is the ice comming?

[hooked79]

just wondering what everyones thoughts r about this ice fishing season

could we be on the ice by thanksgiving?

possibly a normal season? i am shure hopeful dont get me wrong i like open water fishing i still got my boat ready to go but i love the ice

ICE ICE BABY

[hunt3r]

i think we should have some ice to get on by thanksgiving small stuff and bays at least im hoping

[mww24]

Was on mille lacs last bite. 11-2-12. Water temp was 37. I could see small lakes and channels walkable by thanksgiving. Depends on wind and daytime temps.

[ice_medic]

I am hoping and wondering the same. So far for us in the southern part of mn it is not looking to good. It has been pretty warm and the lakes are still reflecting that. Water temps here are in the mid to lower 40's. I am hoping to be out by early to mid december

[dan z]

Hopefully it waits until duck season ends

[Fishin4fun_MN]

Talking 60 on Saturday for SWMN, SESD.

[hunt3r]

then monday hi of 30 low of 22 goto keep the fingers crossed

[showpropserv]

well it must be here by the amount of people on the ice fishing forum

[hooked79]

i am takeing the boat out one last time on friday befor i put it away for the winter but i got most of my ice fishing stuff ready to go

just got fire up the auger this weekend make shure thats all good

than i am gonna set my portables up out side and pretend to fish

i am i the only one the does that?

[beer batter]

The long range, 25 day forecast on Accuweather shows high temps below freezing starting the weekend after Thanksgiving, and don't come above freezing through the end of the 25 day forecast. If the wind holds off during that time (and the forecast holds true), the lakes should cap over before November ends.

[RiverChuckNorris]

You're not alone hooked79! Last year we bought a wheelhouse and I was getting so frustrated with the warm temps that I spent multiple evenings with the gen running in the wheelhouse (even had a couple buddies over one evening and we just sat in there and had a couple pops.

[hooked79]

i have been useing my ice castle all summer for camping

and it was nice but every time i looked down and saw the catch covers and didnt see ice i went into a depression mode for a few min

[icefisker]

I like your optimism beer batter!!

[iafish4fun]

i have been useing my ice castle all summer for camping

and it was nice but every time i looked down and saw the catch covers and didnt see ice i went into a depression mode for a few min

Man that would be depressing.

[cudas24]

Randy, Tom, Ed and I are heading to Mille Lacs for some ice fishing. Our usual date is mid-February.

Tom says the bite isn't that good at that time of year.

What say you?

Ed &I are down by Chicago. Randy is in Minny, and Tom is in North WI. Tom is our "guide" as he has been ice fishing a lot longer than me.

Last year Randy & I caught 1 over 3 nights, same time frame.

Randy, Tom & I got 4 on Upper Red in 2012.

Is it the time of year or just the 'luck' of the location we were at. We rent the house so we can't move too easily.

[Savage Brewer]

I saw a little bit of skimming on a few of the ponds around here yesterday morning.

Doesnt mean much other than its getting closer.

[jsr426hemi]

Myself and two buddies fished on Mille Lacs the past two winters. We rented a shack through one of the resorts. We fished end of January one year and mid February another. Last year we caught 3 fish in 48 hours which came in the middle of the night. We popped holes during the day and marked fish but could not trigger a hit. We left early even though we paid for 2 days. The year before we stayed 3 nights and caught 6 walleye with only one being a keeper. We talked to the locals and they said the fishery is just not the same as it used to be. It is has been over fished which brought the Dnr to change the regulations. We won't be going back this year. I love getting away from home and hanging out with the buds but I hate going 12 + hours without a bite.

[RiverChuckNorris]

I had my best ML trip last year the last weekend of walleye season. Now, I got laid up early ice for a month, so it's a little skewed. However, late season has the added possibility of more consistently getting on big perch. I'd suggest to re-examine what resort your renting from (they should be moving customers not catching) and then drive out to the mud flats during the day in search of jumbos and some bonus eyes.

Don't stay in the rental all day if your goal is to catch fish. There are plenty of roads everywhere by that time of year and as long as you've got an auger, a vexilar and a vehicle, you can be as mobile as anyone else.

[Rick G]

To the guys coming to Mille Lacs in Feb. If you want better fishing, you are either going to have to be very mobile, or pick a date closer to late Dec or early Jan. I agree with RiverChuckNoris, the resort you are staying with should be doing a little more for you.

Ice will be here soon, have seen some limited shore and back channel ice on some of the smaller lakes already. Water temps on the shallow lakes is pretty close, we just need a few real cold windless nights to get things started