Ice Reports

So thought maybe we could start a ice conditions report. I live and work in the north metro. Everything up here looks locked up but have not been out on anything to check the ice. Did see some brave souls walked out on the west side of Mille Lacs when we were on our way back from Red. Also saw some people out on Hickory.

I fished north metro, forest lake area a couple evenings ago and had 3.5 inches of good ice. I know I gave a guy a tip from ido and he did well on panfish, smaller lake same area. 3 inches he said. Clear black ice

Fished one of the reservoirs north of Duluth last weekend and had a solid 6-8″ out there every where we drilled holes. Guys were flying around on sleds & wheelers.

Ice? I might get the golf clubs out. Tried to get on yesterday and the courses were booked solid.
Even up in Outing, no single digits till X-Mas, but there’s a few frozen ponds up there and if you know the secret handshake you can get on them.

Bearcat89 wrote:

I know I gave a guy a tip from ido and he did well on panfish, smaller lake same area. 3 inches he said. Clear black ice

Hoping the warm weather hasn’t ruined it.

Did watch a guy bust up a portion with a Wilcraft that ended up going through. Not sure what he was thinking but it seemed to work as advertised.

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I’m hoping to get out this weekend somewhere close to the north metro. I won’t be able to check any ice until Saturday. I appreciate the responses, looks like I’ll be able to find fishable ice.

That’s what I was hoping too. Lets keep this going with what people see and hear.

I’ll be in the Glenwood/Alex area this weekend. Will report back once I punch some holes.

Found 6″ of solid ice north of McGregor last weekend but on a very small secluded lake.

my wife saw a couple ice skating on black lake (Lake Minnetonka) 2 days ago. Ill be heading out with a spud bar tomorrow to check ice conditions. I don’t expect to find fishable ice anywhere near me.

I’m up by Grand Marais, we got 6-8 inches on some bigger lakes up here

Get the ice report app on your phone

I just checked the weather for up here, Nevis and nothing above freezing until Christmas and very little snow in the forecast. The few lakes I’ve checked have 6-8″ of really good ice. Nice change after a few years of heavy, early snow.

I went to Little Rock lake today by rice MN no go black ice and got 20 feet out and spider cracked bad fished a lake near Mille Lacs 7 inches ice but the wind blew my off going to try Alexandra Saturday I hop I find something. Getting costly driving all over

mrpike1973 wrote:

I went to Little Rock lake today by rice MN no go black ice and got 20 feet out and spider cracked bad fished a lake near Mille Lacs 7 inches ice but the wind blew my off going to try Alexandra Saturday I hop I find something. Getting costly driving all over

Where are you driving from? What is your location. I think you may be passing by lots of good fishable lakes on your way to find a fishable lake

Bearcat I’m driving up from Darwin MN near Hutchinson MN. Went to Reno today 4 inches of fair ice lots of dinky perch nothing else 2 hour drive but fun to be out. Checked a couple local lakes 3-4 inches but hopefully 2 nights of freezing weather will help

I got out this morning on the seventh Crow Wing and had 8″ of good ice. Fishing was so so.

Got on some ice in the metro today but I wasn’t too comfortable. Only stayed an hour as the bite was slow and I didn’t feel entirely safe. This cole weather forecasted for the next few days should bring a solid 3-5 inches in the metro

Was out about 20 minutes south of the metro yesterday. Some lakes had less than one inch some had about 3-4 in the shallower areas

On Chisago and Green yesterday and today. Solid 4” on the bays but I didn’t venture onto the main lake. Ice is absolutely as clear as I have ever seen it. Kinda cool but makes you a little nervous.

Fishing was ok for me. A lot of panfish but no size.

In the Cambridge/ Mora/ Pine City area ice thickness still varies quite a bit depending on the lake and part of the lake you’re on.
I found as much as 5″ and as little as 2″ in areas I checked over the weekend.
Ann Lake, Fish lake, and Little Stanchfield all have a lot of ice that’s only 2″.
On pokegema I found nothing less than 3.5″ but im sure there is thinner ice out there. There is an active crack/ pressure ridge on pokegema that runs from the point on the west side north east to the island that had water and broken slabs of floating ice on Saturday afternoon.
East Rush had about 4″ near the landing on Friday, I hear there is more on the south end bays though. West Rush is widely variable from 4-5″ in some areas to still open water in others.
North goose 3″
Fannie 2.5-3″
A lot of caution is still needed, these next couple days of colder weather will help a ton.

Fished a bay on tonka this weekend. All of 3”. Slightly more/less in areas. Fished a lake in Eden prairie more of the same. Tight lines!

Thanks for the great report Grubson!

Fished some smaller lakes in the Outing area. Not alot of fish, but the crappies averaged 10 – 11.

Had a Bald Eagle steel one off the ice from us. It was a pretty awesome sight.

I had about 7″ on a small lake in brainerd but the ice is really choppy, so it was more like 4-5″ but I think this coming weekend we should lock up good.

Fished a few smaller lakes in northern WI on Saturday. 5-6″

Was up in the Alex area this weekend.

Lake Mary – south bay was wide open still. Didn’t check the north end.

Lake Reno – 4-5″ on the north end. Lots of people out.

Lake Osakis – 4″ on the north end. Entire lake is locked up.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Fished some smaller lakes in the Outing area. Not alot of fish, but the crappies averaged 10 – 11.

Had a Bald Eagle steel one off the ice from us. It was a pretty awesome sight.

EPG I hear it is legal to take that bird down if it is stealing your fish. Maybe a surf and turf? I hear they taste like chicken.

I fished a lake up near Ottertail on Sat. There was a good 5-7″ of ice. Spoke to a few other fishermen who said several other lakes in the area also had similar ice conditions. With the Temps last night and those forecasted for the rest of the week we should have safe Walkable ice in a lot more area’s as early as next weekend. It sure would be nice to get a solid 10-12″ of ice on lakes before we get a Dumping of snow. With the current forecast in my area that looks like it should happen.

Anyone near the Madison Wi area or maybe the Wisconsin Dells area know of any fishable lakes? Assume places like Petenwell and Castle Rock are open still?

mrpike1973 wrote:

I went to Little Rock lake today by rice MN no go black ice and got 20 feet out and spider cracked bad fished a lake near Mille Lacs 7 inches ice but the wind blew my off going to try Alexandra Saturday I hop I find something. Getting costly driving all over

Interesting you had issues curious as to where you were accessing because my son has been fishing with his buddies out there since 12/5. There was 3.5″ then and around 4″ this past weekend they went out. Some dipstick took an ATV out along the shore and busted through right in front of the West/Park access on 12/5, but that is all healed up now.
They havent been having much luck. His one friend did get an 18″ walleye Friday night, but that was all they caught other than a shiner all this past weekend.