Tested a metro lake today and it was only 5″. I caught the tail end of something on MPR about variable ice unsafe for atv/sled traffic, but missed the why.
Shouldnt things be thicker with this weather, or am I just overexcited that it is not last year?
Every year is different. Late last week when I was out in South Dakota even 500-acre sloughs had large areas of open water on them. We’ve got cold temps now but we haven’t had them long enough to add the ice needed for safe travel with heavier vehicles.
Shouldnt things be thicker with this weather, or am I just overexcited that it is not last year?
I walked out off the NW side of Mille Lacs this past Sunday and was shocked after drilling through about 6″ of ice. When other parts of the lake were pushing 12″. I even measured 3 or 4 times because I couldn’t quite believe it. It is or can be perplexing. 
FWIW, last year was about the same at this time. I remember having a reservation out of an east side resort and having fingers crossed that I could drive out and that was mid January. I’ll be going same time this year and am more confident driving out by then than I was last year.
Hit up an east central lake and had 5-7″es Friday. Yesterday same lake had close to a foot in the same spots. Friday fishing was a very good crappie bite, like clockwork the witching hour was a fast broom, that had good speed, torque and mpg’s that kept the tank full well after dusk. Caught sixty plus with two kids with. Was lights out fun. Yesterday, size and numbers slowed way down. Bite window was earlier in the afternoon, with a very slow broomed witching hour, with no length or girth. The snow on the lake had settled and seemed to have lost some of it’s insulation value, and the cold temps really seem to be helping the ice conditions in a short time frame. Conditions look favorable to really make some good ice going forward. Fish are really stacking up on the edge of the basins next to steep breaks.
Every year is different. Late last week when I was out in South Dakota even 500-acre sloughs had large areas of open water on them. We’ve got cold temps now but we haven’t had them long enough to add the ice needed for safe travel with heavier vehicles.
For good ice to form and thicken quickly, you need the entire water column to cool down. Just a couple weeks ago here in south central wi, you could find 38-40 degree water just 2 feet down. As we get these deep freeze weather systems, it will help drive the cold deeper in the water. When the top 10 feet of water drops to that 32-33 degrees, you will see ice form very quickly.
We have lakes here ranging from 7″ of ice to open water
I agree with the others. This year is quite odd. I did an interview with a local paper where I talked about this issue.
It was almost like a second turnover. We had the warm temps and 40mph winds for about a week. This kept the center part of many lakes wide open. It warmed that water and mixed it for days. Like Randy said it takes a long time to cool all of that water back down. Currently it’s common for me to see 8″-10″ of variation in ice thickness on the same body of water. I’ve never seen anything like this before, so extra caution should be advised.
For good ice to form and thicken quickly, you need the entire water column to cool down. Just a couple weeks ago here in south central wi, you could find 38-40 degree water just 2 feet down. As we get these deep freeze weather systems, it will help drive the cold deeper in the water. When the top 10 feet of water drops to that 32-33 degrees, you will see ice form very quickly.
Winner.
The thing you’ll notice is that a few days after the cool weather hits you don’t see any increase in ice. But about 5 days in you’ll see multiple inches a day.
I too have been frustrated with slow growing ice after cold weather hits but I’d say beginning tomorrow you’ll begin to see some significant gains. Just check before you go. There’ll be a lot of people driving big rigs out on the ice without checking this weekend.
On the bright side the 5″ I found was gin clear and not the mess we had last year at this time.
Hoping to get kids/friends out soon with the atv/ridgeline setup but would prefer to not fall through.
Lots more heaves and cracks with some thin ice. Ice surface is weirdest I’ve seen this early in the year. It’s almost like the spring thaw, then everything refroze, but it’s December not March. Water clarity doesn’t seem like it’s really settled down completely yet, curious if that has more to do with the warmer water being under the ice yet vs all the wind before the ice capped the lake’s off? The fish and bait are higher in the water column than normal in 32′, so they could be relating to that contrasting temp line, with the warmer water being higher? Is there a term for a lake flipping, then re flipping and temps having to equalizing like that? Never seen it or heard of it doing that before? Seems like a reverse turn over, that got flipped, after turning over, then has to turn over again? If that makes any sense at all.
Last three days I have seen cars and one small SUV on Eagle lake in Maple Grove. I couldn’t believe it. Crazy people.
I think people are driving on the ice from memories, I bet if they drilled a hole and actually measured it they’d not be doing it, but that takes a little effort
I was on a lake just north of the metro today and I had 6” in one spot and a short walk toward middle of lake drilled only 4”of ice. Cars were driving on the north side of the lake! I didn’t feel good with the 4wheeler after the 4” of ice discovery. Be safe/smart and use a little caution.
12″ in Princeton not much more than 8 on Sunday. Formed fast. Yesterday went out to the spear house and there was two trucks on the ice. Way to early to drive on in my book. Hate to see them hit a thin spot.
Way to early to drive on in my book. Hate to see them hit a thin spot.
Could not agree more!
It’s going to get ugly with people pushing the stupidity envelope.
Hoping to get kids/friends out soon with the atv/ridgeline setup but would prefer to not fall through.
Nope…you don’t!
Cars were driving on the north side of the lake! I didn’t feel good with the 4wheeler after the 4” of ice discovery. Be safe/smart and use a little caution.
And yes, you were right not to feel good.
Jim Staricha, Isle MN, Northland Recovery. Serving Central and Northern Minnesota.
#4 out of 5 this year so far…
Staricha-recovery.jpg
But…but…but…it’s been sub-zero freezing cold! (they’ll say)
Every year it’s a losing battle trying to protect the stupid from themselves.
I took my spud out today even though I knew the lake I was going on had good ice where I was going. Yellow picks hanging around my neck too. I wanted people to see me using it just to subliminally clue them in.
Fished the same spot last Thursday and today in Polk County WI. 3-5″ last Thursday, and 9″+ today.
Had 9+ inches everywhere I went on a large northeast metro lake tonight. beautiful ice too. Unfortunately the bite was not so beautiful…..
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