Weak Shore Ice

[ScoutII]

Tried driving my Geo Metro out onto O-Dowds. Got about 3feet down the landing and front end went down. Broke some ice off that was holding up the one corner. Now I had both wheels touching the ground and backed out. Hope the person out on the middle of Thole made it off.

[SlaPPy]

ok thanks for telling me this because i was just going to try to do that with a civic now i get to borrow my dad's suv

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I wouldnt try driving a SUV out somehwere a GEO METRO went through, especially if it wasnt my vehicle.

[The Grebe]

We were out on a Wright county lake last night and the ice was getting pretty funky. Lots of honeycomb and it was starting to come up in chunks when augered...last time I will be driving on any closer in lakes!

[ScoutII]

Definetly a good idea to start carrying the ice spud. Checking the ice within first 100feet of shore before you try to go out is a good idea. Also recheck ice on your way back off, ice conditions are changing fast.

[danfall]

NOTE: Honeycomb ice cannot be checked well with a spud. You can be walking on 10 inches of honeycomb ice and it can fail. The spud won't indicate it well enough, imo. I have seen 24" of ice so weak that it would notably indicate waves underneath as you walked; it was river ice after a rapid warmup. I first questioned the ice after cutting a hole and watching water rushing up hard. The worst part was I didn't realize the weak area until I was 200 yards from shore over the main channel. I walked gingerly home, it would probably have been safe enough, but watching the waves under 24" of ice was less than comforting and clearly indicated soft ice. I'm sure a vehicle would have gone down. I'm not an expert, but I'll challenge some of the other ice fishing experts on this subject, maybe you guys are used to seeing the water rushing up and waves under you in late season, but it is too unsettling for me. Stay off rotten ice is my advice.

[Rick]

Good advice Danfall!!!

[Carp-fisher]

I went out on Mitchell Lake in Eden praire on Wednesday night. The ice was much thinner than I thought--12-15". I drilled two holes side by side (one to put my Vex transducer down). I noticed over the course of two hours that the ice between my two holes was dissappearing. Great fishing, though. So if you all go out this weekend be very careful.

[hip_hop_fisherman]

Have already been planning ahead for this. Got all the summer gear out and sorted yesterday. Rods rigged and everything. Also got a nice list of things I need. (Isn't it funny how you never have enough tackle?)

[knoppers]

years ago I walked out on green lake by princton, it was 70 degrees, and it was tough getting out to the ice. the ice was honycombed and the auger went through it like slush. I decided to head back in after only about a hour of fishing, so I could get back on shore before the ice melted too far off, got to shore and two (Contact US Regarding This Word) in a jeep wagon 4x4 truck decided to drive out. I sat and watched them go through lots of open water, then finally get onto the ice, and they drove to the center of the lake without breaking through, I couldn't believe they made it. I just wonder if they ever got off. talk about lazy.

still lots of ice in central minnesota, at least 2.5 ft.

[SlaPPy]

there is a lot of ice when you or if you can get passed the shore ice like 2.5 just like he said, but i guess walking would be on the safe side.

[fishnhooks]

I am planning on going out tomorrow. I am taking the sled with in case the lake doesn't look that great and the place that I want to go isn't that far that I want to risk my truck going through.

"hooks"

[The Grebe]

Out of town, lots of ice , it's around the shore thats tricky. Tommarrow will probably be the last day to drive on heavily used access points, lots of water and ruts that you have trouble getting out of, once you are in em!

We were on Mille Lacs today and access is getting rough, Ann also. Once you are out there, you are good to go.

[knoppers]

grebe,

were you on ann lake on 47? how is the fishing there, we haven't done too much there, but we fish it maybe twice in the winter. last time out, we caught only a few crappie and gills, with lots of little perch.

did you try for tullibees on mille lacs?

[The Grebe]

Knoppers...Yup, it is the Ann Lake on #47 and what you got is pretty much what we got last night and we fish the lake alot. We have caught some really nice fish out of there over the years, but it can be fickle!

Days can be carbon copies of each other and one day you wail on them and the next you can't get a bite?

On Mille Lacs we did'nt fish the Tullibees. In the past, the only time we would fish for them, was when the Walleye fishing was slow and we needed something to keep us going.

I don't think there are as many in the lake as there used to be? You used to have big schools come through right under the ice sometimes and most of the time you could expect that at some point they would be bothering your bait, but I hav'nt had that happen this year?

We've only gotten one huge one this season, fishing wax worms for Perch...we hav'nt even marked many on the vex? Maybe we have been in the wrong places at the right times?

I'm the only one left of our crew that does any smoking and I don't do it near as much as I used to, so now I don't target them.

[fisherking01]

Ice conditions vary greatly in the western partof the state and into Eastern S.D. Good ice conditions around Alexnddria and North, but it has been softening up during the day. I noted 28 inches in W.C MN (with a tape measure). In S.D. there was 16 inches with lots of honeycombing. Look for open water in NE S.D. within two weeks. I Beleive some will go off by the weekend or early next week. Use caution anywhere this time of year, as the ice melts just as fast from the bottom as the top, especially with lots of sunshine on it. Be careful, fun times can end quickly with carelessness. Good fishing to all you spring anglers. Brent

[happyfish]

I fished Bald Eagle last night. The ice was NOT GOOD. I used my hand auger to get through and it went like butter. I would suggest erring on the side of caution when venturing out. Also, having above freezing temps overnight really makes it go fast. I did get 7 nice crappies, 9 inches and over. Be careful and have fun!

[Skitterpop]

Fished Monday in NW Ottertail County. Ice still 27" thick but the top was pretty wet and sloppy. I drove out in my car and I was busting through the top 3-4" of slush in some spots. After yesterdays trip and the forcast for no freezing temps in the Detroit Lakes/Fergus Falls areas for the next 6 days; I would not drive any vehicles out. Stick with sleds and ATV's or walk. It was 55 degrees which made for comfortable fishin but I could see the heat moving accross the lake just like the heat ripples you can see off of the highway in the summer. It was pretty eary. Oh, and the sunnies were crazy! Fished in 7 feet and caught fish after fish for 2 hours until I ran out of bait. Most 6-8" with a few hitting 9.

[Huskiedevle]

Folks, a person I know who is in law enforcement west of the metro area, was out on a lake today in a hovercraft.He said the ice just pushed ahead of him as he drove on it , in waves. Not good. With the rain tomorrow, that lake will be done for ice fishing.Be extremely careful right now if you venture out on the ice that is left. Otherwise just get the boat ready.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Here it is folks for those that need proof..

With todays forcasted rain... Don't do it.. its not worth it!

[Dan Thiem]

Somehow I pictured the fat lady singing would be a little heavier. But very good Dietz, Very good!

[Deitz Dittrich]

LOL @ dan.. I tried.. that is the best pict I could find on the net in short time.. LMAO

[goin fishin]

I agree with Dan, the fat lady is almost attractive, but then again what if the hokey pokey isn't what it's all about? Now, that really scares me!

Chow for now,

GF

[tightlines]

almost attractive

GF:

Yikes!! You looking at the same picture I am?? Has it been a while?? LOL LOL Sorry, I just couldn't resist...

[Deitz Dittrich]

I wonder how many adult beverages I would need before the words "almost attractive" would come out of my mouth... STILL LMAO!!!!!