Ice Conditions

I have only been out on Red so far this season. How is the ice around the metro? Is there a lot of slush? Seemed like most lakes were starting to get mostly safe before all this snow.

Walking for me has been safe, but a slog.

Walked out tonight and the slush is all firmed up but dang the snow is brutal. Almost 10 inches of ice.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Walked out tonight and the slush is all firmed up but dang thie snow is brutal. Almost 10 inches of ice.

We’re you north or south metro

North metro I am guessing. Any fish BC..

North metro. North branch area.
I didn’t fish actually just checking ice. Probably get out on Saturday.

It’s to the point of snowmobiles only across the border in Polk County, WI (probably similar in Chisago County but haven’t been on the ice here lately).

The snow was too deep for a chained up wheeler today before the new snow even started….it’s ugly and getting uglier

I’ve got a sled, it’s the slush I’m worried about. Hoping the extreme cold takes care of that.

mahtofire14 wrote:

I’ve got a sled, it’s the slush I’m worried about. Hoping the extreme cold takes care of that.

The extreme cold isn’t a permanent fixture here in the southern 2/3 of MN. There’s some above freezing temps in the 10 day + even some chances for mixed precip or rain with the European models.

I’m with you though, hopefully this shot of cold will do enough to fix things in a week

A warm stretch and rain would be welcomed up north. We have 20-30 inches on the lakes I hit around home. I have a snowmobile and that still sounds like a ton of work. I got on a couple great bites early and was fired up about winter fishing and the winds went right out of my sails after the snow piled in.

buckybadger wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
I’ve got a sled, it’s the slush I’m worried about. Hoping the extreme cold takes care of that.

The extreme cold isn’t a permanent fixture here in the southern 2/3 of MN. There’s some above freezing temps in the 10 day + even some chances for mixed precip or rain with the European models.

I’m with you though, hopefully this shot of cold will do enough to fix things in a week

bucky this shot of cold will almost certainly lock up all the questionable ice in SE no doubt. the lack of snow as of now and wind in the forecast should leave us with a fantastic week after new years.

mahtofire14 wrote:

I’ve got a sled, it’s the slush I’m worried about. Hoping the extreme cold takes care of that.

Your are golden in most of our area.

Bearcat89 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>mahtofire14 wrote:</div>
I’ve got a sled, it’s the slush I’m worried about. Hoping the extreme cold takes care of that.

Your are golden in most of our area.

Got out today on Green Lake in Chisago County.

We broke through patchy but shallow slush in spots on snowmobile. Where it was firmed up had 2″ of crust, an inch of water, and just 6″ of good ice under that

Off to an ugly start for it already being Christmas

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I pulled my small wheelhouse out today after checking ice yesterday. Found 9.5-11″ of ice yesterday. After getting setup I started moving around and checking other areas but started running into areas that had a layer of ice then water and ice again. The snow was deep yesterday but the wind took care of alot of that today. The drifts might start to be a problem when they firm up.

5-6” of good ice on Mpls lake and
2” of gray ice on top

Was out today 9-11 inches on cedar lake in aitkin. Pulling the house out by the weekend.

Found 9 plus again here in Chisago County this morning

10-12 in the south metro 9ish inches was clear with a couple of white on top somebody had a perm out
buddy of mine was out west of faribault on about a 1000 acre lake had 12-14 and were driving trucks out.

Bearcat89 wrote:

Found 9 plus again here in Chisago County this morning

Thanks Bearcat. Going out on a small lake in Scandia Wednesday. Hoping to get the snowmobile out for a trip finally that day too.

mahtofire14 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Bearcat89 wrote:</div>
Found 9 plus again here in Chisago County this morning

Thanks Bearcat. Going out on a small lake in Scandia Wednesday. Hoping to get the snowmobile out for a trip finally that day too.

You are welcome. Report back what you find.

breakerbreaker wrote:

10-12 in the south metro 9ish inches was clear with a couple of white on top somebody had a perm out
buddy of mine was out west of faribault on about a 1000 acre lake had 12-14 and were driving trucks out.

Not sure that is the norm. South metro lake toady measured 7 inches. Easy walk with smitty sled. Maybe couple inches of snow.

I found 11” to the waterline in west metro yesterday. A little slush in spots. Talked to a bait wholesale guy who said he drove his truck on Tonka with 12-15”. Anybody seen vehicles on metro lakes?

8″ inches in Polk County, WI (I have more comments in the WI ice thread).

No one is driving on East Side Metro lakes that I am seeing. Some popular lakes have a fraction of anglers out there right now.

Did see one guy parking his truck on the ice just off the public landing.

14” as of Monday on the lake I’ve been fishing in Wright Co.

Got out in the Scandia area yesterday on a smaller lake. Only had 6 inches of ice everywhere I fished. A little surprised there wasn’t more. Also in some of the shallower bays there was 4 inches of slush as well. Fishing sucked.

mahtofire14 wrote:

Got out in the Scandia area yesterday on a smaller lake. Only had 6 inches of ice everywhere I fished. A little surprised there wasn’t more. Also in some of the shallower bays there was 4 inches of slush as well. Fishing sucked.

I thought my estimate of 6″ of ice might be low compared to others. But maybe guys seeing 10″ are the ones who routinely catch 12″ crappie and 30″ walleye too????

6” of ice on the bodies of water I’ve been fishing in the S metro. Either I’m fishing terribly or the bite is terribly poor…

mahtofire14 wrote:

Got out in the Scandia area yesterday on a smaller lake. Only had 6 inches of ice everywhere I fished. A little surprised there wasn’t more. Also in some of the shallower bays there was 4 inches of slush as well. Fishing sucked.

If your talking the same small Scandia lake I am thinking, that lake is always a late freezer.

Dave has his Ford ranger on Chisago for over a week now.