Game on BOYS!!!

[ICEKING-2003]

Crooked Lake in Andover has walkable ice!!!! I am heading a half hour north and am going to stay out all night.

[Ray Esboldt]

For what, geese? It has 3+"? Everywhere?

Guys and Gals, don't be making bad decisions this weekend just because it has been cold for 3 days.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I'm with Ray on this one... I love to ice fish.. but am not willing to die for it.

[ICE_KING]

Went out today on northwest side of shag(in ely) in small protected bay only venturing out a little, 4 inches of ice set some tip-ups and didnt get anything but we were only in 7fow... Itll be soon were out there further though!!!

[so haaad]

It's a good weekend to bowhunt, right Deitz? Guys, give it another week of cold weather.

[Stratosman]

Plenty to do until there is safe ice. I want to get out there as bad as anyone else, but luckily I have deer and pheasant season to occupy my time until it is safe. There are enough ways to die already, and drowning isn't on the top of my list.

[Sonicrunch]

If he wants to go out, let him.

Its natural selection at it's best.

[Deitz Dittrich]

So haaad- I wish... I think it would be a great weekend for bowhunting.. .I will be working the ice Expo at Cabelas.

[Luv2angle]

I think another few days would be the best ICEKING! Like it was said above, there is plenty of hunting to be had this weekend. Ill be on the search for some nice BIG ring-necks!! BANG-BANG!!!

[ironman]

Hey we all know that every lake is different when it comes to water temp. So if the guy says there is 3+ I assume he knows what he's doing...good luck bro. I also agree that one needs to be safe this time of year and year round for that matter. Just dont think we need to jump down his throat right away. If it's 3" now it will be even more by Sat night and even more Sunday morning. I myself will be trying to shoot some geese...but one never knows maybe I'll dust off the ice gear too.

[Bobb-o]

Was out on a 400 acre lake up here and found 7" plus also found a few crappies

[knoppers]

I seem to get out on only 3 inches every year. the good thing is I have to work this weekend, so no more thin ice for me. I will get out next weekend for sure. maybe able to use the wheeler to pull the house out by then in aitkin county if this cold weather stays.

[magicstix]

I'll wait about another week for sure maybe 2 weeks. Ice just started happening the other day. No reason to get wet now, swimming season is long over.

[Coach1310]

Good Luck Iceking! Be safe. I am with Ironman on this one. To each his own. I am going out tomm. and I don't think I am crazy or stupid. I know there is a lot of ice fishing left to be done this year on thicker ice, but if I feel safe about it, which I do, I will be out. Good luck to the rest. My 1 week head start on some of you probably won't amount to more fish, but oh well! Just love being out!!!!

[troutman]

I've been on a lot of thin ice in my day...in more ways than one.And like anything else in life,experience and knowledge is the key.I fish a lot of backwaters and marinas that are 5' and even less and have fished on less than 2" of ice.A cold,wet,butt is all that I'm risking there but,there's no way you'd find me on that kind of ice over deep water.For the beginner or if you're not familiar with the water you're fishing, 4", take a spud with you and check the ice as you're walking out.

[Snake River King]

I got out yesturday and now a couple of hours today, plenty of Ice out on the river back water, 4+ inches, I cought a 12 inch perch yesturday misses about 5 tipup flags in 2 hours, today just had 2 flags go up no fish though, probobly up the portable out tommarro

[Ray Esboldt]

ironman,

I'm not jumping down his throat. 3" in the metro as of yesterday? C'mon. I don't think so. But, go ahead and prove me wrong. Our tax dollars will pay for your rescue.

If you tell me Monday afternoon you found 3" on a lake, I'll buy that. But, yesterday, no way.

I honestly don't care what you do. I just don't want some other guy walking out there with a kid because they read on FM that some lake had enough ice to walk on, and they find out otherwise. That's what I care about.

[Hockyejock]

yeah i live in coon rapids where crooked lake is and i havent seen a pond that id send my worst friend out on yet.

[Jim Hudson]

Man.. You guys getting out on the ice are lucky ones... I went out today and checked lakes in my area of northern WI, and could only fine 1.5 inches on all lakes I checked. That included lakes from 400 acres to a small pond that was about 10 acres.

[ICEKING-2003]

You guys are frickin' idiots! Never once did I mention thickness of ice. I said it was walkable meaning I actually went out on the ice and walked around without falling in. Go look at the access, you will see my spud marks from puncturing the ice. If you don't want to go out on the ice until there is 4 or 5 inches that is your business. You will be walking and I will have my snowmobile.

[arcticcat400]

ice king i dont think any one meant to affend you they just dont want to see one of their fellow fm'ers have an accident or something so i guess if you say its safe for you then thats your business everyone has a different idea of what ice they consider "safe" but no one meant to offend you or question your intelligence or anything like that so lets not argue over this just let everyone judge it for themselves

with that said i hope everyone has a good and safe season

matt

[huntingmaxima]

Was out on South long today by brainerd, caught a few sunnies but could not keep any, to small. Had from 3" to 5" in the bay. About 20 people out there. I would say yu will be looking at 6" by next weekend.

[Ray Esboldt]

Umm...OK. Good luck on that 1.5".

[schweady]

You know what I love about ice fishing? Just about everything.

You know what I hate about ice fishing? Guys who feel the need to act as if they are

a) smarter

braver

c) craftier

d) tougher

e) all of the above

than the rest of the fishing world because they went out on the ice first, or at least got out there before you "dared" to.

I am very anxious to get some bait and go out soon, but not sure just yet what day that will be...

Be safe out there, guys.

[waxworm]

went out to test the ice today, 3.5 inches. there were 2 small permanant shacks out, and other area lakes had a couple guys out with portables.