First Ice Predictions For MN

Cant believe Im saying this but think Ill be out on the ice just north of Mille lacs this weekend for some tip up action. Its just not right.

Rogers has announced that they will be opening up their access to foot traffic tomorrow. The water levels are low this year

crappie55369 wrote:

The water levels are low this year

Like 3 feet!?! Is that normal for Red? I’ve never heard of such a fluctuation before, but maybe I missed it previous years.

Mike W wrote:

Cant believe Im saying this but think Ill be out on the ice just north of Mille lacs this weekend for some tip up action. Its just not right.

I wouldn’t make any plans for walking on ice this weekend. All of the lakes around Brainerd that I’ve driven by are still open as of this afternoon.

Sam, what Lake Francis are we talking?

While tonight’s weather in the metro is a nice start the long term forecast doesn’t look good in the metro. One day next week has a high in the 50’s! Hoping to colder weather

Skin Ice on small lakes in the Brainerd Lakes Area this morning for the first time.
It’s comming….

Full ice coverage on Mallalieu in Hudson, Wi this morning as well. Although, as Crappie mentioned it may not stay this upcoming week. Still way ahead of the past couple years.

ClownColor wrote:

Walkable ice for quit a ways in Aitkin County. Can even take a wheeler out a short distance. I imagine people could ice fish now if they’re diehards.

Wow really!!?? Seems crazy to think wheelers would be out on lakes already.

Saw guys out fishing on a few lakes around DL yesterday. Shallow lakes have been capped all week and the deeper ones still just a couple hundred yards of shore ice.

Heading out to duck hunt ND this weekend and sounds like guys are ice fishing almost all of the lakes out there. Birds are still keeping pockets open on most of the lakes being fished.

Every year, it just blows me away how quickly the freeze up happens. It doesn’t seem like it should go as quick as it does.

A few college buddies of mine were out fishing on a lake in Menomonie WI. The back bay of the main lake had 3 inches of ice.

Small 10 ac lake (but deep – 50′) on the east side of Aitkin Co. Just completely froze over Fri morning. Shore ice was still not thick enough to prevent one spud bar strike from going thru.

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Coon Lake public access yesterday evening.

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With the warm weather and high winds today I expect all of the ice, save for some small protected ponds, that had accumulated in the metro to be gone. Forecast for the rest of the week has highs in the 40’s and overnight lows barely under freezing. Kind of a bummer…. All we need is a 3-4 day freeze with temps in the teens and we would have walkable ice on some small lakes around here. Hoping for colder weather soon…..

The small metro pond I was fishing on Nov. 11th is now open again in most spots. At least I got the first ice itch scratched…but back to the drawing board.

Bahhahhahaaa

Supposed to get real cold in the metro starting early next week. Don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch but could be on the ice in 7-10 days.

crappie55369 wrote:

Supposed to get real cold in the metro starting early next week. Don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch but could be on the ice in 7-10 days.

Told my wife we should be on good ice down here by the weekend of the 16th. I was then told we are going to my in-laws for Christmas that weekend. Really?!

jld wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>crappie55369 wrote:</div>
Supposed to get real cold in the metro starting early next week. Don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch but could be on the ice in 7-10 days.

Told my wife we should be on good ice down here by the weekend of the 16th. I was then told we are going to my in-laws for Christmas that weekend. Really?!

unless your in-laws ice fish too……..

If the wind stays down after tonight it could be this weekend for some folks.

Tonka was wide open everywhere this morning. The temperatures are cooperating but the wind isnt