Ice Conditions

Swede · January 04, 2016, 02:25:16 PM

What are the ice conditions for lakes in your area? Please provide body of water you are reporting on, region (see below) of the state, and ice/snow conditions.

Northern Minnesota - anything north of Mille Lacs

Central Minnesota - Twin Cities to Mille Lacs

Southern Minnesota - Anything south of the Twin Cities

Swede · January 04, 2016, 02:28:01 PM

Have gotten reports via Facebook and other sources that resorts have moved their houses out on Big Winni and LOTW in northern Minnesota. Fishing is well underway with 9-12 inches of ice being reported.

CraigP83 · January 04, 2016, 03:38:20 PM

Not much ice in the metro from what I've heard maybe 3-5''. Been seeing reports of Cars, Trucks, and Wheelers going through the ice. Next week we will have our first subzero temps of the winter, so we'll be making ice quick then.

as a reminder:

CraigP83 · December 14, 2016, 05:15:15 PM

Anyone know how much ice we have? Been cold as sin, we must have enough to walk on by now

Lipripper · December 14, 2016, 05:18:33 PM

Quote from: CraigP83 on December 14, 2016, 05:15:15 PM
Anyone know how much ice we have? Been cold as since, we must have enough to walk on by now

I see some folks up in Wisc fishing on the ice so I would think your ice has to be thicker.

Swede · December 18, 2016, 07:58:16 AM

3-10 inches on lakes just north of Mille Lacs. Ice conditions vary greatly between lake and locations on a lake from what I am hearing so be careful out there.

CraigP83 · January 04, 2017, 03:52:59 PM

Just saw this on my facebook feed

It says state record Eelpout was caught 19LBS

Lipripper · January 04, 2017, 04:21:58 PM

That's a strange looking fish.

Mike Cork · January 04, 2017, 04:30:55 PM

Is it any good to eat?

flowerjohn · January 04, 2017, 04:56:07 PM

Quote from: Mike Cork on January 04, 2017, 04:30:55 PM
Is it any good to eat?

Mike that fish is delicious. We call them ling. it's a freshwater cod. Real good!!

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Mike Cork · January 04, 2017, 05:22:21 PM

Are they difficult to catch? Seems like you'd hear more about them. I guess since I live 1800 miles from them, might be why I don't hear about them

Lipripper · January 04, 2017, 05:26:23 PM

They have a big Festival up in Craig's part of the country.

flowerjohn · January 04, 2017, 05:28:12 PM

Quote from: Mike Cork on January 04, 2017, 05:22:21 PM
Are they difficult to catch? Seems like you'd hear more about them. I guess since I live 1800 miles from them, might be why I don't hear about them

They are found in the Great Lakes. That one was caught in lake of the woods which is a really big body of water. They like it cold and no they are not difficult to catch. No one really fishes for them. You catch them while you are fishing for something else up my way.

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CraigP83 · January 04, 2017, 07:54:30 PM

Quote from: Mike Cork on January 04, 2017, 04:30:55 PM
Is it any good to eat?

Poor man's lobster. Supposed to be delicious boiled in 7UP and dipped in melted butter. I've only caught them through the ice while walleye fishing but I'm sure there are people that know how to target them

zippyduck · January 04, 2017, 08:39:38 PM

Quote from: CraigP83 on January 04, 2017, 07:54:30 PM
Poor man's lobster. Supposed to be delicious boiled in 7UP and dipped in melted butter. I've only caught them through the ice while walleye fishing but I'm sure there are people that know how to target them

You can do the same thing with walleye. Delicious but not as a leftover.

RuddyDuck · January 09, 2017, 09:00:57 AM

NW Metro-
Made the maiden drive out Sat with the Ford Ranger. Had about 13in of ice on a local lake. I've come to enjoy the sound of cracking ice as you are driving, the fresh stuff cracks pretty good! There were a few 1/2 tons out also, so we should be good for awhile now. Ice was talking pretty good Sat morning, so it must of been making some more.

Caught some panfish, but nothing of decent size.

Lipripper · January 09, 2017, 10:56:55 AM

Quote from: RuddyDuck on January 09, 2017, 09:00:57 AM
NW Metro-
Made the maiden drive out Sat with the Ford Ranger. Had about 13in of ice on a local lake. I've come to enjoy the sound of cracking ice as you are driving, the fresh stuff cracks pretty good! There were a few 1/2 tons out also, so we should be good for awhile now. Ice was talking pretty good Sat morning, so it must of been making some more.

Caught some panfish, but nothing of decent size.

I bet you like Ice Road Trucker

RuddyDuck · January 09, 2017, 02:51:50 PM

Those guys yell alot. I suppose here if you drive too close to someones ice-house or tip-up, they might yell at you too!

RuddyDuck · January 25, 2017, 06:16:44 PM

Went out last night around my area. Ice holding at 15+inches. Caught 30+ crappies, kept 2 and those were no giants!!

Finally some cooler temps.

Lipripper · January 25, 2017, 06:34:50 PM

Thanks for the report Dan and keep it up there must be some bigger ones down there somewhere.

RuddyDuck · January 26, 2017, 10:21:07 AM

Yeah, there are bigger ones out there somewhere. Had a crappie fish fry last night, always good!

Lipripper · January 26, 2017, 11:06:53 AM

Quote from: RuddyDuck on January 26, 2017, 10:21:07 AM
Yeah, there are bigger ones out there somewhere. Had a crappie fish fry last night, always good!

Love a good Crappie fry

RuddyDuck · February 17, 2017, 08:09:21 AM

Dang warm, weather! Almost 60 here this weekend, not good for ice! Probably give it a try the next couple days before it is gone. Ice fishing in a t-shirt, that part isn't so bad.

I don't fish the river, so I would prefer ice til at least end of March. Darn wimpy winters lately!

CraigP83 · February 17, 2017, 12:05:01 PM

QuoteI don't fish the river, so I would prefer ice til at least end of March.

Bring on the

Just checked a launch next to my house. Guess I should consider getting the boat out of storage soon. Although, I'm sure in a week or two we'll get a pile of snow dumped on us again.

Lipripper · February 17, 2017, 12:52:37 PM

Yelp Craig I'm sure we haven't seen the last of winter just yet.