Rain on already weak ice

[BronzeBrother]

This season is fast approaching last season's ice conditions in the metro. Will this rain help or hurt the thin ice we have around here? Melt off the snow on the lakes and refreeze in better shape or just destroy what little ice we have? Opinions...

[MJ1657]

Melt and refrreze in better shape.

[cavalierowner]

Melt and refrreze in better shape.

That's what I think and am hoping for. All that snow really made a mess of things.

[deerminator]

You would think it would help. Here in west central MN, I looked at the 10 day and tomorrow will be just over 30 and then the next 9 days look like 20 degrees and below! So there could be a nice melt and good freeze.

[CrewJones]

just like last year almost, that is if it stays cold after this. Last time it did this it rained enough to wet all the snow down and it froze up nice. But don't think that the top layer can support weight like clear bottom ice. Most us Frozen foots know this but there will always be people that will be walking on 5" frozen snow and 1" ice

[KenM1987]

I live on Elk Lake in Clear Lake and there were 6 houses out yesterday so I walked out there and drilled a hole and couldn't believe people were fishing out there. That water rushed out of that hole non stop.

[LMITOUT]

It's days like these when I'm glad I didn't dump a bunch of money into electronics, houses, or augers this year.

What a mess.

[FishinFools]

If we can avoid any heavy snow, it's all gonna be good by next weekend. Bring in some arctic air!!

[Hardyboy]

I agree......if we get some of this snow melted down and saturated with water and we get a refreeze then we will be in pretty good shape. If it stays cold after the refreeze and we can build some solid ice with it and we can get some good ice. Theres a lot of "if's" in there.

[KenM1987]

Yup I was gonna buy one of them brand new honda four stroke strikemasters and a new two man clam. Very glad I didn't cause its looking like a two month season around home.

[fishersofmen]

It's days like these when I'm glad I didn't dump a bunch of money into electronics, houses, or augers this year.

What a mess.

No doubt. Glad I held off!

[LMITOUT]

If we can avoid any heavy snow, it's all gonna be good by next weekend. Bring in some arctic air!!

They are already hinting at a major snow storm Wed/Thur.

[SwivelDigger]

Last year new auger and new marcum.....bad ice

This year new JM thermal X

I think I'm going to quit buying stuff!

[deerminator]

You gotta make do. : ) Today I set up just a simple tip-up with a flag that's barely hanging on thanks to a lot of duck tape. Caught a 27 and 25 inch pike and lost two others (dangit!). The ice was nice and wet an in a few spots I was sinking down 6 inches into some slush. But there was a good 7 inches of ice under that.

[ski_otter]

I was out on rush both yesterday and today.

Yesterday. 5-6" ice, 6" heavy snow on top and rained all day.

Today 5" ice 2" water and a crust on top or slush and by the time I left it was getting pretty solid. I think at least on that lake it helped it

[hunt3r]

was on big marine today and yesterday 5-6 inches of ice. half inch of water on top yesterday. all froze today i think it helped it took away all the snow and now its froze solid

[pushbutton]

No doubt in my mind that all that rain could have very well saved the season for many lakes where we got dumped on a week ago. If we get spared a heavy snow on Thursday, the ice will set up better than under the snow and we should now be able to potentially have a decent season.