*Signs that point to “Just a bit longer”*
The cold air has been ushered in today with temps in the teens, and overnight lows tonight expected to touch zero. The heavy snow we’ve received…….27 inches in NOVEMBER has hindered ice development thus far. The “silverlining” is with that heavy snow water has seeped through the snowpack in the bays drastically reducing the insulating factor of that much snow. Expect this next week of cold air to spur on the first Ice anglers of the year in this area (Weekly forecast shows Highs in the Teens, and lows near Zero). I like to give it one more week after that!! Just seems to be a good plan for a prolonged Ice fishing career!! 
Please understand that on Rainy Lake many bays have some current with feeder creeks, and DO NOT form ice the same as a protected bay with no moving water. Rainy Lake is a “Flow Through” body of water thus has some current in areas. This is more noticeable in what we often refer to “NeckDown” areas. We are predominately a very safe body of water, but anglers need to exercise caution here as they do on any lake. When it all shakes out we’ll likey be hitting the ice within a week of last year!! 
Be SMART, Be SAFE!! Then……..DROP THE HAMMER on your new PB through the ice!! Our early ice fishing continues to demand attention as freakishly large pike and walleyes are caught with great consistency!!
I am looking at coming up this season to give it a try. Hope to see ya and get advice. 
Everyone is really getting antsy as you might imagine. I walked out on 2 public access points today with extreme caution. Put a boot through on one!! 
This week will help solidify things!! We really are in a Snow pattern right now!! I bet our Deer herd is nervous!!