Like years past, we will start posting ice updates as well as ice road and general conditions, based on our north shore hands on info.
Yesterday, with temps in the mid-teens, a skim of ice formed
along the first 100yds. of shore and on the north end harbors. Of course,wind and waves wiped that away soon. But that shows how cold and ripe the water is for ice. Calm, single digit temps will easily make ice.
As things change or develop relative to the ice, we will report back here.
Thank you for the update! 
As of Wednesday afternoon Pelican in Orr was icing up quite well. Even with The NW wind and snow it gave me a thrill to see it.
cove bay skimmed over saturday night. it stayed buttoned up all day sunday. i left for work this morning at 0500 and it was 9degs and really dark so i couldn’t see the lake, but i assume that it made ice all night. the main lake was still open to shore as of sunday afternoon
Quite a few boats fishing the past couple days on the north and west shores. Harbor and ramp ice is gone for the most part, at least for a while.
“Now you see what I see”…….
Very nice.
gotta luv them web cams
Ice update and prognosticating cooming later today……
That sunrise on the cam right now is very nice!
-J.
We checked the ice this morning, which in many places is less than 24 hrs. old, and found about 1.5 inches (or less) There are a few small open spots also.
We are hoping it doesn’t break open as it now is like glass smooth as far the eye can see. If all goes according to the forecast, there is a chance we could have 5-6 inches by early next week or even late this coming weekend. When we get 6 inches, we will open the access to walking/ATV’s and sleds–at no access charge. Stayed tuned….
Not enough to walk on yet let alone ATV’s etc. Maybe by Saturday? Stay tuned……
As of this morning, Friday the 9th, we have 4.5 inches of ice on the main lake.
One issue that will be nagging for at least a few days is the no snow cover on the ice. Because of the no snow cover, temperature change contracts and or expands the ice much more. Because of this, for example, we have two 30″ wide cracks to cross–both within 200 yds.of shore, due to the cold last night. As temps rise, those cracks will close and maybe bust up. So, the no snow allows quicker ice-making but also creates the chance of daily or even hourly changes on the ice ridge scene. Stay tuned! Maybe ATV traffic by Sunday??
Sunday, December 11th, 10 am., we have a solid 6.5 inches of ice in all the places we checked.
With that ice thickness, normally we would not hesitate in opening the access to ATV travel and the like with that much ice. But as we mentioned in previous reports, the snow free ice is very prone to temperature change expansion and contraction. For example, the past half hour, the warming temps created a big push(expansion) and busted the crack about 200yds. from shore. That crack was healed up the past 24 hrs. until now. So an ATV would have trouble getting across without bridging of some kind. As the warm temps continue today and into tomorrow, the potential of more changes is there, for sure.
So as of now, we will keep the access closed to ATV travel. Rather than getting ATV’s trapped on the lake side of the crack, that is best for all, as of now. Walking out, for the most part, should be fine. We will let the temps stabilize today and tomorrow and then, most likely, open the access for ATV travel and get light bridging in place where needed. Stay tuned!
In the meantime? A few locals have reported good walleye action in the neighborhood.
And bring the ice cleats…
We have, officially, opened the skating rink for ATV travel!
There is an expansion crack about 200 yds. from shore that we have cones marking a light bridge to cross. Please go slowly over the bridging so it doesn’t slide off the crack one way or another.
6.5 to 7 inches of ice with no snow on it. So sleds, unless they are the old bogey style, are not a good idea. And bring the cleats! Or the skates…..
Fishing reports, what few there are, are good at low light times. Some are getting them in 12 ft. while others are deeper in 18-22ft. More traffic and reports by the weekend will be telling.
I watched them work on putting out the bridge today on the web cam makes me wish i was there.
Ice conditions are stable as the warm temps are consistent enough to not change the expansion crack(s). We found some main lake ice today that was 7.75 inches thick. ATV travel is safe, for the most part, in our area. Ice cleats are must! Chains on the ATV’s don’t hurt, for sure.
We know there are open water patches several miles from shore and also within a half mile of shore, all within sight of the northern and northwestern shores. So if anyone ventures out to mudflat country, checking ice thickness is a must as you go. With the cold temps coming the next 24 to 48 hours, those open patches will freeze over(one can assume)and, however, will look the same as the 6 plus inch ice. To say the least, one needs to use extreme caution heading out where you haven’t been yet.
So all is well around Wealthwood but surely not a done deal when speaking about the whole lake.
We got a slushy 1 inch of snow today so no need to be concerned about the ice being insulated. Although not an artice front, cool temps should add to the ice each day for at least the next couple. We cut holes today a mile to the west of Wealthwood and found 7 inches consistently. But we did find one area, around the size of a football field, that had two inches. That area is about 150 yds. off shore west of Doc’s Resort a 1/4 mile. (it was open water there last Saturday…)
No fishing reports today by the ones that braved the fog.
A big stretch of open water is now visible from the north shore, stretching from west of Myr Mar to at least the Wealthwood area, about a mile or two from shore. With big off-shore winds blowing today, we feel, strongly, that no one should access the lake, walking or by ATV from the north shore. The off-shore wind and open water stretch creates the potential of the shore ice breaking free and trapping anyone on the fishing grounds. So….stay tuned! But for now….stay safe!!
Ice thickness is staying about the same—7.5 to 8 inches.
Open water and thin ice that stretches almost across the whole lake from east to west, in the first mudflat distance out from the north shorelines, will keep us from allowing any access other than walking. It will take a number of very cold days and nights for that open area to ice up enough for any form of vehicle traffic. Being that one can not see the thinner ice and or open areas from ice level, travel mid-lake is not advised. With no snow on the ice, walking to shoreline fishing grounds is easy.
We will update ice conditions and access via the Red Door daily.
Off-shore winds will limit us as the ice could pull away from shore in that setting, as long as that open and thin ice is downwind.
Monday, Dec. 19th–mid day:
The heavy northerly winds this morning have a big gash of open water along the north shore–well within sight of shore. Most of it is about 1-2 miles off shore. In fact, it is open within a few 100 yds. of the Myr Mar point shoreline and to the west. The gash of open water is at least a few 100 yards wide–running for several miles east to west. Luckily, to this point anyway, the ice between the shoreline and the open water has not let go.
So we are advising NO ice travel from the north shore with the off-shore, northerly wind blowing. Updates to follow as needed….
Late Monday December 26th:
From Red Door east, the ice has not changed today.
The main sheet of ice moved about 700 ft. NE according to the position of fish houses on the north shore.
The ice crashed into the old ice, especially from about the Weathowood access east to Knox Point and then to the SE from there. Piles of ice from 6 to 15ft. high grace the shores from Doc’s Resort to the tip of Knox Point and to the SE of Knox Point way out in the lake.
So, with that, a few locals got their houses off now that the old ice connected back up to the old shoreline ice. A few 4- wheelers were retrieved as well. Some to the west toward Myr Mar are still on the old ice, not directly accessible from that shoreline area.
Of course, with that, more open water is to the west and southwest.
Heavy NW winds tomorrow (Tuesday)will, potentially, take the ice sheet the opposite direction it moved today. How much north there is to it will determine how much the flow goes–if anywhere at all.
Main lake is around 9 inches thick but is surrounded by open water or variations of ice from nothing to 3-4 inches thick.
With this much open water on the west and southwestern shores, what would a NE or east wind do??
Tuesday, December 27th:
The north wind today has broken the ice loose from part of the north end again.
The open water hugs the shoreline from west of Myr Mar to the “Junction” (just west of the Wealthwood Rod and Gun Club) and then cuts south about a mile and then east as far as the eye can see. The open gash in the ice runs about at the first mudflat distance from shore and is about 400-500 yards wide.
The area to the east of the Junction along shore is now old ice to old ice–at least for the time being. A north wind could blow it away anytime…so some of the locals have taken houses off while the opportunity is there.
4-wheelers are now being retrieved by pontoon out from Myr Mar Marina.
As long as that open gash is part of the scene, the potential of the shore ice taking off is on the table.
Wednesday, the 28th:
We checked ice thickness today along several stretches of the north shore. We found an average of 10.5″.
We need a minimum of a consistent 12″ to drive on with trucks and houses.
But at this point, the open water, now almost surrounding the entire lake at various distances from shore, presents a hands off scenario, even if it got to 12″ in our area. Until that open gash of water locks up, allowing driving, virtually anywhere on the lake, it is and will be too much of a gamble in our opinion. The potential headlines won’t come from the Red Door. How would one fence off the bad spots? We have ice from skim ice to 2″,3″,4″,5 inches etc. of ice scattered all over in and around mudflat country.
So we wait for nature to do what it wants and when it wants.
Thanks to everyone for their patience! It’s gotta get cold, right?
The following is from the National Weather service for our area:
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 10 AM CST SUNDAY.
* TIMING: A COMBINATION OF FREEZING RAIN AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON..AND CHANGE TO SNOW BY EARLY EVENING. SNOW WILL INCREASE IN INTENSITY BETWEEN 5PM AND 8PM NEAR THE BRAINERD LAKES REGION… AND BETWEEN 6PM AND 9PM AROUND THE TWIN PORTS AND ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR. SNOW SHOULD DECREASE IN INTENSITY AFTER MIDNIGHT.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: 2 TO 5 INCHES… WITH THE HEAVIEST AMOUNTS FROM BARNUM TO DULUTH AND ALONG THE NORTH SHORE OF LAKE SUPERIOR.
* WINDS AND VISIBILITY: NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO 20 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 35 MPH LATE TONIGHT AND NEW YEARS DAY. VISIBILITY IS LIKELY TO BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN A HALF MILE AT TIMES.
* MAIN IMPACT: FALLING SNOW COMBINED WITH GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN REDUCED VISIBILITY… SLICK ROADS AND HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW MEANS THAT VISIBILITIES WILL BE LIMITED DUE TO A COMBINATION OF FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW. USE CAUTION WHEN TRAVELING… ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS THAT ARE MORE EXPOSED TO THE WIND. ROADS MAY BE SLICK AND HAZARDOUS… SO ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION
After the big NW wind, there is open water out at least as far as the first flats to the south, and west of us. We have 11 inches right out of the access but waves rolling 500 yards to the southwest.
Time will tell….
Are any of the resorts on the north or east side pulling out any sleeper shacks? I know they would not be going out very far or anything but wondering what my chances are of going up there 1/13-1/15 and staying in a sleeper shack somewhere. Anywhere even down by Liberty Beach area?
Quote:
Are any of the resorts on the north or east side pulling out any sleeper shacks? I know they would not be going out very far or anything but wondering what my chances are of going up there 1/13-1/15 and staying in a sleeper shack somewhere. Anywhere even down by Liberty Beach area?
We, at The Red Door on the north shore, are hoping to have the lakes open areas locked up by then and being able to get on the good ice we have now. We have 10-12 inches in our area now but we also have a big area of open water. All we can do is hope for a safe scenario by then. When it is, the Red Door will have sleepers out on the north end.
We will update as needed here and also feel free to call our office for any questions you might have. THANKS!!
Sunday, January 15th:
Ice conditions are improved. But no where near consistently good along the north shore.
From the North Garrison Public Access to just east of Knox Point, the first half mile or more of ice, from the shoreline out, is less than 3 inches thick. With cold temps coming mid-week, it might be possible that stretch will be open to ATV traffic by the 20th. Best to check, carefully, with locals and by yourself before taking an ATV onto that stretch. Full-size vehicles, obviously, should not be considered along that stretch anytime soon.
From Red Door east, to Malmo, the shoreline ice is ranging from 12″ to 14″ thick, surely within a half mile of shore. But there is ice less than or around 3″ thick between shore and the East Flat, Weimer Flat, Bombeck Flat and west of there. The bad ice is about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile out from Red Door and runs to the southeast. So ALL north mudflats are not safely accessible at this time. Maybe via ATV by next weekend, the 20th-21st.
The ice is almost snow free. There is some pin drifting available for banking snow.
There is the normal expansion/contraction crack along the north shore, so be sure to cross that on a resort bridge, either out of Red Door or if available, elsewhere. Don’t gamble with those live cracks. The bridges are put there for one reason. Simply, because the alternative rarely works out in a good way.
Red Door is open for full-size vehicle traffic, up to half ton pick-ups. Hopefully, by the end of this coming week, the ice will be thick enough to merit the heavy stuff as well. Wheel-houses are going out, as long as the tow vehicle is half ton or under. Be honest rather than sorry you gambled later.
We will keep you updated with conditions as needed. Each day (sometimes each hour) is different so be aware!
THANK YOU for everyone’s patience.
Monday, January 16th:
The stiff south wind Sunday shifted the ice north a little, just enough for the stiff north wind today to break it wide open along the entire north shore–again. At dark today, the open water was about 50-200 ft. wide from west of Myr Mar to Knox Point.
So, although the open water from last week froze up, it only got to be about 3″ thick before today’s north breeze. Obviously not thick enough to hold together in the big winds.
That all said, be aware that now there is and will be a streak of thinner ice between shore and the fishing grounds in that stretch for at least a few more days. Be very aware.
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