How much longer do we have on the ice?

[skee0025]

The 7 day forecast calls for sun and 40+ temps everyday.

[paceman]

2-3 feet of snow on top of 2-3 feet of ice to melt. Temps way below average. gonna be quite awhile yet..........

[OnAFly]

at this rate, a month

I haven't been out in two weeks. I should try to get out once or twice more, but I just can't bring myself to do it. I'm ready for spring, and not -4F in the morning spring.

[molonlabe18]

I am hoping that it will hold up until the weekend of April 5th. I have been over seas for the last year and would like to be able to take part on the 12-13 ice season even if I only get one or two days on the ice.

[Vlasin]

Had a good 20+ inches of Ice on Seton and Black Bays on Tonka last weekend...Guessing we'll be good for another 2 maybe 3 weeks...

[dan z]

How much longer?

Not enough time imo

[CANOPY SAM]

March 26th today and the ice roads on Lake of the Woods have never looked better.

They're calling for temps in the high 30's and low 40's this weekend, so it's bound to start melting, but with 3 1/2 feet of ice below 1-2 feet of snow on average, we'll be ice-fishing up here right up till the walleye season closes.

Gonna be quite a mess when it really starts to melt though. I've driven those ice roads in March when water was standing up to the floor boards. It's just down right spooky...but again, with 3 ft of ice below the tires, it's just a little reassuring.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I'll be fishing around Brainerd the weekends of the 6th & 7th, and 13th & 14th. I have no concerns about the ice at all. We have 3 weekends left, easily.

[bassNspear]

im gonna go out with my ice castle this weekend on a lake around st cloud. should be just fine.

[20lbSloughShark]

I'm guessing that people will be open water fishing the weekend of April 20th and 21st.

[sevenmmm]

The scientific name we should be concerned with is: Insolation.

In a nutshell, as the earth spins/wobbles our area back towards the sun, the radiation directly impacts the ice through a shorter amount of atmosphere. After Spring Equinox (another one to look up), it really happens fast. This is why you will see snow melting on a below freezing day!

As opposed to after Winter Solstice when the radiation comes in on a angle, through a long amount of atmosphere, and is reflected off the ice. Well, that should be enough of this boring stuff! The ice won't last too much longer at the 45 Parallel North Latitude line. That's my official guess. :-)

[mrklean]

hopefully not very long

[DrJuice1980]

The scientific name we should be concerned with is: Insolation.

In a nutshell, as the earth spins/wobbles our area back towards the sun, the radiation directly impacts the ice through a shorter amount of atmosphere. After Spring Equinox (another one to look up), it really happens fast. This is why you will see snow melting on a below freezing day!

As opposed to after Winter Solstice when the radiation comes in on a angle, through a long amount of atmosphere, and is reflected off the ice. Well, that should be enough of this boring stuff! The ice won't last too much longer at the 45 Parallel North Latitude line. That's my official guess. :-)

Who invited the nerd? just kidding man.

In the metro, I give it to April 10th-12th. This weekend is going to put a hurting on it.

[fishersofmen]

I just drilled some holes for my son on our lake and there was around 30". Nothing like sweating like a pig in a sweatshirt on 2 1/2 feet of ice! Nobody is on the lakes so get out and enjoy.....

[GIANT1]

I'm guessing that people will be open water fishing the weekend of April 20th and 21st.

I dont think so !!!!!!!!

[JBMasterAngler]

I'll be hitting mille lacs both this saturday and on the 6th. If it's possible (which I think is doubtful), I'll try for leech on the 13th.

Doesn't shoreline ice melt faster on the east side of a lake?

[CamozKool]

I went out last night after work near Prior Lake, Mn., there was still about 2 feet of solid ice, I was surprized since the ramps were like a slushy mine field, my guess it will be walking out in a few days, especially if it rains...

It was a beautiful night though, a slight breeze and a few crappies...

The moon was brilliant...

[gurkster]

Over the weekend I had 24" or more on the Chisago area lakes.

[g_anoka]

I was out today in Isanti county, plenty of ice, 4 wheel drive trucks driving out. Was really only to catch a mess of small sunnies but it was a great day to be outside. A word of advice, SUNSCREEN, my face is fried, left my sunscreen on shore and was too lazy to go get it. I am not sure how long a person will be able to drive out, but I plan on still walking out next week.

[brook100]

Still 24" of ice in the Washington country area, but the 6-8" of slush on top of it makes it kind of sketchy for driving. I think I'll be walking from here on out.

[Desperado]

I'm gonna try to be on the ice somewhere at least one day in MAY

Just so I can say I've done it.

[CANOPY SAM]

You'll be able to do it easily in the northern stretches of the state, Desperado!

There's 3 feet of solid ice on Lake of the Woods, and it hasn't melted at all! The most recent long term forecast indicates little to no warm-up what-so-ever until the end of April.

We may still be fishing thru a hole in the ice up here on opening weekend!?!?

[fivebucks]

I don't think I will be putting my dock in the first weekend of May down by Northome but I should remember my ice fishing gear

[MN_Jay]

So the question is, has there ever been a time when you were drilling holes on the walleye opener? Anyone think it may happen this year?

[Biggerfish]

No, the heat will come. The old saying is "it all averages out"