West side ramp condition

Man is it cold out there on the water!
The ramp at Sha-Bush-Kung was in good usuable condition when I left the lake at 10:00pm last night, however lots and lots of shore ice developing very quickly over night. In 5 short hours while I was there, 50-75 yards of shelf ice had developed around the shorelines. Tonight has forecast of possibly below zero with lighter winds. I would be very surprised if she does not skim over tonight up there. I am trying to stay extremely optimistic, but its tough when you throw those temps at ya. I am quite sure all of the harbor landings have all iced in by now. The wind tonight would be the only thing that would keep it open I am afraid.

I will let James comment more on what he found when he got off the water. Cross your fingers and hope the weather forecast is completely off for tonight!

Good to see you can still type this morning.

But Steve, were the waldos biting?

It was a slow night with only boating 5 wallys and a couple pike thrown in there. I relocated to another spot and thats where I got bit.
Biggest was a 27″ fish.

I just got off the phone with James as he was driving around the north end of the lake. He noticed about 500 yards of shore ice that has developed over night and lots of slush floating around in the bays, which means with the right conditions she may freeze up solid in some of the bays for sure tonight.
I have cancelled all my trips as James has as well for the Mille Lacs November full moon. Its really too bad, because if the weather would have held off for another week or so, we might have had a real good period.
Good luck to anyone that braves this weather!

I had made plans to fish Mille Lacs. Driving to work today I noticed skim ice forming around the edge of Tonka. That did it for me. I’m out. It is only going to be COLDER tonight.

I just saw James as he was leaving Hooks place this morning. He is headed home from Mille Lacs.
I think it will be a cold morning in the deer stand tommorrow………..

Well, I guess I’m out too…. Thanks for the update. The forcast is calling for -3 below zero tonight up there.

Spoon and Keller are froze over shore to shore here in St Paul. Hard to believe just three weeks ago it was 80 degrees.

Jon J.

Good luck to all you brave deer hunters.
I will be thinking about you as I roll over in my BED tomorrow am!!

I decided amongst everyone else I know to pass. Sounds like the wise thing to do. To all the guys that head out, wear your life jackets and bring home some pictures. I wish you the best of luck!! To all the deer hunters, you must be really mad at them deer to sit out in this weather….. Good Luck!!!

Sorry to hear you guys being forced out of your trips! Hopefully the R&R will be just as nice!