In Your Memory- Latest Minnesota Ice Out?

[zamboni]

Ordered an extension for my auger today. Ice is THICK. In your memory how late in the spring was the latest ice out?

[LMITOUT]

Since this state has a closed season, the longer the better.

[Jeremy airjer W]

They have earliest, latest, and average dates for the quite a few Minnesota lakes here, if your interested. Minnesota historical ice-out dates

[frogtosser]

boy 2000 was a warm year it looks like and 96 was the cold one, thats very interesting.

[zamboni]

Airjer- thanks, thats pretty interesting. Looks like a few years the walleye opener was affected by ice. I am curious about how this year will be, ice in southern MN is very thick

[Jeremy airjer W]

It is odd how the S.W. part of the state has had some of the best ice conditions in the state!

[primetime49]

several years ago the govenors open was worried about Lake Bemidji,it was close but it opened

[jwhjr]

Thanks for the ice out link airjer, interesting stuff.

[muc33]

Here in the SW the snow cover early was thin and SOOOO many consecutive days below freezing were incredible for ice building, I don't think since early December we have had 5 - 8 days where we have hit over 32 degrees. Just remember, there is a lot of ice right now, but it can go away in places real fast too. I think the flat area we live in with very little cover and then add the strong winds here, all played a big factor in keeping this one of the coldest winters in a long time.

[Down Deep]

Several years ago we were crappie fishing on April 1st and were drilling ice on LOW right down to the end of a 18 inch extension . 4 weeks later we were crappie fishing from the boat. Ice out depends more on the average temp than ice thickness.

The latest ice out I remember was around 2000 when were looking at ice on Vermillion two days before the opener. It did go out the next day.

[chaos69]

ON MY LAKE (BIG TURTLE) THE LATEST WE'VE SEEN IS MAY 20.

USUALLY ITS OUT BY MAY 1 BUT WE'VE LEARNED TO GIVE IT A GOOD 2 WEEK SWING AREA

CHAOS69

[eyepatrol]

Wow, if this is an average year, we in the south central part of the state have just 5-6 more weeks of ice.

I can't believe it! Open water is almost here!

[Random guy]

Several years back we fished opener on Upper Red dodging ice chunks.

[bassNspear]

ya i remember that year, when it was pretty cold yet.

[Random guy]

Normally on Upper Red it can be nerve racking if the ice will clear in time, this year I think it will be early enough to go after some crappies before walleye season opens.

[Team Otter]

I'm just not ready to say good bye to the ice yet but April will be here before we know it!

I suppose it's time to dust off the Lund.

[eyepatrol]

Yeah, I'm not a real big ice fisher person, but I look forward to any and all opportunities to get out. Heck, I'm already losing sleep in anticipation of this Saturday!

[Wayne Ek]

In the Alexandria on the "Chain". The latest ice out date since 1944 is May 14th, 1950 and the earliest ice out was March 25th, 2000.

[Kyle Sandberg]

To me, its really surprising how fast this year/winter has gone by. We only have 14 days left in the 3rd. Quarter of our school. Thats crazy talk. I'm gonna try to get out as much as I can and hope for a fast ice off after conditions go south so I can do more fishing. LOL

[jigginjim]

This could be late year if we stay with the cooler weather.

[Bluegill1510]

Last year was the latest I was ice fishing, April 19th! But then the ice went fast and I was fishing in a boat and sucker spearing by May 1st. So when it gets warm and it rains she goes fast.