Hi, my sister lives near Eau Claire and our family is planning a trip up to visit them and do some ice fishing. We normally go to Otter Lake and others that are about an hour north of there and I’m just wanting to know what ice conditions people have been reporting in this area? Thanks guys
I live an hour and a half north of there now, but have a buddy that fished Marshmiller last week and reported 7-8 inches. Marshmiller I believe is shallower than Otter on average, so otter may not be as thick.
Just avoid lake Wissota at all costs. The worst fishing lake in the country and it’s not even close.
I’m going to say that he’s being sarcastic when he says it’s a terrible Lake
I would like to keep this going to see how much the ice grows people that have replied already so I can see what it is around the 28th of December so I know what kind of conditions driving up to it so I know how to pack for my truck and what all to bring or leave at home
I did notice that some snow hit yesterday up there which is probably not the best scenario right before it going to get really cold but with low temperatures at or below zero like they’re supposed to be the next few days up there I don’t think it will hurt it that much depending on how much snow actually came down and if it was heavy snow? Thanks in advance for any update!
This Snow did not affect the ice at all. I would be more worried what the upcoming warm spell and rain could do.
I did notice that some snow hit yesterday up there which is probably not the best scenario right before it going to get really cold but with low temperatures at or below zero like they’re supposed to be the next few days up there I don’t think it will hurt it that much depending on how much snow actually came down and if it was heavy snow? Thanks in advance for any update!
We only got about 3″ of snow
Talk to bait shop in stanley for Otter Lake Conditions. Woodland gas station for Lake Eau Claire status. Ice is good for ATV I would guess if your hoping that you can drive I would pay close attention but like others said foot travel is not bad as of today seeing that we don’t have a lot of snow on lake. Warm up could help reduce snow amount.
Right, I did see that it’s supposed to warm up but only into the 40s during the day and still at or below freezing at night. Rain and warm is the worst combination. The last few years Ohio ice has been non-existent almost. We had about 2 weeks last year that we were able to actually get out on the ice but we kept getting warm-ups with rain that would destroy it and then it would get cold again but not safe and then it was over. I will not plan on driving out on it . Walking is just fine because that’s what I’m used to anyways here . You’re not even allowed to drive an ATV out on the ice here in most places other than the Great Lakes which takes a lot of severe cold to get that to freeze over and actually stay fishable, probably because so many people did in the early days and fell through because they didn’t know what they were doing or was bad ice Thanks for the info guys
How much snow do you guys have on the Lakes up there today(12/24/24)?
Okay, what has ice grown to since I last asked on here a week ago?( with little to no snow on the ice I’m sure it’s gained quite a bit with how cold the low temperatures have been up there over the past 4 days)
Depends where you go, but places I’ve fished have been 7-10″ of good ice
Okay hopefully the rain and warm up doesn’t make it lose more than an inch so there’s at least six to nine left
We usually fish anywhere from a half hour north of my sister’s place near Eau Claire to as far as 2 hours North of there
We are prone to these warm-ups with rain much more often than you guys up that far north compared to us in Northeast Ohio so typically I know a few days of 40s with light rain and clouds doesn’t make the ice lose too much especially because you’re overnight temperatures are still below zero for the most part during this warm up. I’d much rather have to wear cleats and waterproof rubber boots then to have to drag through a foot of snow considering that I probably won’t feel comfortable driving on to the ice with my truck which I’m totally fine with walking because that’s all I’m used to anyways
How did ice hold up?
Ice thickness ranged 7-10 inches still. Eau Claire area got between .75 and 1.00+ rain Friday night. All snow is gone. Fished a spot we fished last week and the rain swirled into our old holes and created thin ice 20in diameter around some. Walking, I could see water bouncing up out the holes. Few ATVs were still out. Ice was still good, just had to watch where you walked. Temperatures in the teens this week after New Years Day.
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