Sooooo....where's the ice?

[CapBruDude]

As I sit here at the Maplewood Panara off of White Bear Ave, ejoying a panini and a cup of soup, I am force to do nothing but think about the coming weekend. It is that time of year where most of us are itching to get out and crank up those 2 stroke beauties, beat the cold and wet a couple of lines for a few hours for a chance at ice hole glory.

This weather that we ran into or should I say ran into us has kind of put a damper on us city folks. I heard this weekend, starting today, isn't going to be much better, with warmer temps, rain and snow...100% chance they say.

I would like to put a few miles on the new tires, I am currently having put on right now and drive north. I have not seen much in the many forums I frequent talking about The Range. How are ice conditions up there and the Arrowhead region? Can we get on Vermillion yet? Anything going on in Ely, Grand Rapids, Hibbing or surrounding areas? I don't think they got the snow we have been blessed with. Oh, how wonderful...we are going to have a white Christmas and crappy ice!

How about the greater Bemidji area?

If anyone has any type of information please feel free to let me and the whole ice fishing community know. I have been running my auger and big buddy heater everynight after work just to keep'em warm.

[Sota2Florida]

Work and lack of daylight have kept me from exploring much but the lakes I have been on in the range area, Ely and Whitewater, have pretty good ice but it varies around the lake. Both have been producing nice walleyes in the "deeper" water, 18-25 with the 25ft range being better for me. Cliff has some reports of the same on Vermilion and he knows his stuff. I am planning on heading up that way in the morning to see what I can find. From what I have read a few permanent houses are out in the big bay area. Frazer was slow to freeze though.

[TyGuy02]

Are you wanting to walk, atv/sled or pull a wheelhouse? Plenty of good ice up north as far as bemidji. I'm 40 miles west of bemidji and a lake I was fishing on wednesday had 7" and I've heard reports of much of the same or even better. We didn't get nearly as much snow as you guys down south, it was much like a skating rink when I was pulling my gear out

[CapBruDude]

Thanks for the info guys. I wouldl be looking to walk our with my trap and gear.

Now we are getting rain!!!!

Hey TyGuy02 - Have you ever made your way over to the Sucker Lakes, just south of HWY 2 and East of Cass Lake?

[Matt Breuer]

6-9" in the Bemidji area as I type this... We had 7-8" of great clean ice the other night... Give us a ring for current conditions if you're planning on making the trek... www.northcountryguides.com

[TyGuy02]

I never have, fished cass and winnie but nothing in between. Breuer would know more about that info. He's based out of bemidji and I'm west a ways

[Jason Durham]

Park Rapids area which is a little further west and slightly south than you're looking has good ice conditions. 6-8 inches on most lakes. A little standing water because of the rain last weekend but not a lot of snow to contend with either. Easy walking and plenty of accessible lakes.

[Jason Hamilton]

Plenty of ice (14-20") up the Red River and Lake Winnipeg here in MB. Most of the smaller lakes are good to go as well, northern LOTW is pretty thin yet as are most of the larger (lake trout) shield lakes.

[Chase Parsons]

Sounds like many of you are luckier than around Green Bay...I have a 3/4 acre pond that just got a thin sheet of ice over but of course we have a giant snow storm coming Thursday. Yuck. Looks like it'll be a while before any safe ice around here.

CP

[aaron otto]

Saw guys out local CapBruDude on the way home tonight. Only a mile from where you were having coffee when you made the post.