First Portable Sighting Of The Year.

[Shack]

Took Co. Rd 15 home and passed by lake Ann in Zimmerman tonight and a portable was out.

It was a little before 5:00 p.m.

I am still skittish about walking out, let alone dragging a shack.

These guys are nutz. Must be almost or over 4" on Lake Ann in Zim town.

Was it anyone from FM?

[cold one sd]

They may be nuts, but according to the evening news a pickup went through the ice on Waubay Lake near Webster SD today. Now, that is nuts. I haven't heard any details yet and hope who ever it was is ok. I would have reservations about walking out there at this time.

[PerchPounder]

I have no problem being on anything over 2" but trying to drive on a lake in November is absolutely crazy.

[cold one sd]

I just found out that he was involved in an accident and ended up going out on the ice.

[MuleShack]

Shack,

Crazy? Yes....

But truthfully, if i was going to go thru, i would rather have the sled to try to jump into it before going in or to help get out of the water.

row, row, row your boat...

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

i think portables should be fine this weekend if you go north of the cities a little ways... what do you guys think?

Later

Ryan

[blueroof]

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what do you guys think?

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I'm thinking I'm going to save my pennies and get something like a wilcraft for next years early ice. Maybe even an actual wilcraft. LB

[Shack]

Mule,

I have had thoughts about this, but I figure I would not make it to sled.

I think if cold keeps up, this weekend you will be able to bring a porty out with ya. I think so, but I am walking out Friday night to jig a little.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

Yea it should be fine, I am walking out with the "ultra-portable" too (Pak-Shack) which is very lgiht and should not add to much weight with me...

Later,

Ryan

[Eric Wettschreck]

Why go north of the cities??? I just got back from chiseling a hole through 4 inches of ice in the local SW MN lake.

Do what you think is best, but I'll be fishing this weekend.

[cRaPpiEMaN8265]

thats cool boiler guy! how big and deep is the lake though? cant be to big if it already has four inches! did you get any fish? I go north because there are no people and i have some plate sized gills on the lake i fish!

Later,

Ryan

[Lure Lightning]

Go to the Ice Show there will be plenty of time to get onto the ice and not risk going through. If you decide to go to the show stop by the lure lightning booth and say hi.

-Dan

[MuleShack]

Shack,

I tell ya bout a story where some buddies were glad we had a sled with.

It was somewhere in the mid 90's and it was my first trip to Mille lacs ice fishing. It was December and (to me) the lake was weird...there was 6-8 inches of ice on the outside of the lake about a mile or more out...then a big ice heave and then you could see white caps out beyond the heave. We went out of Agate or Fishers or someplace on the north side.

There were 4 of us that day and we had a 3 wheeler and one otter sled, so 2 of us were on the wheeler and 2 were in the sled with the gear. Needless to say even with a XL otter sled, with gear and auger they were sitting on the edges of the sled

We were fishing with in 100 yards of the heave, so we were a ways out there. No problems going out and fishing all day, but on the way back in, the wheeler found some soft ice and pushed it down and the ice broke up but the wheeler kept going thru it...then comes the guys in the sled...on about a 30' rope so they were trailing a ways...(just enough time so they could see it coming ) and they leaned toward the center and made a huge splash, bogged down for a short time and then skated back onto the ice. All turned out OK, but still very scary because it was just a 10' patch of weak ice in the middle of nowhere.

You might be right thou abuot not being able to get back into the sled, but at least it would float next to you.

[walleyeiceguy]

I aggree with yea, dont rush the early ice, with this cold snap we are having we will be on the ice soon enough no need to risk safety,

[snoozebutton]

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I aggree with yea, dont rush the early ice, with this cold snap we are having we will be on the ice soon enough no need to risk safety,

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As long as we don't get a lot of snow on it. We were out yesterday and had close to 4 inches of good ice as far out as we wanted to go.

[metrojoe]

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I'm thinking I'm going to save my pennies and get something like a wilcraft for next years early ice. Maybe even an actual wilcraft. LB

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Well you'll only need about 1,000,000 or so pennies. Might want to start saving now.

I can't wait to get out on the ice, but I think I'm going to grouse hunt this weekend and give the ice one more week.

The Ice show also sounds tempting.

[palisade1kid]

No ice show for this kid.

I'll be out on 5" of ice rearing slabs in my favorite hole!

Most lakes in Aitkin Co. have nice ice.

Beware of springs and very deep lakes.They may not be that sturdy yet.

[blueroof]

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Well you'll only need about 1,000,000 or so pennies. Might want to start saving now.

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I've got quite a few Canadian pennies saved up already. I knew they would be paydirt someday! I probably only need 950,000 of them.. LB

[Shack]

CK,

I am sure some how, some way I will be out one some local lakes around Princeton/St Francis or Chisago area. I won’t be walking across, may be just a little tip up action and back to shore to wait for a flag. Might jig shallow water a little bit.

[Eric Wettschreck]

Just talked to the father in law. 5" on our local lake. I'll be jiggin for crappies after work tomorrow!!!

[Shack]

I read in another post Boiler that you where hitting the lake after work tomorrow. I thought about doing that and lined up a run, but I just found out the wife works tomorrow night and I am watching my son's. I thought about bringing them with, but I know the wife would have a hart attack.

Good luck!

[blueroof]

Shackbash, I'm sure your boys would love to hit the ice show on Friday night! I'm dropping downtown St. Paul with my daughter, hitting the lakes bright and early Sat. morning. LB

[Shack]

I was planning on going tomorrow morning, but stuff picked up here at work and I have to do some thing I can not get out of tomorrow morning. I just spoke with wife and I think my family and I will be heading down bright and early Saturday morning. I plan to hit all the FM friendly booths for sure and what ever else comes along.

blueproof,

Once I found out my wife worked, the thought did cross my mind.

[efgh]

I spotted a portable on the little lake just east of the mankato airport, I think the name of the lake is Wita lake.

[jigginjerk]

Went by elk lake by zimmerman today at 1:OOpm and saw four portables between the points. It's a guess, but from checking it on tues. I bet the ice is at least 4inches. Hope they had good luck! Wish I were there.