Mille Lacs Bays Are Locking Up!

Looking good!

Sweet! Let us know, but be very safe!

That looks great. I’ll be interested to hear what the depth of ice is. Be safe.

Chris

Despite my disdain for cold weather, I sure hope the businesses up there have a great Ice Fishing season this year.

This from Lyback’s on the 25th. Not any ice to speak of…yet.

“Well here we go again! This weekend numerous customers were up after Thanksgiving dinners and checked out their houses and made last minute changes, etc. Some of the workers will be starting Monday to go thru the trucks, get them ready for the ice and do some finish work on the rentals. We also are going to be redesigning a couple bridges and making them easier to work with. So far there is minimal ice in some of the bays, nothing to even think about walking on yet, and the main lake is wide open as you can see by the webcam. With the weather forecast, I think it’s going to be awhile before we see ice,unfortunately… I’m sure that most of you that are interested in Mille Lacs know by now what’s been in the news. Talk about lower numbers in the test nets,etc. Yes, I agree there are some big changes happening out there in the lake. but right now I don’t even know if the DNR Fisheries really know exactly what’s going on yet either. One thing I know is the Zebra Mussels have been affecting the water clarity in a big way and I’m sure that affected some of the test results. But there is something changing out there and the State of Minnesota needs to take a stand for the well-being of Mille Lacs Lake and it’s citizens for once and for all. We have some snow on the ground so it looks like things should get going soon, keep checking on the webcam and I’ll keep “bloggin”!! Keep a tight line! Eddy”

The camera view from Isle Bay (HunterWinfields) looks like waves out a few 100 yards? Maybe not but that how it looks to me. http://www.hunterwinfields.com/index.php/live-webcam

What does Puddlepounder see from his perch in Cove?

You’re right Steve, I should have phrased that as were locked up. Yesterday’s official low in Malmo was 1 degree and with no wind early in the morning the there was ice yesterday; however I have no doubt they’re mostly wide open again now. I was able to find 3-4″ on a couple ponds this afternoon while pulling deer stands though.

As excited as I am to see ice on my favorite lake I don’t want anyone to get ahead of themselves and think you be fishing rven by next weekend. I plan on walking out no more than a few feet from shore just because I’m fired up to walk on some water but it’s going to take lots more cold/calm weather before I’d even think about trying to get far enough out to fish.

cove bay is skimmed over out to thr point. wide open after that. i walked out in front and broke through with each step. it is going to be a while yet before it is walkable. there is 8 bald eagles lined up along the edge of the ice, they have been here all day flying around the bay.

On my way home yesterday afternoon I stopped off and checked the same areas that were frozen over on Saturday morning the wind had cleared ice to within about 100 yds from shore in Isle Bay and Wahkon Bay. I did venture out on the ice in the harbor at Fishers and near the park at Isle. There were 2-3 inches of good ice in the harbor, but anywhere that was open to wind had no more than 1″ of ice. Looking at the forecast it’s still going to be at least 1-2 weeks before anyone should be fishing even the most shallow of locations, but man it was exciting to see how ready the lake is to freeze over once the weather stays cold and calm for a few days

The average date for us on the north end to be putting small houses and getting out on ATV’s is about Dec. 10th-13th–some years a little earlier and others a little later. The last two years has been Dec. 10th and 12th–but you know how that went starting on the 21st when the whole sheet started 3 weeks of shifting.