Anyone got an ice report?

[Bureaucrat]

Looking to get up there soon, but this seems to be a pretty quiet forum.

[creepworm]

I was hoping someone from the area would chime in but, around the Brookings area the larger lakes (Poinsett, West 81, Sinai) were completely open this morning. East 81, and Albert were about 50% ice covered. The only lake in the Brookings area this morning that was ice covered was Goldsmith. Not the info. you are looking for, but hope it helps a little anyway.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Small stuff froze up solid, but lots of waterfowl keeping pockets open, plus lot of big water not completely froze yet either from what I saw on my drive down the eastern 1/3 of the state tonight.

[Bureaucrat]

I'll be driving by in about ten days, but that's an eternity when you're waiting for fishable ice. I'll try to get a good peak and post something.

[Jarrod32]

Some of the smaller northeast sloughs have ice, but like was mentioned, the larger bodies of water are pretty open yet. It's that crossover time of year...too much ice in the bays and around shore to launch a boat, not enough ice to ice fish.

Gotta shoot some birds for another week or two, then the ice will be ready.

[verg]

most everything is frozen here. (webster) Guys are walking out short distances all over. However, this week temps suppose to be mid 40's all week then cold by weekend. Ice won't be good at all now. Best wait a few weeks to get things solid again.

[rundrave]

I was hoping stuff would have at least stayed frozen with even a small layer of ice. Hopefully the wind they are forecasting doesn't stir it all back up and set us back in making ice.

For the next couple weeks I will probably end up hunting instead, putting holes in the sky instead of in the ice lol

[Jarrod32]

Where are we at after the big snowfall? I'm hoping that there was a lot of open water...don't really want a few inches of ice with a lot of snow on top. Hoping it freezes up this week...

Any updated ice reports?

[siemers]

Nobody has a ice report in the area? I sure hope its icing up?

[aquafang]

Plan on doing alot of walking. Maybe some select lakes may support an atv. But there is plenty of walkable ice to fish. Bigger lakes like waubay and bitter may still have some open or unsafe areas. Just have to be careful this time of year and you'll be fine

[Jarrod32]

Word is there is about 5 or 6 inches of ice on Lynn Lake...

[Bureaucrat]

Went up to Bitter over the weekend. They had 5-8 inches of ice off the east shore by the new lodge. Lots of four wheelers and snowmobiles on the ice. The bite was slow, but it was good to be out.

There is rough ice about a half mile to mile out from that landing, so go slow and be careful if you're using a sled or wheeler.

[Bureaucrat]

Drove around the Waubay area today. Seems like all the fishing is happening on Bitter right now.

I drove around the east side past the Bitter Lake Lodge and the public landing south of there. There are plenty of half ton trucks on the lake now, and lots of guys still opting to leave their trucks on shore.

Most people were spread across the east side out of the Bitter lake lodge landing, and the public access next to it.

There were a few others spread across the rest of the lake, but a small city has popped up by BLL.

Only a few portables on Waubay lake.

[MapSD]

Ice North of De Smet yesterday was 14" good and clear.

Trucks driving on alot. I still think I would check thickness before driving on however.

[Jarrod32]

Fished Bitter today...prolly 2 feet of good ice. Fishing was kind of slow, as each of us only came home with about a half dozen perch. They were nice ones, though, as the smallest was about 10 1/2" and they ranged up to just under 12 1/2". So, while the quantity was lacking, the quality was there.

Also put back a handful of dink walleyes...maybe 10" or 11" fish.