2025 Mille Lacs Ice Out Guess

29-30″ of ice where I was fishing today.

I now believe Platte Lake will be ice-free before April 1st, so I’m thinking April 10th for The Big Pond.

You live on Platte? Family used to own the channel inn in the 70s and early 80s my dad built his retirement home on Sullivan

The pond WILL NOT be ice free in 2 weeks. It has barely pulled from shore in most spots. I am thinking my 4/19 might be too early

The SCRATCHER wrote:

You live on Platte? Family used to own the channel inn in the 70s and early 80s my dad built his retirement home on Sullivan

My family owns a lake place on the far eastern end of Platte that one of my brothers family lives at. I live just South of 27.

Lets have good ice till opener, less walleye netted is a good thing. Every year we have late ice there is a large year class.

It looked pretty dark in spots this morning, up towards the northwest corner the ice has pulled away from the shore quite a bit in spots, as soon as the wind picks up it will ping pong away pretty quickly imo…

I’d guess April 12th

Where Garrison creek runs in by Harbor Bar, its always opened up early. Same by the hogsback pull off… moving water and shallow ice can mislead. How deep can the ice be in a foot of water out beyond 50 yards ?!!! Wind can change anything, but with snow forecasted this weekend and into early next week, lack of snow melt and run off, not a lot of melting going on.

Crazy year. Have plans to open water fish in the local area tomorrow and plans to run a few Hours North on Sunday to ice fish. Was thinking of doing both on the same day tomorrow but pushed the ice outing till Sunday.

Best of both worlds right now.

fishthumper wrote:

Crazy year. Have plans to open water fish in the local area tomorrow and plans to run a few Hours North on Sunday to ice fish. Was thinking of doing both on the same day tomorrow but pushed the ice outing till Sunday.

Here is what the ice sheet oooked like yesterday from above.

I was quite sure, coming into the last weekend in March, that ice would be off Platte on the 30th or 31st. But somehow, as of yesterday, the ice was holding pretty much everywhere it still was coming out of that weekend, even though most of the lake was open.

Looks like an extended warming trend will start on the 9th. If that happens, I doubt there will still be ice on Mille Lacs by the 20th.

Had open water out 100’ on the West side yesterday.

Quick, deploy the nets!

I was not able to get out and check Platte on Saturday or Sunday. Surely, the ice would be gone when I checked on Monday evening. Nope, there was still a few acres worth of ice out there.

Mille lacs takes more than warm weather… the wind is what will ultimately move ice out earlier. Right now, it’s still a big sheet. It is out about 150-200 yards in Garrison and also on the hogsback, which is normal because of the shallow water. There is only a foot of water, so not much ice to melt there ! I am sticking with 4/19 as of now.

I hope it goes out the day before opener.
But with this weeks forecast and as big_g said some wind it will go quicker than that.

Can you post the current satellite image again ?

big_g wrote:

Can you post the current satellite image again ?

Here’s the link:
https://ge.ssec.wisc.edu/modis-today/index.php?satellite=a1&product=true_color&date=2025_04_07_097&overlay_sector=false&overlay_state=true&overlay_coastline=true&sector=USA3&resolution=250m

Looks like Mille Lacs is the southern edge of still iced over lakes. Won’t be long now I think.

Still looks pretty together from that image. No major cracks or open areas in the main lake yet. It takes awhile to melt a 11×18 mile piece of ice. Once it busts up, its still days before its fully navigable. Round lake, just west of the pond is still holding ice…that usually is out at least a week before Mille Lacs.

Here’s a better image from yesterday. Looks like Cove and Vineland really opening up, and some major cracks on the north end

Per Google maps the Res now has the whole southern shoreline?? First time I seen that shown on the map.

Big wind today move it out about a mile on the West and North… still a big sheet. Piling on the East side shows ice about a foot thick yet… big chunks, not the little ice cubes yet. Couple days yet.

I was actually just thinking about this as the wind continues to blow. Hopefully everybody’s stuff is far back from the shorelines. Could be a giant pile of ice crashing through yards.

I had been thinking that too… could be real nasty..

Jason wrote:

Per Google maps the Res now has the whole southern shoreline?? First time I seen that shown on the map.

I don’t see it in the pic you posted, but my Apple Maps have shown it for quite some time now. What it means I have no idea.

Still a lot of ice on the main lake. this came in last night with the wind. Mostly ice that was in the bay.

They have been actively pursuing their land in the south shore for a while now. Another topic for another day.
I think it will be more than a few days before it’s ice free. Lots of ice still out there.

tswoboda wrote:

Here’s a better image from yesterday. Looks like Cove and Vineland really opening up, and some major cracks on the north end

What site is that sat image from? Modis is always cloud covered…