Lake Ice...Thin to Thick



snow

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Early ice brings out the nutts,people swimming and ice castles floating already in central MN lakes,upper red is seeing more than usual weekend warriors this season being stupid driving past danger cones/signs,over pressure ridges,not good.
 

8andcounting

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A walleye is not worth dying over . I’m betting the guy that died at Lake Irvine yesterday would agree if he could . Prayers to his family

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A walleye is not worth dying over . I’m betting the guy that died at Lake Irvine yesterday would agree if he could . Prayers to his family
 

guywhofishes

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A walleye is not worth dying over . I’m betting the guy that died at Lake Irvine yesterday would agree if he could . Prayers to his family

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A walleye is not worth dying over . I’m betting the guy that died at Lake Irvine yesterday would agree if he could . Prayers to his family

oh no

got a link to this tragic news?

RIP :(
 

RPNLPS

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There is no such thing as safe ice.!!!
It’s lack of experience is what dooms the ones that don’t respect it! I know some that ice fished for years, went through and made it out and they never go again! If your lucky to survive such an experience as I have, you will definitely respect it from there on out and continue to enjoy the sport!
Prayers to there family
 
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shorthairsrus

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I have not seen a news article just what was posted on FB - sounds like a snowmobile. Whats really tough now is it all will be froze over but the new stuff to freeze you wont know where it is if you havent been up to the lake.

I know guys like ahab give me a hard time - but to be real honest that is why i say first ice is overrated.
 

3Roosters

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Unless I am mistaken, the info i got is that it happened on Creel Bay not Lake Irvine. Snowmobile went thru. Sad deal.
 

Rowdie

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My problem is I got the itch bad this year, as I'm all set ready to go. According to the information I posted, there could be 4 or 5 inches by the end of this little cold spell. That should be enough, but on a upper end of a reservoir, there is current. There are places where the main channel is dangerous. And its a big body of water with springs here and there, not to mention all the creeks flowing in.

But the fish are biting damn it!!
 

snow

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There is no such thing as safe ice.!!!
It’s lack of experience is what dooms the ones that don’t respect it! I know some that ice fished for years, went through and made it out and they never go again! If your lucky to survive such an experience as I have, you will definitely respect it from there on out and continue to enjoy the sport!
Prayers to there family

Agreed 100% years back early ice we were on millie lacs lake,huge body of water on foot 3 miles out on 8"s of good clear ice,as we walked out we stepped over open cracks in the ice,it was misting out at daybreak,one guy in the group made a comment about walking along the crack with his minnow and spoon trolling like on open water....as we hit our location to fish a big wind came up,cracks wind=no good,we all got on walleyes quick that morning ,by day break the mist turned to snow squalls,I was the rookie in the group so "nevous nellie as my fishing line was at a 45gegree angle below the ice hole I was fishing in,when I asked why old guyz laughed at me said there was a current,I grew up on mille lacs,no current then as I opened my flip over shack I could see white caps between us and shore,we were floating,we floated for 3 hours,resort folks couldn't reach us boats were not a option as they could see what was taking place running back n forth on wheelers with ropes and other gear huge sheets of ice would shoot up in the air 15'-20' in the air in slow motion then sink below the surface,figured we were about to swim coveralls undone ,boots untied,got lucky the wind was strong enough to push our sheet ice up on to shore ice 5 miles from where we started so we could walk off,one of the old guyz never ice fished again on mille lacs after that day.

Another trip,my buddy didn't get wet but lost his truck on this day following a 1 ton resort truck out pulling a skid house,I was on a atv,13"s of ice unless snow covered then it was 8"s,this guy never went ice fishing again.

chevy truck.jpg
 
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Bfishn

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Both times I've been out so far this year I've worn a life jacket and used a spud bar until I knew the area I settled in was good to go. Both times I was fishing on 6-8" with open water in sight. I plan to start wearing my life jacket most of the time especially when on atv, so if you see a guy cruising around the lake with a life jacket feel free to laugh. I've went through once, 3' of ice too 3" of slush in a hurry, it makes a guy re-think a few things.
 


RPNLPS

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Agreed 100% years back early ice we were on millie lacs lake,huge body of water on foot 3 miles out on 8"s of good clear ice,as we walked out we stepped over open cracks in the ice,it was misting out at daybreak,one guy in the group made a comment about walking along the crack with his minnow and spoon trolling like on open water....as we hit our location to fish a big wind came up,cracks wind=no good,we all got on walleyes quick that morning ,by day break the mist turned to snow squalls,I was the rookie in the group so "nevous nellie as my fishing line was at a 45gegree angle below the ice hole I fishing in,when I asked why old guyz laughed at me said there was a current,I grew up on mille lacs,no current then as I opened my flip over shack I could see white caps between us and shore,we were floating,we floated for 3 hours,resort folks couldn't reach us boats were not a option,figured we were about to swim coveralls undone ,boots untied,got lucky the wind was strong enough to push our sheet ice up on to shore ice 5 miles from where we started so we could walk off,one of the old guyz never ice fished again on mille lacs after that day.

Another trip,my buddy didn't get wet but lost his truck on this day following a 1 ton resort truck out pulling a skid house,I was on a atv,13"s of ice unless snow covered then it was 8"s,this guy never went ice fishing again.

beer.png

This should be a must read every year before you go out. Always be prepared no matter what the ice is 4”-38” I’m also prepared to save some one with rope and throw cushion at all times!
 

ndfinfan

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I've worn mine as well this year B...usually keep it on until I am settled on a spot and know the ice is not a concern.
 

Rowdie

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I got a really cool story about breaking a truck in the ice. I should record me telling it around a campfire while having a few. There's a few good laughs in it and I can tell it well. Lets just say the ole keep your doors open trick .... well that don't work. lol
 

Allen

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Back when I lived in GF there were a number of cold, cold winters. Like that of 96-97. When out in the middle of the lake by Hay Bale Bay or Black Tiger, you'd barely get through with a single extension on my old Jiffy. BUT, if you nestled up next to the trees for the evening bite you could easily find less than 15 inches of ice.

Ice variability is not something I take lightly!
 


Davy Crockett

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RIP


DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (KVRR/KFGO) – A man’s body has been recovered from Lake Irvine near Devils Lake.

Ramsey County Sheriff Steve Nelson says the man broke through the ice last night.

Deputies were looking for the man when they discovered his body and snowmobile in the water of the lake, north of Churchs Ferry.

Nelson considers the death an accidental drowning. His name has not been released.


https://www.kvrr.com/2020/12/16/drowning-victims-body-recovered-from-north-dakota-lake/
 

Captain Ahab

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I have not seen a news article just what was posted on FB - sounds like a snowmobile. Whats really tough now is it all will be froze over but the new stuff to freeze you wont know where it is if you havent been up to the lake.

I know guys like ahab give me a hard time - but to be real honest that is why i say first ice is overrated.



I was referring to the actual fishing/bite. I didn't think the dying/not dying thing came into play.
 

riverview

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sorry to hear about the young man that passed on Irving yesterday. you cant go anywhere around dvl without seeing open water before this last cold snap.
 

shorthairsrus

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[/COLOR]

I was referring to the actual fishing/bite. I didn't think the dying/not dying thing came into play.

They are hitting on open water still --- just have to go west with the blade baits. western walleye.jpg
My little bro has been getting the nice ones lately

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nobody at the ramp either -- you have to salt sand it a little.
 


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