Better make other plans for opener up north !

[DocJpa]

We had 8 inches of snow on close to 30 inches of ice and just got 12 + inches on top of that last night. We have 18- 20 degrees forecast for tonight with another clipper coming on Sunday. No 50 degree days in the near future. Opener is 22 days away, no way will you be in your boat up here on May 11 th unless its on a river or in your garage!

[mrklean]

When was the last time people in MN were ice fishing opener?

[Gordie]

Ice fishing on opener has one benefit ..You can use two lines

[Desperado]

Gordie, I like the way you're thinkin' there

[Fish Head]

When was the last time people in MN were ice fishing opener?

I don't know about other lakes, but I did look up the latest ice out on Lake Vermillion. Here are some of the latest ice out dates-

1950 May 23rd

1996 May 14th

1979 May 13th

1947 May 12th

1972 May 11th

[MnCatGuy]

How are the shorelines on the area lakes holding up?

[DocJpa]

Yes, before this last snow you could walk and drive wheelers out on the west and south shores with no problem. Now I think the weight of this snow will produce a huge amount of slush and travel will be very difficult until it all melts and filters down though honeycomb ice. I just can't see the lakes up here open by May 11.

[crix]

worst part for me is that the area I was planning on going for walter opener will probably have ice, but unsafe ice I think it will be days from ice out too close for comfort

[Great Outdoors]

When was the last time people in MN were ice fishing opener?

1996 on some larger lakes.

[rockpilemike]

For most of Minnesota, the latest ice out was in 1950.

In late April 1950 there was a major snow event...just like

the one that came through this week. Here on Woman Lake near Leech, the ice depth last Sunday was close to three feet. This morning it was 7 above. Temperature projections for the next week to ten days for the are show highs in the 40's with all lows at or below freezing. Make your own conclusions but I expect to see sheet ice (at worst) or icebergs (at the very best) on opening weekend.

[Ballyhoo]

Don't remember exact year but maybe around 2008,forgive me if I am off by a year or 2. There was still a lot of ice on LOW during the opener. You could not get throught he gap in the morning but in the afternoon, the wind switched and you could get out. Other than that I think it was 1996 or 97 where there were people ice fishing on the opener.

[thatoneguy]

I remember Winnie had a lot of ice on the opener in 1997, and there is a LOT more ice on Winnie this year than there was at this time in '97.

[Gordie]

I also think 1983 was a late April snow storm and I think it was April 13-14 if I'm not mistaken but it also warmed very fast after that.