Skim Ice on Isle Bay!

Thought all you ice heads would like this view!

http://www.mnlakecams.com/hwr/hwr.html?ref=nf

-J.

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Too bad we can’t fish for walleyes until December 1st.

Its a nice view, that’s for sure. I hope I can walk on the ice in December instead of using the boat on December 3rd like last year! Bring it on!!

Remember last year? No ice in the morning and a guy fishing in a portable in the afternoon

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Remember last year? No ice in the morning and a guy fishing in a portable in the afternoon

I do remember…

Here’s Fishers Resort harbor this morning.

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So excited! Just bought 2 new rods and a bunch of baits…

Oh boy hopefully going after some thanksgiving pike on top ups!!!!!!

Sam wrote:

Oh boy hopefully going after some thanksgiving pike on top ups!!!!!!

Me too, I’ll be using tip ups though. Well actually I-Fish Pro… Will also try for some perch…

Exciting! I’ve never fished ML during hard water season. Definitely, want to get up there during early ice this year.

What end usually becomes accessible first and where should a guy start? Not looking for spots, just what side of the lake or where do people usually have the best luck getting on the ice early?

Isle bay, Wahkon and Cove bay all on the south end typically are when the first few try to test the laws of gravity. It is worth noting that first ice is not always the best on Mille Lacs like some other waters. In fact it may not get going until folks can start getting out to the reefs and flats later.

Good to know, thank you. I thought there were some IDO episodes last season regarding early ice bites on Mill Lacs but maybe I’m wrong. I do know getting out to the flats and reefs is the goal but I don’t think many of those are within walking distance, are they? That’s typically ATV distances I thought.

So itching for ice season and trying to get things planned and somewhat pinned on the calendar so I can make things happen. If I don’t, the days creep up and next thing you know I can’t get away from work or convince the wife to watch the kids for the day.

You know you have it bad when you spend your nights on your GPS dropping pins on potential spots.

This is the episode from last year. If I remember right they went out of Red Door.

Jamin wrote:

I thought there were some IDO episodes last season regarding early ice bites on Mill Lacs but maybe I’m wrong. I do know getting out to the flats and reefs is the goal but I don’t think many of those are within walking distance, are they? That’s typically ATV distances I thought.

Oh yes…I was kind of confusing “early ice” with “first ice” which are different. First ice is when you’ll start to see them heading out onto the bays when you’d not dare venture out on the main lake. Early ice you could be finding your way out to reefs and flats like the IDO episodes using ATV/snowmobile. I suppose the official/unofficial(?) end to early ice out there would be when the wheelhouse parade shows up and the resorts start pushing their sleeper houses out farther. But what’s encouraging is the bite can continue to be hot well beyond early ice.

Jamin wrote:

So itching for ice season and trying to get things planned and somewhat pinned on the calendar so I can make things happen. If I don’t, the days creep up and next thing you know I can’t get away from work or convince the wife to watch the kids for the day.

Never hurts to plan ahead. Also extends the period of joyful anticipation.

Good info, thanks again! Yeah, you’re right and that was my bad, I guess there is “first ice” and “early ice”. I keep “first ice” to the small lakes I’m familiar with. I can wait for “early ice” to adventure up to Mille Lacs for a first time noob up there.

Jamin wrote:

don’t think many of those are within walking distance, are they? That’s typically ATV distances I thought.

Yeah, not too many flats accessible by foot, but the whole lake first break can be good on first/early ice. We walked out last year a couple times, didn’t have anyone within a mile and did very well. I usually wait until the resorts are out and about to drive out there. Mille Lacs usually has a number of large breakers that can span the whole lake in a variety of directions, so if you venture out make sure you know where you are going and how you are getting off the lake.

Thanks for the insight, BW! What you just said is exactly the reason I think I’m waiting for regular ATV/UTV/Snowmobile traffic up there…so this noob can follow someone over and through that mess. I have 0 experience traversing myself across that kind of terrain…I’ve left that to the resorts/guides up at LOTW.

I think what I’m learning is that I need to watch this thread for reports from you knowledgeable folks and then start trailing you guys. Don’t be alarmed, I’m friendly and usually carry snacks and a few beers (and I’m current on my shots).

Jamin wrote:

I’ve left that to the resorts/guides up at LOTW.

In a regular year, I will wait until the resorts are running roads and pay the $10-15 to drive to where I want to go. Last year it was just taking too long, so it was a rare time walking out for me.

Crusted over pretty good this morning!

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Did the ice hold up? I have not been watching the isle weather.

Early ice is not difficult at all and it’s accessible by walking. You can see by these pictures that we were near shore.

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Francis K wrote:

Early ice is not difficult at all and it’s accessible by walking. You can see by these pictures that we were near shore.

Was this on Isle bay or Mille Lacs already this year? I would not be walking out there now. Here is what Isle bay looks like this morning…

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Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Francis K wrote:</div>
Early ice is not difficult at all and it’s accessible by walking. You can see by these pictures that we were near shore.

Was this on Isle bay or Mille Lacs already this year? I would not be walking out there now. Here is what Isle bay looks like this morning…

My point is that when the early ice starts, not first ice, you have access to good areas within walking distance from shore.

That was Dec. 23rd last year.

Francis K wrote:

My point is that when the early ice starts, not first ice, you have access to good areas within walking distance from shore.

That was Dec. 23rd last year.

Oh…okay. From some of the webcam views from last week, I wondered if it was possible that some got out this past weekend. Looking today, it has degraded some from last week. I was holding out hope to try some tip-ups in Isle Bay on Black Friday.

Freeze baby freeze

Western side is freezing over as I write this. Neat to watch.

http://www.mnlakecams.com/

Woodshed wrote:

Western side is freezing over as I write this. Neat to watch.

http://www.mnlakecams.com/

It is…this is the view I’ll be looking at this afternoon through the weekend.

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If you watch your bobber to much it will never go down……

Got a nibble