Couldn’t find one from this year, but what’s everybody thinking for ice off this year? Going up the week after opener. Hoping for no ice.

Personally, I am more worried about the snow coming in the next few days - weeks. bottom line - I hope we get ice out for opener.

2019 - Ice Out
2018 - Ice Out

At the current rate I predict sometime in August. Our only hope might be that we get so much snow that the weight of the snow on top of the ice causes the entire sheet of ice to sink to the bottom of the lake leaving clear paddling above.

It’s really too early to tell. Last year looked like the ice wouldn’t be off for the opener, but a rapid warm up in mid April took care of the snow and ice quite quickly.

May 8th. Mark it down.

Papa09: "May 8th. Mark it down."

I’d lean for the first... I don’t think I’ve is that thick due to snow cover and that’ll go fast in my opinion once the sun begins doing it’s thing. I’m 100 miles west of the Bwca. Our lake tends to go out around April 20th... I would think it should be on track for that seeing the 10 day forecast and seeing what WW mentioned for the second half of March.

nctry: "

Papa09: "May 8th. Mark it down."

I’d lean for the first... I don’t think I’ve is that thick due to snow cover and that’ll go fast in my opinion once the sun begins doing it’s thing. I’m 100 miles west of the Bwca. Our lake tends to go out around April 20th... I would think it should be on track for that seeing the 10 day forecast and seeing what WW mentioned for the second half of March."

I agree.
I don't think the ice is as thick as it has been in other years. The sun is already strong enough that when the temps get over 20 the snow is melting.

^^^ snow melts at 20* , new laws of physics ?

It sounds goofy, but there’s more to it than just air temp. Think energy, radiation, conduction, all that crazy stuff. Sun light is POWER!

Agreed, we can lose a lot of snow on a sunny 20' day.

The ice-out subject comes up about this time every year. It's far too early to tell. As spring marches on and the days get warmer, and longer, the ice out dates will reveal themselves. We can have an awfully cold, snowy winter but still get normal ice out dates. The weather in Mid-April is what matters.

Tom

shock: "^^^ snow melts at 20* , new laws of physics ? "

The snow on the roads here in central MN was melting with temps in the single digits today (with bright sun). The sun angle is now sufficiently high that snow will melt with air temps can be well below 32F.

Last year we went into Quetico on the 18th of May and there was no ice, but still catching Lakers in shallow water so the water was cold. We were swimming 5 days later with air temps pushing the low 90's... I'm going back in on the 17th this year. We will see! I doubt we will see last year's weather though.

carmike: "

shock: "^^^ snow melts at 20* , new laws of physics ? "

The snow on the roads here in central MN was melting with temps in the single digits today (with bright sun). The sun angle is now sufficiently high that snow will melt with air temps can be well below 32F. "

true Dat , been on many BW openers where the temps were 20* higher than the twin cities(sun angle) , BUT melting on black top roads with salt residue ;)

Too bad Justine Kerfoot isn't around to temper the enthusiasms displayed here. ;-)

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