My first year ice fishing. How will this stupid rain/snow mix we’re getting in the twin citeis affect ice thickness and safety? I was on Nokomis last night and found around 8″ wherever I drilled.
The rain will help keep too much snow off the ice. The best case is a year of cold early to make good ice then a few inches to insulate it from temp swings. Too mush snow and you get a slushy mess, no snow the ice moves a lot on the big lakes forming live cracks. With the rain and this weekends temps we will have good ice.
Temps are going to plummet. Be sure you don’t leave anything on the ice you don’t want frozen.
Just don’t put a lot of weight on the ice when the temp is above 32 for at least 24 hours. The strength of the ice falls nearly in half when ambient temp rise above freezing for extended periods of time.
The rain should have very little effect on the ice. With the cold temps that are on the way it will firm up any wet sloppy mess that this rain causes.
Rain definitely melts ice. Put some ice cubes in water that is above freezing and the ice will melt. It may take a while, but it will melt. That’s simple physics. Be safe, wait until the temps plummet and remove everything so it doesn’t become frozen into the ice. Remember, you are responsible for everything you bring out there.
As long as it isn’t windy the ice should be fine. Whenever you get water being blow by wind that eats the ice much faster then standing water. The weekend is calling for some bitter cold so the ice should be fine. Just wear your creepers!
Thanks folks.
Just don’t put a lot of weight on the ice when the temp is above 32 for at least 24 hours. The strength of the ice falls nearly in half when ambient temp rise above freezing for extended periods of time.
What’s a a lot of weight? I’m a walk-out, open-air guy only, so I pack light. I mean, christmas weight and all but. . .
It looks like it’s been 32+ since about this time yesterday in Minneapolis, and will stay that way until 3-4am overnight. After that it should get nice and cold again.
Thanks folks.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>biggill wrote:</div>
Just don’t put a lot of weight on the ice when the temp is above 32 for at least 24 hours. The strength of the ice falls nearly in half when ambient temp rise above freezing for extended periods of time.What’s a a lot of weight? I’m a walk-out, open-air guy only, so I pack light. I mean, christmas weight and all but. . .
It looks like it’s been 32+ since about this time yesterday in Minneapolis, and will stay that way until 3-4am overnight. After that it should get nice and cold again.
It’s just fine. We are out on rush right now. Looking at about 4 or 5 trucks on the ice in the area.
This rain/snow mix isn’t going to do much to the ice. At 36 degrees there’s simply not enough heat to do much of anything. I am hoping however it melts the inch of snow I had on my driveway this morning.
What’s a a lot of weight? I’m a walk-out, open-air guy only, so I pack light. I mean, christmas weight and all but. . .
A lot of weight referring to the DNRs recommendations for ice thickness. Their recommendations are on the very conservative side. In warm weather I wouldn’t recommend exceeding those values.
In ideal conditions, you can probably put twice the weight on the ice than the DNR recommends. That’s assuming consistent ice thickness.
Walking wouldn’t be an issue unless there are springs or aerators around. Don’t need to over think it, when it gets warm, just don’t push your luck.
Here we are. North of metro. 14 inches
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Good for you 
I’m north of the metro and we have one lake that has over 12″ a lake 10 miles from it has 8″ so it depend on the lake, water depth and size of the lake plays a big factor on ice thickness.
This warm up isnt hurting ice unless it’s bad ice in the first place, obviously be very careful and know where your tracking. This is a spot I’ve been fishing daily for a little while now and it’s been great ice
New day new lake. 14 inches of good ice. Dragged the shack with the wheeler
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I have found if I chill the glass, chill the mix and set the booze outside for 45 minutes the ice holds up very well.
Crap, wrong ice subject. Carry on. 
I have found if I chill the glass, chill the mix and set the booze outside for 45 minutes the ice holds up very well.
Crap, wrong ice subject. Carry on.
My booze doesn’t have a chance. Its officially camping season
I think we will be good for the rest of the season now that we have 9-12 inches on most of the lakes in Minnesota. People are putting out here permanents on lakes in twin cites area.
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