IDO Get Together- Mille Lacs

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>weedis wrote:</div>
I was thinking the same thing drifter. I was planning on bringing wheelhouse as well. It will be interesting to see what happens between now and then. A phone call to red door might be in order to see if they allow houses parked on shore.

Did you make that phone call?…just curious? I booked a motel room so I don’t have the wheelhouse concern but I also don’t have an atv so if I can’t drive the truck out, I won’t be going out very far, if at all??
Concern here is that Red Door is south facing, so their access is typically among the first to bust apart…especially if it is getting pounded by that end of season scramble to get before season end.
Keep believing in the winter fairy I suppose!

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>jamin wrote:</div>
Decided to move this so as to not clutter the GTG thread.

And BTW, what…??

Have not called yet but will do so tomorrow, will report back what I find out.

Drifter: That’s what I enjoy about this group! Werm offered to let me chase him around as well. I haven’t fished ML in 10+ years and never in the winter so really looking forward to learning some new things.

I’ll be in a crew Ranger side by side and people are welcome to jump in if they shut down the launch to large vehicles. Fishing is always better when you have someone nearby to pass you a cold Coors Light.

Word of advice……. Everbody needs to bring ice cleats. I went down hard this weekend (if it was caught on video it would have made the top 10 “fat guy falling” videos on YouTube). I ended up with a concussion, and in a ton of pain. There are some slick spots out there.

Who’s giving Uber rides to shantys?

Honestly, if you have a tow rope I can just keep a lanyard on my belt, drag me within 10′ of the shack and I can manage the rest.

nhamm wrote:

Who’s giving Uber rides to shantys?

Honestly, if you have a tow rope I can just keep a lanyard on my belt, drag me within 10′ of the shack and I can manage the rest.

I talked to Steve at the Red Door and they do allow wheel houses to park on shore so there is options for folks who will be hauling one up. He is hopeful that things will hold up during this warm spell. I would think with the amount of ice still out there it will be the landing and cracks that will be of main concerns. Will be here in no time fellas!

MNdrifter wrote:

Word of advice……. Everbody needs to bring ice cleats. I went down hard this weekend (if it was caught on video it would have made the top 10 “fat guy falling” videos on YouTube). I ended up with a concussion, and in a ton of pain. There are some slick spots out there.

http://www.startribune.com/ice-fishing-s-hidden-hazards/413759373/

How many are alcohol related?

10 days

weedis wrote:

I talked to Steve at the Red Door and they do allow wheel houses to park on shore so there is options for folks who will be hauling one up. He is hopeful that things will hold up during this warm spell. I would think with the amount of ice still out there it will be the landing and cracks that will be of main concerns. Will be here in no time fellas!

Thanks for following up on this, not that I have the wheelhouse issue but I was worried that some others planning on attending might back out if they were depending on their house for place to stay and sleep. So no excuses for that reason. Getting closer now, hoping for the best. Would be head shaking if Mille Lacs didn’t have access through the end of walleye ice season, end of February. I think it was 2013 or 2014 when they couldn’t fish the opener in May ’cause it was still capped!

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Had a delivery this morning, must be French it said FRAGILE (pronounced Frah gee lay) on the outside…

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Ooooooh! Deadstick, PP, Commander?

Jamin wrote:

Ooooooh! Deadstick, PP, Commander?

And ruin the surprise!?! I will just say there are multiple sticks in there, and no Fishnet Leg Lamp…

BigWerm wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>jamin wrote:</div>
Ooooooh! Deadstick, PP, Commander?

And ruin the surprise!?! I will just say there are multiple sticks in there, and no Fishnet Leg Lamp…

So, are you going to take them out this weekend and do some “testing”?
You know…for “Quality Assurance”

Anyone know if the ice will be safe for trucks? Warm weather is gonna take some time off the season.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

So, are you going to take them out this weekend and do some “testing”?

I wish, but this is a Honey-do weekend for me!

stevenhand01 wrote:

Anyone know if the ice will be safe for trucks? Warm weather is gonna take some time off the season.

No idea, but I’m optimistic we will be able to. Almost needed the extension up there last weekend, and while it is getting warm for the most part it’s back below freezing at night on the extended forecast. If anything I’m concerned about the shoreline accesses and breakers. Fingers crossed!

So will there be door prizes both Friday and Saturday night? Need to know which day to wear my lucky sweatshirt…

404 ERROR wrote:

So will there be door prizes both Friday and Saturday night? Need to know which day to wear my lucky sweatshirt…

Correct, there will be a TUCR drawing both days. So you might want to wear that lucky sweatshirt all weekend for a 30″er too!

Funny, These 2 boxes showed up at my house from IDO with a note that says bring to the Red Door Friday February 24th.

FYI – Them 24 long necks is mine!

9 days!

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I will take the long necks and TUCR rods off your guys hands, I will keep them safe!

The sky might not be falling

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oops – wrong picture

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Forecasts are all over the place. I just saw Belinda on tv a bit ago saying temps aren’t going to drop below freezing until possibly next Wednesday.

I then began cursing her out and the wife quickly changed the channel.

Jamin wrote:

Forecasts are all over the place. I just saw Belinda on tv a bit ago saying temps aren’t going to drop below freezing until possibly next Wednesday.

I then began cursing her out and the wife quickly changed the channel.

It’s definitely be a rocky road these next 5 days.

I hate to be a buzz kill, but mid to late next week is not the issue. Here is what weather underground says for weather in Isle on Monday

Rain showers in the morning will evolve into a more steady rain in the afternoon. Thunder possible. High 56F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%

The ice can survive the warm temps for quite a while, but this rain will destroy the ice.

I really hope they are wrong for your guys sake. This sounds like a great event, just be dang careful out there if it does rain. Honeycomb ice is satans mother

Sticker – It is what it is. (global warming I guess)
If I can’t fish on Friday I’ll find something else fun to do. Probably hang out with Deb.

In the mean time I’ll just close my eyes, click my heels together and say “there’s no place like the pond, there’s no place like the pond”

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Sticker – It is what it is. (global warming I guess)
If I can’t fish on Friday I’ll find something else fun to do. Probably hang out with Deb.

In the mean time I’ll just close my eyes, click my heels together and say “there’s no place like the pond, there’s no place like the pond”

I hear ya! I just don’t want to hear on TV that a bunch of IDO guys went thru the ice on ML. Hope you guys have a great time!!

I’ll start chewing on my boot here as I type this… I don’t see anything that will prevent us from fishing next weekend. It’s making ice right now. The forecast is showing less than a half inch of rain on Monday. It rained more than that in January during one of the warmer weeks and the ice was much thinner..

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X2 fishwater

IMO you guys are worried about nothing. Even an inch of rain isn’t going to melt all of the ice. There will be plenty of people out there fishing.

Joe Scegura wrote:

X2 fishwater

IMO you guys are worried about nothing. Even an inch of rain isn’t going to melt all of the ice. There will be plenty of people out there fishing.

x3 they haven’t even lost what little snow is on the ice yet, and that is the first to go. Don’t let the weather terrorists win!

Joe Scegura wrote:

X2 fishwater

IMO you guys are worried about nothing. Even an inch of rain isn’t going to melt all of the ice. There will be plenty of people out there fishing.

No worries here either. The ice sheet is over 2′ thick. It will take alot more warm weather over an extended period to threaten that. Only issues could be the access. As far as us all plunging through to the bottom, it’s somewhat reassuring that Red Door has a reputation of being cautious and conservative on allowing guests out when conditions might be suspect. Bob Carlson there has been working that lake most his life and knows when it would be a “no go” for letting people out. Even when other places were sending people out, Red Door was taking some heat earlier this year by limiting who/what went out of their access.

“Only issues could be the access.”

That right there is my only concern. Other than that there is plenty of ice from what I’ve heard.

I’m taking a positive mindset though and packing like all is normal. I’m just doing it in a t-shirt.