Opener 13

[DanM]

I am trying to decide if we need a Plan B this year. We normally fish the Chippewa Flowage for the opener. I am curious if anyone's crystal ball has a better reading on ice out than mine. Do you think the ice will be out?

[Jarrid Houston]

I would plan for a plan B for sure!!!!! Mine involved traveling south to the St Croix river, but given my money situation it has turned to setting tip ups out up here. Good luck

[mwal]

I stood on Bony Lake on Sunday did not cut hole. I am planning on Steelhead.

Mwal

[Dooley87]

My family has a cabin on Namekagon, I don't feel like its going to be open for opener, a few years ago it was locked up on opener so we went down to a small lake in Hayward but I doubt even those lakes will be open, it would be nice to finally get out in the boat. Any ideas on areas with fishable soft water somewhat close?

[mrg]

i am pretty sure you will be able to fish the chip for opener. the west fork has started to open up and hay and moss creek are starting to flow. with a little more rain and warm weather it should be fishable by opener. their might be some ice tucked back in some bays, but it will be fishable.

[laketroutguy]

I find it hard to believe the Chip will be open next weekend. As of this past Sunday we were still accessing the flowage with snowmobile to ice fish. I think it's pretty much over for ice fishing now. Other than the shorelines getting bad the main ice was still at 24'-26".

We need lots of sun and some rain to change things over. The water hadn't gone through the ice as of Sunday.

[snoozebutton]

Warm weather and rain are coming. I just looked at the 10 day forecast and 65 for tomorrow, 73 for Saturday, and 78 with rain for Sunday.

[snoozebutton]

I just took a drive by LCO and Grindstone and it's not looking good. There were people out ice fishing on both of them. I'll check again on either Wednesday or Thursday and give an update.

[DanM]

Thanks Snoozebutton.

[vman59]

well i have my camper on the chip and was called and told to put off the opener until the following weekend. Lots of ice to go and the temps later this week won't help much.

[Jarrid Houston]

Bait Shops around the area are saying most the smaller lakes around Hayward & Spooner areas are either open or will certainly be open by Saturday morning (good news). Looking forward to your report Snooze!

[snoozebutton]

Yeah, the smaller lakes I went by today were for the most part open. Looks like you could still go ice fishing on Grindstone, LCO, and Whitefish. Sand Lake the ice is about 50 yards from shore on the north side, Little Stone is open but there's no landing there and Big Stone is still frozen over. The ice is dark and honeycombed but it's 32 right now and snowing so It's not looking good.

[mrg]

snooze, what little lakes have you seen open? only below nelson dam, lake hayward, and parts of the chip flowage have i seen open.

[snoozebutton]

Green Lake just down the road from me and Little Stone were both open but neither one has a landing, you'd have to fish from shore. I saw those two open and figured Bass, Spring, and Bean would be open but they're not. I drove out to Grindstone to see if anyone was out ice fishing but it was deserted but then that was at noon so maybe a few tried it later in the day. Here's a shot of Grindstone.

[snoozebutton]

A few lakes opened up the last couple of days. Sand Lake near Stone Lake was open today along with Windago. Grindstone and LCO are still ice covered though but the ice is black and I could see some open spots here and there. I wouldn't count of either of those two for this weekend but there's enough open water around to keep you busy.

Monday I took Hwy 70 east of Spooner and Sand Lake just to the north of the highway, Viola, Upper and Lower Clam, Crooked Lake and Mud were all open.