ely ice out

[Vinny]

With this crazy mild winter, any predictions for ice out (on lakes <1000 acres) near Ely and when I can expect to start catching shallow bass based on this ice out?

Vinny

[Hester]

I would put ice out at mid april.

I would expect you could catch some bass after the opener, when its legal.

[RumRiverRat]

I would put ice out at mid april.

I would expect you could catch some bass after the opener, when its legal.

You Catch and Release before opener is not legal?

Whodathunkit?

[thatoneguy]

+1 on the "when it's legal" part.

I've seen a lot of posts from the southern half of the state expecting an early ice-out this year, but I don't see it happening up north. Last time I was out on Pike Bay I almost needed an extension to break through the ice...early ice-out ain't happening up here unless we get a very warm, wet March.

[Vinny]

Well I've never really tried Bass fishin up north before June so I was curious. Also, is bass season moved up a week since walleye is?...Is Ely in that part of the state where they have an earlier bass season than the rest of the state?

[bemidjibasser]

Ely is in the area of the state that has bass and walleye opener on the same date. A few years back the ice went out the friday before opener...the water temp was 41.3 degrees on the lake I fished that weekend. I had probably the best smallie fishing I've had in about 3 feet of water on a saddle between a point and island...

[Vinny]

Okay cool I'm looking forward to some great early bass fishing then.