Will we ever drive?

[rob_med]

Maybe we should put the ICE MAP on hold and do a snow map! If it was'nt for ice fishing I would hate MN and move to anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon Line. So here is my ? , Have we ever had a winter we could not drive on Metro area lakes?

[deadeye]

I just drove out on Mille Lacs yesterday. I won't hold my breath about driving in the cities till after the new year.

[mww24]

i would say more northern lakes will be ready soon. i was on rush saturday and measured 12 inches with a tape measure. 9 good with 3 white. people were driving out. not me though. this weekend would be a possibilty on that lake with me though since i have a light car.

[DuckBlind]

10+ inches clear ice on Maple Lake this past weekend. Some crazy feller had his little hatch back out there...

[joneshat11]

I personally am glad you can't drive on the lakes. It leaves for better fishing overall and less trash on the lakes. Now for the deep snow I can go without but I wouldn't mind just keeping the ice at a good 8-10 inches to keep the trucks and houses off the lake.

[fishfearme]

There are some lakes that get plowed every year around town. They will probably start plowing after new years.

[MJ1657]

I was on winnie this weekend spearing. We had I believe 8 spear houses set up in an area. We found anywhere from 8 to 15 inches. It was an eye opener for me.

[ConnorMN]

Doesn't answer the main question... People driving on Odowds in shakopee since at least last Saturday...

[fishfearme]

How much snow is down there? LIKE 28" Has anyone plowed?

[jBohmer]

I personally am glad you can't drive on the lakes. It leaves for better fishing overall and less trash on the lakes. Now for the deep snow I can go without but I wouldn't mind just keeping the ice at a good 8-10 inches to keep the trucks and houses off the lake.

Thanks for your remarks. I drive a truck because it is what I have and I cannot afford an ATV to get out on early ice. I used to stop and pick up trash I see on the ice because I hate to see trash on the lakes I love to fish. But since you seem to generally think think that people who drive out in their trucks are busy throwing their trash out as they go I guess that I do not have to bother trying to keep our waters clean because who would notice? Thanks for the extra 5 or 10 minutes of getting home to relax instead of cleaning up after myself and other slobs. I am sure you stop and pick up crud you see instead of just complaining about it.

[niterydr]

I also saw someone in a full size 1/2 ton chevy parked near to a perm (must of been a spear house in shallow water) just off the south (winter)access of lower prior lake.

[jBohmer]

I also saw someone in a full size 1/2 ton chevy parked near to a perm (must of been a spear house in shallow water) just off the south (winter)access of lower prior lake.

Do not suppose you have an idea of the ice depth when he was out there? I have a week and half off starting Thursday and I am itching to get out. I cannot pull my house out again. It almost killed me the last couple of times.

[Fisherman45]

I was out on Chisago a week ago Thursday afternoon. The Frankies bait shop crew had a road plowed and after investigating it and some slow driving I took the Durango out on the lake mostly 12" of ice just need to stay out of the deep snow I went along the west side past the little marina then across in front of the first Island and the was a minivan already there about 200 yards from where I stopped. Fishing was good the ice was really slick and there was underlying water where the snow had accumulated.

[jBohmer]

Thanks Fisherman45! Maybe I will venture north for a day next week.

[Fisherman45]

I drive out in my truck also and I have been yelled at by my wife that there is a lot of trash in it after I go ice fishing. I picked up over 70 aluminum cans 40 plastic bottles 8 empty green propane cylinders and over 50 plastic worm containers last ice season and I was only on 5 smaller lakes total. I think it is them people that walk out there don't have the energy to haul all there trash home . What gets me is the people that throw the stuff in the ice holes that gets frozen in for the duration of the winter. Some items might just get left unintentionally but most of what I have picked up is people being slobs and not taking care of their trash with no respect for the lake or the other fishermen. Oops hit a sore spot with me.

[Fisherman45]

Thanks Fisherman45! Maybe I will venture north for a day next week.

The road to get out on the lake is right through town to Lake ave on the nw side of the lake it is a dead end that goes out onto the ice road.

[jBohmer]

Fisherman45, I fished these lakes a long time ago when I moved into the cities when I was a lot younger with my Dad. I know the area as I drive through it for work from time to time. I really want to fish next week. Do really think that I can drive out there? I am not asking for "yeah but be safe camments", I will not do anything I think is unsafe. Was there really 12" out there?! I will find my on fishing hole, but if you have any pointers my email is [email protected]. Any pointers will be secure as I am just apriciative of any help on a new lake that I can only hit a couple of time a year.

[masoct3]

January

[foulpole18]

I was out on Chisago a week ago Thursday afternoon. The Frankies bait shop crew had a road plowed and after investigating it and some slow driving I took the Durango out on the lake mostly 12" of ice just need to stay out of the deep snow I went along the west side past the little marina then across in front of the first Island and the was a minivan already there about 200 yards from where I stopped. Fishing was good the ice was really slick and there was underlying water where the snow had accumulated.

You are alot braver than I am. We had ATVs out in the same area you are talking about and the most we found was 9" with a tape measure. That was on Monday the 20th.

[ryan p]

15 to 17 inches here on Winnie every where I have been the Third River reports are misleading it froze over a long time ago and had alot of snow on it the main lake is in way better shape, a few big cracks but other wise we are driving to the first break 12 to 25 fow there. We should be driving all over by the weekend but I would check with the resorts as they know best.

[Zoob]

On my shoreline, I made an ice-rink for the kids, by hauling the snowblower down and clearing to the ice. Been a nice rink this year - until an hour after this latest snowfall - some nuggethead drove his truck right over it and created slop tracks in it.

[niterydr]

Do not suppose you have an idea of the ice depth when he was out there? I have a week and half off starting Thursday and I am itching to get out. I cannot pull my house out again. It almost killed me the last couple of times.

I didn't get out my truck as I only wanted to get out once, and there was no-where for me to park.

I hope for his sake he was on atleast 10" of ice, probably not. I plan on hitting lower prior tomorrow on a smaller bay and will post up thickness thurs night.

[Boker001]

How does white crappy ice compare to black ice in strength? If you have 4" of white stuff can you count that as anything, like maybe 2" of good ice?

[trappingaddiction]

How does white crappy ice compare to black ice in strength? If you have 4" of white stuff can you count that as anything, like maybe 2" of good ice?

I always thought it was about half as strong, so you are probably correct.

[Zoob]

How does white crappy ice compare to black ice in strength? If you have 4" of white stuff can you count that as anything, like maybe 2" of good ice?

that really all depends on the formation of the white ice. It could be mostly porous, and not worth a hill of beans (think that crunchy ice you see in late season melt). There's no real safe way to gauge white ice outside of "unsafe, all around."