Hotspotoutdoors

Anyone wish to take a guess to when we'll be able to get out to ice fish?? My guess is December 10th.

I hope you're right!!! I'm in new territory with the perm this year, never chased early ice eyes on the south side yet....can't wait to get the wheeler out there this december!!

Hope it is more like December 20.

They will be pulling my perm. shack out by the 20th. I say you can get out on 12/4 on the south end.

I hope you are right! I was out around the 20th of December last year off of Wilderness's road about a mile and half out with 16 inches of ice. Previous years to get to three miles out near spirit island was closer to new years. I would LOVE to get up there before Christmas again!

wow - i wish i had a crystal ball that good...

El Nino this year. It will be later. Above average temps with below normal snowfall.

i hope youre right biff. above average temps will probably still be below freezing and will make fishing more comfortable. below normal snowfall is a blessing. it makes access a whole lot easier.

regards,
minnesotatuff

That was really nice a couple of years ago. We could drive anywhere we wanted to fish. Until that late Febuary snow storm hit. Then it was game over for a while.

Since I have a snowmobile, I'm hoping for about 8-12" of snow on the ice. That way I have all the mud flats to myself again like last winter. Yes I am greedy in that way.:)

By the way I fished in that storm you are talking about a couple years ago in Feb. Some of the best ice fishing I have experienced on Mille Lacs. I even had a few fish get off half way up to the hole and immediately attacking the lure again suspended. It was fun.

I dont know I was hoping to get out that first part of December but with the way the weather is looking in the 10 and 15 day forcastes I might be waiting till the week before or the week of XMAS

The past 3 years now the perm has been pulled out right around Christmas. As long as its out before New Years, I guess thats all you can hope for. As far as walking or wheeler, Im gonna say the second week in December, although this weather better change soon.

Walk out wheel out or 1ton out by 12/4?I think (maybe)walk out by 12/15.c63

I dont know guys the next 15 days all over 40 degrees night time is in the low 30 high 20's not going good

how thick does the ice need to be? only ice i get to see is the freeze type.

we will usually walk out on 4" inches of ice. I'll take my wheeler out on 6-8" and drive after 12-14"

you should come up and try it. I have a cousin from AZ and after years of bantering, he came up for a 3 day trip on the ice with me last winter!!!

i told my wife i wanted to. i might have to see if my son wants to make a trip over spring break. heck i will pul him out just to do it. are there "ice fishing guides"? What lakes are best for such activities? We would fly into fargo or minneapolis.

yeah you can find ice guides on the big lakes like Mille Lacs, winnie, etc. if you come up for ice fishing, you can rent a sleeper house and spend quality time out there for the WHOLE experience!!!

I just dont think we are going to get ice. Saw the seven week outlook and they say 20 at night and 30's during the day. i hope the farmers almanac is right if it is it should get cold for ice about the 2nd week in december if the paper is right we wont see any ice till after new years