Ice fishing 2010/11

Just wondering if someone could let me know if the lakes have enough ice on them by Christmas to do some ice fishing. From Rochester and trying to plan a trip. Thanks.

I would assume on a “normal year” you could get out by walking or maybe a wheeler or snowmobile. Not usually much driving before the first of the year unless we get some good cold weather, early hard ice and no SNOW!! I know there are guy’s on here with more experience on Leech than me or maybe try calling one of the resorts and see what their experience is, that is their business.

It is always a roll of the dice when predicting ice. At Mille Lacs there is at least a 3 week window of first safe ice depending on the weather. I have driven on Cove Bay on Thanksgiving with my truck twice in the 18 years since I have been here. Other years it’s almost Christmas.

Your best early ice on leech would be on the big lake from Pine Point easy to get on from a resort or off of Stony Pt.

Walker bay is one of the last area’s to freeze as it has water 150ft deep. Last year we had early ice and fishing was good. My small ponds are frozen but we need some zero weather with no wind to get Leech locked up. I was on leech early last year just need some cold and no snow this year early like any year.

Made some calls today and it seems that the Resorts on Leech don’t open up til after Christmas. I got a group of 3 looking to stay 3 nights, just wondering if anybody knew if it’s legal to set up an ice house in a parking lot of a landing on the lake. If not would a hotel be the only other option?

It’s not realy legal to set up at a landing parking lot but what about twenty feet from shore?

Thanks Bob, They are nice Walleyes. Keep posting pictures.