How much longer do we have on the ice?

[Chumba]

I'm trying to plan out the next couple of weeks. I might be able to get up north this weekend, but not again until the 15th. Think we will still have decent ice to use then???

[Lusid]

Great question!

I want to know when car traffic will turn to a no no.. With 25+ inches of ice on the lakes, I still feel pretty safe when traveling the packed down roads.

[20lbSloughShark]

Ice is not off lakes until April 15th give or take a few days. Ice should be safe for all of March. I never drive on lakes once the temps average above freezing. I am probably done driving on the ice for the year.

[MallardMayhem]

Unless the weather takes a drastic change and we get alot of heavy rains but I dont see that happening. Lakes have the most ice I've seen in 4 years coming into this time of the ice season. I would bet wheelers and possibly vehicles would still be possibe the 15th but conditions can change daily this time of year.

[Finlander]

I think you'll be able to ice fish all March.

The ice doesn't even make any noise when trucks drive by as the ice is real solid!

[highlife4me]

We could probably see at least another 3 weeks of ice fishing but this might be the last weekend I will be driving out. I know the ice is in good shape but the accesses are not going to hold up with these warmer temps.

[GSP4ME]

Going to be back in the single digits at night over the weekend

[Gordie]

I have fished on the ice up until easter at times in this area, but you just have to wait and see how mother nature plays with the weather.

Most importantly think safety the later the season gets.

[fishersofmen]

Several weeks of good ice yet. Temps around here for the next 5 days looks like 14-32. I would imagine up north will be colder than that.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I have trips planned for the last two weekends in March, and there is a good chance I'll be out in April, too. The forecast two weeks out looks really good for keeping our ice around for awhile.

[Rick G]

I am betting we will have fishable ice for atleast a month or more. I will likley be driving out untill the access points are shot, then time for the wheeler, then by foot Just be carefull and use common sence, if it dosen't feel safe, it likely isn't... trust your gut feeling...

[otterman91105]

I'm guessing that we will be fishing for another 3-4 weeks.

[paceman]

I am betting we will have fishable ice for atleast a month or more. I will likley be driving out untill the access points are shot, then time for the wheeler, then by foot Just be carefull and use common sence, if it dosen't feel safe, it likely isn't... trust your gut feeling...

+1

[DocJpa]

This looks like a normal winter. Unless we get a super warm March the normal ice out date up in the Crosby-Brainerd area is around April 15-20. You should be able to drive out for another 2 -3 weeks if the landings hold up. And walk out until mid April.

[BLACKJACK]

Ice is not off lakes until April 15th give or take a few days. Ice should be safe for all of March. I never drive on lakes once the temps average above freezing. I am probably done driving on the ice for the year.

You haven't lived until you have to drive thru a foot of water to get off the ice!!!! Gets the old puckering strings going!!!

[BartmanMN]

Yeah, a wake behind the truck is livin for sure.

[McGurk]

Man, between this thread and the one about the end of the "Season", it's getting depressing in here. Some of the best hardwater panfish-fishing is coming up. Sight-fishing for pig crappies in 4 feet of water on a 50 degree sunny day in March is where it's at!

[Lusid]

I'm heading out on the ice tomorrow. Took the day off so I will snap some pictures of the landing. That's going to be the first to go.

[ski_otter]

Man, between this thread and the one about the end of the "Season", it's getting depressing in here. Some of the best hardwater panfish-fishing is coming up. Sight-fishing for pig crappies in 4 feet of water on a 50 degree sunny day in March is where it's at!

Shhh. Now everyone's gonna know!

[Slabasaurus]

Man, between this thread and the one about the end of the "Season", it's getting depressing in here. Some of the best hardwater panfish-fishing is coming up. Sight-fishing for pig crappies in 4 feet of water on a 50 degree sunny day in March is where it's at!

Heh. It's funny that my ice fishing season is about to start up here in a week or two.

Late ice runnin n gunnin up at the cabin is a blast.

(To be honest I did do 2 hours of ice fishing two weeks ago, but it was more eating bouya drinking beer and chatting with folks than actual fishing. I marked 3 fish on the bird though!)

[snowfighter]

It all depends on mother nature.Last year the first part of march I thought we would be fishing into april easy with the good ice we had but it heated up and didn't make it through march

[toughguy]

I hope I can listen to opening day baseball on the ice in my area. Last year I was in my boat in the low 80's in late March

[otterman91105]

They are talking 40 for next friday.

[GIANT1]

The sky aint fallen yet

[Brandonk]

I ventured out last Friday and decided to walk out for some might fishing. After getting out there and drilling the first hole i found at least 24" of ice. There was still vehicle traffic, but I wanted to play it safe. Proceed with caution.