Let’s Talk Ice Cover

Ladies and gents:

Here is one of the things that I can do here until we get some updated ice info from Kurt… I am sure that none of this ice is walkable at this time, although if the wind doesn’t take it out, by weekends end, there may be some safe ice areas…

As I drove north this morning, I saw ice on Mid Lake, the east side of Lake Minocqua (probably encompasses Stack’s Bay) and the Mannie Chain lakes (I could see Manitowish and Spider) skimmed over last night. Seeing all of this, I am betting many of the smaller lakes put ice on as well.

I will check the wind forecast to see what is expected upcoming and have found that windalert.com is pretty good resource.

Deer hunting and ice fishing, it doesn’t get any better than that!!! More later!!!

Mark

Best news I have heard in quite a while! Keep the cold weather and the ice coming! I’ll be out in the deer stand this weekend but early to the middle of next week I hope to get out on the ice in the area. I’m chomping at the bit to drill that first hole, drop the transducer in and watch the screen light up as my jig heads toward the bottom, nothing more exciting to me than the first day on the ice.

If only the wind would go down tonight, so the ice would get a chance to freeze down… Snow didn’t help lakes any that had ice… I’ll be heading out of town for T-giving and won’t be back until late next Sunday, so I’ll missing out perhaps on some opportunities…

Mark

In spite of all the snow all of the area received last week, it seems that our ice is growing in most places and slush seems to have frozen down nicely. Now that is not a ticket to practice anything other than safe early ice fishing strategies. I am hearing that the upper layer of ice is very solid snow, then a granular section under the rained on portion and then the ice layer which is very clear, very hard ice!!! Thickness seems to vary, but I am hearing anywhere from 3″-4″ on the skinny side to 7″-8″ on the thick side. With the continued extreme cold the next few days, ice should build very nicely. Even the largest lakes in the area were still open in their main bodies, so the ice formation should be excellent. No one that I am hearing is putting a sled or atv on ice yet, but I am betting that by this weekend, that will be happening on select lakes.

All I have right now, be smart and safe at the same time!!! Catch the one you are looking for and be safe out there!!!

Mark

Most lakes reporting 15″-17″+ of ice. A few such as Fence and Trout only 11″-13″. Travel is very good. Some slush on east sides of lakes (where wind blown snow has insulated moisture) and sure to be some in spots still, yet overall paths and tracks have firmed up nicely.

This update is taken from Kurt’s most recent report… wish I could get out, but this school thing keeping me at home!!! Might just take some time this Sat. to enjoy the first 32* day since December 4th… albeit there was one aberation on the 28th where strong southerly winds blew up the temps for part of the day…

Mark