I see that some of us on here are looking for good ice fishing posts. So here I am posting something on the early ice we have out there currently. Disclaimer: Everyone should check ice conditions themselves and not take my word for it, and carry your ice picks with you!
This year ice has been going on a bit slower than I like to see; however, there are good places to go (as of the posting of this thread).
Lake Josephine, Kidder Co. 12/2/2023: Ice was clear and black. About 5-6 inches of ice but there was some variation to it. Caught a couple of 14-15 inch walleye along the south side just off the small park there.
Sweetbriar Lake, Morton Co. 12/13/2023: Ice was between 5-6 inches on the south side of the lake, but the warm weather did cause the ice to retreat a bit from the shoreline there. That means there 2-6 feet of thin ice before you get out to the 5-6 inches. So be careful! Caught 2 walleye right before sunset. There was open water on the northwest end of the lake so I didn't investigate that part of the lake.
Nelson Bay, Lake Audubon, Mclean Co. 12/14/2023: A fair number of people fishing with some on ATVs. About 8 inches of ice with little variation from what I experienced. Caught a few small perch about 30 mins before sunset.
Anyone else have some updates on ice conditions or any successes out there yet. Seems pretty slow for first ice in my opinion.
This year ice has been going on a bit slower than I like to see; however, there are good places to go (as of the posting of this thread).
Lake Josephine, Kidder Co. 12/2/2023: Ice was clear and black. About 5-6 inches of ice but there was some variation to it. Caught a couple of 14-15 inch walleye along the south side just off the small park there.
Sweetbriar Lake, Morton Co. 12/13/2023: Ice was between 5-6 inches on the south side of the lake, but the warm weather did cause the ice to retreat a bit from the shoreline there. That means there 2-6 feet of thin ice before you get out to the 5-6 inches. So be careful! Caught 2 walleye right before sunset. There was open water on the northwest end of the lake so I didn't investigate that part of the lake.
Nelson Bay, Lake Audubon, Mclean Co. 12/14/2023: A fair number of people fishing with some on ATVs. About 8 inches of ice with little variation from what I experienced. Caught a few small perch about 30 mins before sunset.
Anyone else have some updates on ice conditions or any successes out there yet. Seems pretty slow for first ice in my opinion.
