I’ll stick to my prediction from a few weeks ago that the pond, and most lakes in MN from there southward will be open for opener (but not by much). There’s a lot of ice, but still over a month. Wind is a huge factor in busting up ice on Mille Lacs once shorelines start letting go and giving the big sheets some room to move.
Vermilion and a lot of the lakes in the arrowhead may be another story.
Even with the extra snow, it’s the wind that eventually does the ice in on many lakes. Start opening up the edges and shallows and then a good wind does the rest.
It’ll be business as usual for everything except the far north, is my prediction. As always, some far north lakes are touch and go and this year will be no different.
Grouse
I’m thinking the majority of lakes will. Next week 5 days forecasted in the 50s with rain.
It will be interesting though as we have a reservation on leech the week after opener…
I think Leech Lake and North will not be open this year. I think Mille Lacs will be open, but only by a day or two. If we get another cold blast after this one’s finished than my bet for Mille Lacs comes off the table.
Why hasn’t anyone responded with the typical statement about opener that is said every year by the river guys. What is an opener?…… 
DT
Love seeing another 2013 ice out… spawn is mostly uninterrupted…. another year class like the 2013 class, would be nothing but good for Mille Lacs. 
Why hasn’t anyone responded with the typical statement about opener that is said every year by the river guys. What is an opener?……
DT
What opener?
The median ice out dates for many of the big northern lakes (ML, Leech, Winni, Red, LOTW, etc) are generally the last week of April to start of May for LOTW. Extended forecast shows temps closer to average again starting mid next week.
They may very well be later than the median but too soon to predict a 3 week late ice out.
I’m predicting no ice out in MN this year due to climate change.
I agree. March temps have plummeted across the entire US since 1900, more so in the northern states.
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Love seeing another 2013 ice out… spawn is mostly uninterrupted…. another year class like the 2013 class, would be nothing but good for Mille Lacs.
Great point!
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