lake zumbro ice situation.

Tyler and I made a trip to the mighty Zumbro this morning hoping to tangle with some of the crappy natives, but what we found for ice to get on the lake was not good. From the property where I have permission to access the ice, we found very thin ice and shoreline open water. The spud would go thru without much effort at about five feet out, so this avenue got eliminated in a hurry.

We went to another area and thought the ice would work there, but further investigation showed only about two , maybe 2 1/2 inches of clear ice and when I ventured out on it I only got about 60-70 feet before it became apparent that this was not in my best interest….and this spot was well away from any current! As I inched my way out at this spot, the ice all of a sudden snapped and settled about 6″ and continued to spiderweb all over. Can we say Fat Man Run Fast?

There was a rumor that someone had fished the high banks on Christmas Day, but I cannot, in good conscience, say the ice is even remotely safe yet. We’ll need a few days of cold to get that lake covered in anything that is trustworthy.

I also heard that there is a big crack out there going to the high banks that is either 6” or 12” wide [can’t remember which] and you can see the open water. Definately NOT safe. Lake Zumbro is usually the LAST place to have any safe ice and especially being a river it HAS current. Be safe and ”wait” so that you can be around to enjoy the rest of the ice season is my advice for Lake Zumbro. There are other places to fish that should have safer ice and especially places with shallower water.

Thanks, Bill

Thanks for letting us now, CT!!!

There is one upstream of the high banks in the Postier’s Point area. I didn’t get out to that area even this morning.

Another site had a post regarding walking, from either the Ponerosa or Fisherman’s Inn, down to the banks. There is still open water in the Fisherman’s neighborhood today and was much more open Sunday and Monday when I drove past the lake. My to-be point of entry this morning was going to be on the “lake” side of Posteir’s Point, two or three places down from the end of the peninsula. The ice there was all re-froze and fractured with only an inch or so of clear….the spud went thru it without effort as far from shore as I could reach without taking a dip. Out a ways further we could clearly see where “new” ice had formed not very long ago and this area was extensive, reaching well beyond the point over towards Rattlesnake”s bluff, then continuing out into the main basin.

I saw the post and know the poster and he was definitely along the highbanks in the pics. All I am offering here is what Tyler and I found this morning. I am a lot heavier than Tyler and he WOULDN’T even venture out to where I was when the ice sheared. Tyler never left dry ground for that matter. Based on what I encountered today, I am saying that the ice is not ready for travel on Lake Zumbro. I was lucky this morning and the poster on the other site is also lucky in my opinion. And my position is that people should stay off any of the ice out there until we have had some significant cold weather.

The way things are going we should have 1 good month to fish the Zummie

Yep, steer clear of Zumbro just yet. Many of the other ponds around town are good to go and the backwaters near Wabasha/Kellogg are in pretty good shape. Play it safe no matter where you go, but rest assured there is quite a bit of safe ice now.

Good Fishing,
Mike