I know there is absolutely no ice south of the twin cities, but I am looking for a place to go hit some early ice. What are some lakes up north that have good solid ice conditions that would be worth driving a couple hours to go try? What are the current weather conditions doing to the ice up there? Is there anything that would be safe to be going out on by next weekend or so? Being the first or second weekend in December.
This week has been terrible to the lakes. Red lake is probably your best bet, I wouldnt venture anywhere on your own with out going through a resort that has marked trails. There may be some smaller lakes 3 plus hours north of the cities. I’d bring a spud and a life jacket.
next week temps start getting into the teens, which should help.
I fished in NW Wis on Thanksgiving. 3-4 inches. We had rain and now warm every day since then. I think its time to wait again for a lot of areas. But I am not there so I dont know for sure.
There was some foot traffic on small lakes off HWY 210 west of Carlton, MN. I tested some shore ice last Sunday (Nov 26) on a small lake in that area that iced over on Nov 10. I was getting 4 strikes with the spud bar. Ice thickness somewhere around the 4″ range.
Last two days I’m just watching it open up on the pond outside my office. Only ice for me in the near future is in my cocktail 
As of today Phillips Wisconsin ice is no go until further notice
I heard from a friend of mine that there was 3 inches of ice about 100 yards out on a bigger lake in Alexandria, he didn’t go out anymore then that, but that was on Friday so not sure what it’s at now.
I’m not sure I’d go to Red right now. I was there last weekend and had good solid ice, but it’s been warm this week up there also, not to mention two people died up there yesterday after their ATV went through. I was only fishing 2 miles from where they went in so who knows if the ice I was on was as safe as I thought. It’s really unpredictable up there. Just a fair warning and if you do go, go out of a resort and check with them often on ice conditions.
Anyone hear of any ice reports around Ottertail or rush lake area. One report I heard there was 3-5 “ on some small lakes In the area as of last Friday. Not much ice making weather since but not sure if they lost any either
I live in Hayward WI. I may check a small lake or 2 this weekend just to see but I’m not too hopeful. Cold weather coming leading up to Thanksgiving but lots of warm weather since. I checked a mid depth 200 acre lake last weekend and measured 2 inches just offshore. It started cracking under my weight just several yards out.
I called a resort on Red today just to see and they said they will probably close their access tomorrow. Said there are so many open spots after the warm weather and wind they got last week that it’s the most dangerous they’ve seen red.
Maybe some smaller lakes that far north will be ok this weekend. Colder weather supposed to be coming in about a week. Hopefully that locks us up!
On lakes north of Grand Rapids around Winni I’ve found the ice has been 6-8″.
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