This one is for all you die-hard ice guys like me. Football season is upon us which, if you are like me… means one thing. ICE FISHING is almost here!!!
What date do you suspect we will see the first dare-devils venturing out onto the ice to chip a hole?
I am throwing out November 16th in the Twin Cities area. I know some crazy guys that see a glaze over the lake and throw on the wetsuit and a life jacket. Whats your guess???
BRING ON THE ICE 
It may ice up earlier, but the first day that matters here to me is Dec 1 – the first day you can fish the old fashioned way….with the old 7 tined hook 
Tim
I will toss out Dec 1st. Have not had good ice in Nov. in a while if my memory is right??
November 28th! More hoping than anything. 
When we were kids it was always Thanksgiving for skates, so I will say the friday after T-Day. Fingers crossed anyways…
big g 
November 19th eyes through the ice on Mid Eau Claire.
Last year while we were doing the Rush Lake Get together, drilling thru some decent 8-10 inch Ice, we had boaters chasing Muskies on Harriet in the cities. That was Janurary 5th I believe, but for the most part I will say December 14th for the shallower lakes in the area.
November 29th
No way will there be ice nov. 16 in the cities. You would have to travel up near the border of canada to get ice then. I’ll be ice fishing by the first week of December in the Longville area.
For you people up north I’d guess first SAFE ice around the last week of November. Down here on the Mississippi at Dubuque I hope that it doesn’t ice over so I can fish out of my boat all winter long. If it does ice over down here it is usually the first week or two in December. I can only take ice fishing a couple times a year and then I need open water. I know guys that like to go ice fishing whether or not the fish are biting but they all drink when they are on the ice and I don’t drink so when the fish aren’t jumping out of the holes ice fishing is as boring as it gets. Give me open water year round and I’d be happy.
Well, mallard… I remeber days past walking across throughly frozen ponds to get to my deer stand. Wasn’t always as warm in November as it has been the last couple years. So, unless you are a firm beleiver in global warming… “it could happen”.
First week of December? come’on… pick a date. This is all in fun.
My guess for ice in central MN this yr is Nov 22, i think last yr lakes were iced over Dec 1st.
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I know guys that like to go ice fishing whether or not the fish are biting but they all drink when they are on the ice and I don’t drink so when the fish aren’t jumping out of the holes ice fishing is as boring as it gets.
Now, I’m not one that is totally against taking a few nips off of the grog… but going out just to drink… that ain’t ice fishing. That’s ice drinking.
Do you mean ice over, or the first day it is safe to walk on the ice. I’m saying it will be safe for me to walk on the ice by the first week of December. First ice over I would say November 18th.
I am talking about the first date you think people will start venturing on the ice (I know some that will go out with 1 1/2 inches of ice… if that).
oh, start going on the ice, i say Dec. 7th in Central Mn
Friday December 14th it will safe enough to tip up fish on mille lacs.
I am gonna keep my fingers crossed, and hope we don’t have ice until the end of Jan. I would love to be huckin baits all the way through nov-dec
ill go with my birthday, November 27 there would be a nice present.
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I am gonna keep my fingers crossed, and hope we don’t have ice until the end of Jan. I would love to be huckin baits all the way through nov-dec
Uh… Bob? Wrong forum to be saying such things… now sloooowly back away from the keyboard…….. 
I did the 1 and a half inch thing years ago and found out the hard way that its not worth it!! Its a real B___ch trying to get back on the ice, I had to break the ice all the way back to shore to get out. I was in the water for over 15 minutes and not sure how close to hypothermia. Not worth it!!!!
Believe me, Baby Mallard… I am with you! Wouldn’t catch me out there. I just know of some people that are willing to take the chance. STUPID if you ask me.
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I am gonna keep my fingers crossed, and hope we don’t have ice until the end of Jan. I would love to be huckin baits all the way through nov-dec
Uh… Bob? Wrong forum to be saying such things… now sloooowly back away from the keyboard……..
Sorry, I must still be feeling the effects from last night Don’t get me wrong, I love to ice fish, but there are just to many things I look forward to in the fall, and there just never seems to be enough time to get them all in. Fall should last for about 5 months 
Ok, I am gonna leave now, go home hook up the boat, and get out on the water. Have a great weekend
It USED to be Thanksgiving weekend. The last few years it’s been Christmas! I’ll say December 28th. I dunno Dave it’s pretty tough to get excited about ice fishing when the river is still open.
Did I really just say that? Mike W, what did you do to me??? 
Rootski
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Sorry, I must still be feeling the effects from last night
So your saying we should take the time to make a 5 month fall out of summer right?
Bring on the sub zero weather!!!!!!
December 3 South of the Metro, November 17 up in the Leech/Winnie/Long Lake and Mille Lacs areas.
I will say december 25, on christmas day down here in Red Wing
Dec,4th
Dec. 8th on my local lake here in NE Iowa.
Ed
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