even 70 % open water.  If this were April I would totally expect to be fishing in 2 days or so. 

But it's the 1st of March for gosh sakes, I have no idea what happens next.

I'll start loading my rig with gear this coming week just in case. 

Middle of the this month is looking more doable than ever.

😁

A-Jay

 

 

[casts_by_fly]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

With 33 days to go,

Two very positive events happened today.

First, I purchased my 2024 Michigan all species fishing license on line today.

Second, after a little more RECON, Local Lake Menderchuck appears to be 60 to maybe even 70 % open water.  If this were April I would totally expect to be fishing in 2 days or so. 

But it's the 1st of March for gosh sakes, I have no idea what happens next.

I'll start loading my rig with gear this coming week just in case. 

Middle of the this month is looking more doable than ever.

😁

A-Jay

 

 

60% is still a lot of open water. Mini icebergs aside, any reason you can’t be out there “tomorrow”?

[A-Jay]

9 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

60% is still a lot of open water. Mini icebergs aside, any reason you can’t be out there “tomorrow”?

Funny thing is that other frozen percent, surrounds the only deep water boat ramp.

So I'm still locked out !

A-Jay

[12poundbass]

@A-Jay it seems no matter what part of the lake the ramp is at, that’s where the remaining ice will be. Mother Nature is a cruel cruel woman! 

[DaubsNU1]

I'm headed to fish here in about an hour. And tomorrow as well. : ) 

[gim]

I would not want to be doing a titanic thing with my boat and the ice. I can wait until it’s fully melted. Don’t need to fish that bad where it risks damaging the boat.

[casts_by_fly]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Funny thing is that other frozen percent, surrounds the only deep water boat ramp.

So I'm still locked out !

A-Jay

well I guess there’s that!  Hope it clears quickly for you. The good thing is once it starts, the wind will help it along quickly. 

[A-Jay]

On 2/23/2024 at 10:07 PM, casts_by_fly said:

I thought it looked crustacean like. Looks a lot like the bomber patterns of crayfish just over a perch like base color. 
 

how long will you throw a given bait before you switch bait/color?  If a bass eating your lure is your indicator, then it’s a combo of having a lure they will eat in a place they will be. Do you change places first or lures/colors?

 

On 2/24/2024 at 7:46 AM, A-Jay said:

More good questions, which I would like to respond to.

But rather than bury my response in this ice out thread, I'll add it to Brown Bass Tools

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/211811-brown-bass-tools-~-questions-answers/

and link at deal here as well.

Hitting the gym first though . . . .

Back in a bit.

A-Jay

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/211811-brown-bass-tools-~-questions-answers/?do=findComment&comment=3050040

A-Jay

 

[Smokinal]

We could be in for the earliest ice-out to date if this trend continues. We just got back from a trip to Canada and it's very warm here, rain, and more warm rain in the forecast.

 

[A-Jay]

31 Days to go ~ 

Sounds funny still saying that.

Especially considering I could be making my first casts of 2024 some time next week.

Getting some rain tomorrow but once that clears out I should be good.

It's 'Tight Line Sunday',

and I celebrated it by loading ALL the gear into the Pro-V Bass.

So now we are both locked, cocked & ready to rock.

It's been 89 days since I started this thread.

Some of those days felt pretty long,

but the weeks went by reasonably quickly.

A-Jay

 

[king fisher]

I just installed a new ice maker on the boat, so I no longer have to worry about ice out.

[MN Fisher]

Things are progressing - Emerald Lake is 95% clear, Cooks Bay is about 20% clear and what ice is left is very dark. Despite cooler temps the next few days, I think we'll see a clear bay in a week or so.

[A-Jay]

44 minutes ago, king fisher said:

I just installed a new ice maker on the boat, so I no longer have to worry about ice out.

Wow, your kayak is much better equip than I realized

Congrats

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

I'm thinking my prediction of March 20 was conservative - with 6 lakes in my local area being declared ice-free by the DNR - and what I saw of Tonka yesterday when I took a little road trip...I'm thinking within a week I'd be able to get Bass Trek out on the 'Big Lake'...maybe even by the weekend.