Red Door Ice Access Update

Friday, December 30th:

Although we have 10.5 inches of ice out front, we still have the open water about a mile out from shore and open water surrounding most of the lake at various distances from shore.

We are still closed to any vehicle access for at least the next few days. Since we can’t control where ATV’ers will go once on the ice, we can’t position anyone to make a mistake and get too close to those thin ice/open water areas.

With the potential of the ice pulling away from the north shore again, we will allow walkers on a day to day notice. Days when there is no wind or southerly winds, we will allow walking out. We assume no one will head to the flats walking. And we strongly advise everyone to be off the ice by dark these days.

For example, the forecast looks good for us to open the access to walking out tomorrow, Saturday the 31st. But, surely, from the north end, the lake should be off limits this coming Sunday and Monday, the 1st and 2nd, with BIG northerly winds in the forecast. No doubt, we will close the access to all travel on those days.

We hope to be way less restrictive soon. But for now, we will err on the side of caution.

Thanks for everyone’s cooperation!

thanks for the update… how has the bite been for eyes?

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thanks for the update… how has the bite been for eyes?

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For the most part, even the locals in our stretch have not been on the ice for a week. The only reports we have heard lately are coming from the east of us and those reports are “we are getting a few each time out”.

I have a 6 man sleeper schedule with you for Jan 28-29. Sure hope the ice will be OK by then?? It will be the first in a sleeper for me – the whole gang is excited about the trip

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I have a 6 man sleeper schedule with you for Jan 28-29. Sure hope the ice will be OK by then?? It will be the first in a sleeper for me – the whole gang is excited about the trip

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Man O Man–we sure hope it “will be OK by then!” We truly look foward to seeing you! Thanks!!

Per the original posting today, we have our ice access open to walking only tommorrow (Saturday the 31st). But we strongly suggest anyone on the north and west sides of the lake to leave the ice by late afternoon. Or earlier if the front hits sooner.

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Per the original posting today, we have our ice access open to walking only tommorrow (Saturday the 31st). But we strongly suggest anyone on the north and west sides of the lake to leave the ice by late afternoon. Or earlier if the front hits sooner.

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why? i and 100 other people enjoyed a beautiful day on the solid ice (~12″) today out of Garrison bay and northward. And, i stayed until 830 and caught 3 more nice fish well after dark. no ice monsters decided to creep out of the deep and attack & set-afloat the permanent ice slab that extends from shore out to open water.

i can understand the initial reaction to last weeks ice seperation, but as time goes on and things stay the same (statistical confidence) with cold weather, i dont get the paranoia and over-kill on what/who/when can go through your resort. Can you really ever guarantee that walking/driving/4-wheeling on ice is 100% safe?

People are launching from the side of the road between Garrison Sports and Garrison Marina and i havent heard of any dunkers or deaths. the state and or local govt doesnt seem to be concerned about it.

Just my opinion…but people will use their judgement of whats right or wrong; however, physics be physics and i havent seen any historical data to suggests that the 12-13″ near shore–versus the 4-6″ off-shore–will go on a walkabout any time soon given the current temps, etc.

Lets go!…there’s fish to be caught!

“i dont get the paranoia and over-kill on what/who/when can go through your resort.”

It’s a business. Someone gets hurt going through their access they could also get lawsuit happy. It’s their access and are trying to keep people in the know and be safe. Go to a public access if you want to go out then.
DT

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It’s a business. Someone gets hurt going through their access they could also get lawsuit happy. It’s their access and are trying to keep people in the know and be safe. Go to a public access if you want to go out then.

DT

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of course thats the reasoning.

I do appreciate the ice condition update, but i dont appreciate the implied message that if i walk out on 10-12 inches of ice, then im an idiot, and it “aint worth a walleye.” that, sir, is silly..as you know

Your response of “go to the public access” contradicts their position. if it isnt as safe as Red Door says (no access at all, and get off the lake before dark) then why dont the county and/or state shut down the public accesses?

i doubt a lawsuit-happy lawyer is going to get much traction in an Aitkin Cty or Mille Lacs cty courtroom of finding a unanimous jury to hold Red Door accountable if someone puts in at their launch and stupidly drives over the ice edge 1 mile out and say 2 miles to the east. or, if the ice breaks and people need to get rescued. unlike your suggestion, they might get hurt, but not on their property or at their access due to RD negligence.

if they’re worried about that level of negligence and liability, then are they going to ban drinking at their facility and in the cabins for fear that someone may get in their car and drive?

I think the worst-case scenario happened last week when the ice pack broke and people needed to get rescued. nobody got killed, and nobody blamed/sued Red Door for the Act of God. rather, it gave the rescuees something to talk about at the bar that night while they were drinking over their limit. Yet, i havent seen any public service announcements against drunk driving.

They can do whatever they wish with their business, but if the ice is thick from shore on out to wherever for wheelers, then either open it or quit preaching about their limits on accessability for trying to win the Good Citizen award.

Rant much?

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Rant much?

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Am i wrong? Go look at the other topics re: north & NW side with pics of fish being caught over 12+ in of ice. very bizarre position for a resort to take a week after the ice break with no other instances.

Go fish!

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I do appreciate the ice condition update, but i dont appreciate the implied message that if i walk out on 10-12 inches of ice, then im an idiot,

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I for one after reading the last few comments don’t think that there was an implication to anyone’s intelligence. They know because they are working farther off the shoreline that there are major issues out there, that people like yourself won’t get yourself into trouble. But that’s not everybody… I know that Hunter’s on the east side is not putting anything out yet…

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Per the original posting today, we have our ice access open to walking only tommorrow (Saturday the 31st). But we strongly suggest anyone on the north and west sides of the lake to leave the ice by late afternoon. Or earlier if the front hits sooner.

In this quote they are looking at weather predictions that should be fairly close to whiteout from the north that could pull that NW shoreline ice, all 12″ of it again.

I guess in the end, I really don’t blame them for being extra cautious in today’s litigious society and think you are being to sensitive about their comments and not sensitive enough about your comments of their position. Now I am going to watch the Badgers play basketball.

Mark

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Am i wrong? Go look at the other topics re: north & NW side with pics of fish being caught over 12+ in of ice. very bizarre position for a resort to take a week after the ice break with no other instances. Go fish!

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Hedder:

I am not sure if you are wrong, but I certainly would be cautious, even going off the public access with the north wind they are predicting and the newness of the ice off shore. Your 12″ pushes off shore and crushes the newly formed 3-4″ out there and that whole world off shore changes again. Ice formation has been so weird this year. I would be happy to fish any of that ice with an onshore wind, not so much with an offshore one.

Mark

Just got done watching Granrud on “On Ice” #0005 and he is only talking 5″-6″ of ice on their main basins 2-3 hours north of ML. That giant crack offshore might be healed, but the ice in that crack is not 5-6 inches worth. The wind the rest of this weekend, could bust all of that stuff up all over again.

Mark

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Rant much?

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Am i wrong? Go look at the other topics re: north & NW side with pics of fish being caught over 12+ in of ice. very bizarre position for a resort to take a week after the ice break with no other instances.

Go fish!

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Mr. Hedder,

We appreciate your interest in our position regarding the ice safety in our north shore area.

Just to clarify, our reason for be cautious has nothing to do with a liability concern. In fact, it has never crossed our minds!

In fact, it is simply a concern for human safety based on that being a priority over catching a fish or making money.

In fact, the time frame of being over a week ago that the last “ice break” took place, means nothing, based on our long history of dealing with these exact situations. Heck, the ice sheet has moved almost on a daily basis since the “ice break” you speak about last week. Today, ice that had been in place since early December broke away from the east shore. It was at least 10 inches thick. Almost 4 weeks of various heavy winds, and it now opened up. The thickness of the ice means nothing in this setting we have presently at Lake Mille Lacs. As long as there is open water off-shore, be it a mile or 500 yards or whatever distance off-shore, the ice, even 18″ thick or more, is floating and can move big distances. This isn’t the same as having 12″ of ice and the lake being locked up in all directions. There is zero comparison to normal 12″ ice conditions versus what the setting is now. The anglers that came of by boat last week were on 10″ of good ice. They had ATV’s, supposedly, safely with them. Maybe debate the scenario you speak about with them? The 10″ of ice they were on was there for over two weeks without moving. And then?

So, Mr. Hedder, it is surely your decision as to what is safe and what isn’t for you, going out from anywhere else but Red Door. And we respect your opinion on what is safe and what isn’t. But based on our history on the Lake Mille Lacs, we will agree to disagree with you on the present scenario around the lake regarding ice safety versus other priorities.

Again, thank you for your interest in our business. This is our one and only posting in regard to your take on how we make safety decisions at The Red Door. Have a nice day Mr. Hedder. Happy New Year!

Hedder,

You gotta understand these resort owners know this lake best. It’s certainly no coincidence that no resort is letting people drive out. The might know a little bit about what is going on out there. After all, they are there EVERY day.

Continue to stir the pot as you wish, all your going to get is grief.

i guess i dont see it as “stirring the pot,” “ranting” or asking for “grief” when i challenge the current position of others as whats best or not best on any given topic…i think those labels are used by people who couldnt answer my original question of “why?” If that is what is to be expected, then im not sure this forum would offer me much in the form of education.

regarding Red Doors and mbenson’s explanations…Thanks! that better clarifies the “why?” and provides info that i can use in future. I can better respect your decisions on the matter. Have a happy New Years as well.

When it comes to questioning the decision of a reputable resort about not letting people access the lake via their property because they believe it to be unsafe, I’d call that stirring the pot. They could certainly make a buck of anyone willing to drive whatever they wish on the ice, but I’m sure that they have a reputation to uphold. Matter of fact, I’d bet that most of these resorts are hurting pretty bad because of this weather and would love to get people one the ice.

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when i challenge the current position of others as whats best or not best on any given topic…

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Yup, that’s stirring the pot alright!

Boy, BIGGIL!…you must say “Yes!…I agree” to everything & everybody in life, lest you accuse yerself of stirrin da pot.

take it easy!

I have nothing but the up most respect for a resort/business that makes people safety a priority. It is ultimately their decision on how they want to operate their business and they have to make difficult decisions like this when conditions are not favorable. There are plenty of public accesses and other resorts in which you can go out and no one will stop you from using them. Hats off to the Red Door.

wow, arrogant. I guess I would listen to what a veteran of the lake has to say, then use caution. I bet those people rescued off the ice in December were all thinking the same thing when they ventured out. Oh and Hedder,did you notice the one perm house out from where you were at fell into the crack?