First ice

[troutman]

I'm sure I don't need to remind any of you "hard water" guys how long we waited for ice last year.This year seems to be shaping up a little better so far,too much rain,for sure but,seasonal temps to this point...let's hope that pattern continues.(minus the rain)So,when do you think you'll be on the ice this year and on what body of water and what part of the state or states?Mike

[Guest]

Hope to be walking out on my favorite lake Thanksgiving weekend. "Wish full thinking"

[Guest]

I'm with AliveinMN, Thanksgiving sounds good to me.

Good Fishin, Matt.

[Steve Foss]

Thanksgiving. On the one hand, turkey/beer/football. On the other hand, early ice. A no brainer. Can always buy a turkey, drink beer and can watch football half the year.

Ice, hurry please.

And gentlemen, don't forget your ice cleats and safety equipment! For me and my 200 lbs-plus, it's the ropes through the sleeves and the spikes. Kind of a hassle when fishing, but it'd really suck being swept downstream looking up at the 3-inch ice and pounding on it from underneath. Yikes!

First ice usually is something close in and familiar for me. In NW Wis., that'll be a couple Wisconsin inlet arms on the St. Louis River or a trip to Lake Owen, a great clearwater lake an hour inland that I caught lots of tip-up pike on last winter.

Does anyone out there wait until the big lakes freeze up to go, or is it "any little water" with fish in it as soon as that freezes?

I swear, I AM eyeing my concrete basement floor, wondering whether the XL-3000 has enough muscle to punch through.

[Guest]

When I was pheasant/duck hunting this weekend around Montevideo, there were several ponds covered with ice! Not too much longer....and lots of cold weather this week!

[cwmn]

3 inches on December 10, I hope, I hope, I hope, I hope. Maybe if we all turn our frezers down to thier coldest and open the doors and run all our AC units it will help. I remeber getting out on ice on the Friday after Thanksgiving every year, but not the last 5.

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Have a good one!
CWMN

[Crappieman]

In fall of 2000 we were able to fish on Minnewawa by Thanksgiving. I am not betting on it this year, but it would be nice

[Steve Foss]

Canada. Yeah, that's it. There's gotta be somewhere in Canada frozen on Thanksgiving.

Oh wait, I'm going to be hunting CWD-ridden deer by LaCrosse with my rellies, what am I thinking?

[Guest]

stfcatfish,
Once I see a lake (or pond) that has walkable ice and I know there is fish in it I'm there! By the time ice is ready I've been so eager to get out that catching goldfish would appeal to me (well, maybe not goldfish but I think you know what I mean). Be safe at early, not worth risking my life for that goldfish.

Good Fishin, Matt.