Tangler,

Between Windmill Marina and Catfish bar the river freezes when it is -10, but the ice is NEVER safe there as it will immediately reopen shortly after. A local died there in the 2000’s and was found a few years later after the coast guard stirred up the water resetting the channel bouys. Some say he was disoriented when he drove his snowmobile into open water, sad day.

Setting that exact area aside, typically the river freezes on December 17 downriver and the week prior by St. Mary Point. The water is open in front of Brook Trout and Kinnie so be aware of those areas as well. We stay near shore as the river will reopen occasionally, I consider this entire part of the river unstable. We’ve been tracking this since the late 1970’s. A few years the fishing has been okay, but the fishing is much better in the Bayport area. I’ve had a permanent down here a few times, sold it, and plan to go back to Bayport.