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riverrunner
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03/15/2019 06:50AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
Looking at the temperature raise over the next couple of weeks ice out is coming
 
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jhb8426
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03/16/2019 12:22AM  
Ice out is coming, and local flooding...
 
03/16/2019 09:08AM  
Is it time for the annual ice-out guessing contest for Shagawa and Gunflint? Maybe, I'll go and start that thread :)
 
justpaddlin
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03/17/2019 11:44AM  
Hang in there. The rivers in SW Michigan just opened up so we were able to get out a few times this past week. It's a great time to gather your chilly weather gear and prepare!


 
Harv
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03/17/2019 01:44PM  
Going to be beautiful this next week. When the ice goes, I'd expect some high.water
 
BobDobbs
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03/18/2019 06:43AM  
justpaddlin: "Hang in there. The rivers in SW Michigan just opened up so we were able to get out a few times this past week. It's a great time to gather your chilly weather gear and prepare!


"


Kzoo river?
 
03/18/2019 08:19AM  
HighnDry: "Is it time for the annual ice-out guessing contest for Shagawa and Gunflint? Maybe, I'll go and start that thread :)"


did you ever start that thread? i searched and searched and searched some more but can't find it! :(
 
The Great Outdoors
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03/18/2019 08:54AM  
Harv: "Going to be beautiful this next week. When the ice goes, I'd expect some high.water "


Harv, ever since you moved to the deep south you've turned into quite the weatherman.
Gonna start calling you "Heat Wave," after Richard "Heat Wave" Burler!!! :)
 
justpaddlin
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03/18/2019 11:16AM  


Kzoo river?"

The pics are from two different sections of the St Joseph river about 5 to 7 miles upstream of Lake Michigan.
 
Harv
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03/18/2019 02:13PM  
The Great Outdoors: "
Harv: "Going to be beautiful this next week. When the ice goes, I'd expect some high.water "



Harv, ever since you moved to the deep south you've turned into quite the weatherman.
Gonna start calling you "Heat Wave," after Richard "Heat Wave" Burler!!! :)"


:) No idea who that is.

Nice to see Scrooge McDuck took a break from swimming in all those 100 dollar bills to post! :) :) hahahaha
 
oth
Guest Paddler
  
03/18/2019 06:25PM  
April 27 on Shagawa ! :)
 
HoneyGuy101
member (41)member
  
03/19/2019 09:09AM  
Planned a trip last year for Memorial Day Weekend about this time. I remember stressing and worrying that ice out wasn't going to happen in time. But now this year, I'm expecting to go again around Memorial Day Weekend. The question is, is it going to be a later ice out this with the cold that we had?

 
Stumpy
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03/19/2019 10:28AM  
There is still ice, on the shallow lakes around Chicago.
 
03/19/2019 08:14PM  
Mocha: "
HighnDry: "Is it time for the annual ice-out guessing contest for Shagawa and Gunflint? Maybe, I'll go and start that thread :)"



did you ever start that thread? i searched and searched and searched some more but can't find it! :("


I just did Mocha! Sorry for not getting that one up sooner :)
 
riverrunner
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03/20/2019 08:29AM  
MN ice out map Ice out map
 
Grandma L
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03/20/2019 04:10PM  
riverrunner: "MN ice out map Ice out map "

The 2019 Ice Out Map is sort of depressing - No little colored dots as yet.
 
carmike
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03/20/2019 08:05PM  
I imagine they're coming soon. I was out on the ice today in central MN near St Cloud, and the top layer is definitely mush. Most of the snow is gone and the shorelines are darkening up nicely. Won't be (too) long now. :)
 
The Great Outdoors
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03/20/2019 10:59PM  
Harv: "
The Great Outdoors: "
Harv: "Going to be beautiful this next week. When the ice goes, I'd expect some high.water "

Harv, ever since you moved to the deep south you've turned into quite the weatherman.
Gonna start calling you "Heat Wave," after Richard "Heat Wave" Burler!!! :)"



:) No idea who that is.


Dang young kids have no knowledge of anything! Ask your mom or dad, and they'll bail the younger generation out (AGAIN) :)
 
inspector13
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03/21/2019 06:15AM  

He was Duluth’s equivalent of Berry ZeVan. I remember because I spent summers at the grandparent’s place 50 miles south of Soup Town. I liked Bozo the Clown better though.

 
03/21/2019 03:03PM  
Grandma L: "
riverrunner: "MN ice out map Ice out map "

The 2019 Ice Out Map is sort of depressing - No little colored dots as yet.
"


Just be patient. This is only the first whole day of spring. lets not speed things up to fast. Life is melting away too fast already.
Yes Brainerd had its first 50 degrees day this year today. 15 inches of snow in the woods and about 25 inches of lake ice.
 
03/21/2019 09:13PM  
The Cannon River is out of its banks in a couple of places in and around Northfield. Some very high flow in Faribault as well. Lot of lakes in the surrounding farm communities haver rotten ice and some open water.
 
03/21/2019 10:00PM  
Be nice TGO
 
03/22/2019 11:19AM  
maple sap had started to run, and the sandhill cranes are back
 
DKalis
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03/23/2019 07:07AM  
The rivers here in southern MN have been open for about a week now. The lakes are still froze up yet. I paddled down the flooded road to walnut lake last night to check it out.





 
riverrunner
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03/24/2019 02:04PM  
With all the water that is running I would think some lakes well open real soon
 
gravelroad
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03/25/2019 11:23AM  
riverrunner: "With all the water that is running I would think some lakes well open real soon"


Or not. Seven degrees above zero this morning on the outskirts of Duluth. Three ore boats whose skippers succumbed to owner pressure (or testosterone poisoning) this weekend had to have a channel recut for them on Gitche Gumee by the Coast Guard.
 
03/25/2019 11:42AM  
Average now for the Ely area now is 22 degrees F. to 41 degrees F. Most days it has been warmer than average high.
 
riverrunner
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03/25/2019 01:53PM  
gravelroad: "
riverrunner: "With all the water that is running I would think some lakes well open real soon"



Or not. Seven degrees above zero this morning on the outskirts of Duluth. "


That is almost down right chilly LOL
 
03/25/2019 07:07PM  
it means very little for lakes in N.MN- but small lakes / ponds here in Central IA are just starting to lose their ice. The latest I can remember.
 
03/27/2019 06:05AM  
Ice was a cracking the last couple nights. Better sounding then the groaning in January.
Still a couple feet here.
 
03/27/2019 07:01AM  
Its windy this morning and a low of 42 degrees F. in Brainerd area this morning. Fields will be fairly bare by nightfall. I still think we will be a few days ahead of normal iceout,unless we get a big cool down.
 
riverrunner
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03/29/2019 02:12AM  
one lake showing.

ice out map
 
03/29/2019 05:11AM  
riverrunner: "one lake showing.


ice out map "

Pepin. Really just a wide spot in the Mississippi.
 
03/29/2019 05:53AM  
Sakatah has a lot of rotten ice. There are a few small bays with open water.
 
riverrunner
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03/29/2019 12:32PM  
snakecharmer: "
riverrunner: "one lake showing.



ice out map "

Pepin. Really just a wide spot in the Mississippi."



Yea I know your point.
 
03/29/2019 01:45PM  
16 inches on a small lake in Brainerd today.
 
gravelroad
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04/01/2019 10:24AM  
No water skiing yet in Ely:



 
magicmule
member (14)member
  
04/01/2019 11:48AM  
Best guess on Kawishiwi lake and north to Polly? Are those lakes usually early or later on ice out? I know that Trout north of Vermillion is usually one of the last, and it was around May 9 last year. I'm curious thoughts on if this will be an early or later deal this year, given the polar vortex that hit this winter.
 
04/01/2019 12:14PM  
magicmule: "Best guess on Kawishiwi lake and north to Polly? Are those lakes usually early or later on ice out? I know that Trout north of Vermillion is usually one of the last, and it was around May 9 last year. I'm curious thoughts on if this will be an early or later deal this year, given the polar vortex that hit this winter."


I would think with flowage they would be earlier.
 
magicmule
member (14)member
  
04/02/2019 08:08AM  
Thanks Pine Tree...
 
04/02/2019 08:14AM  
I say in 12 days some small lakes in the Brainerd area will be close to ice free.
Wind and warm temps do wonders.
 
04/02/2019 10:11AM  
magicmule: "Best guess on Kawishiwi lake and north to Polly? Are those lakes usually early or later on ice out? I know that Trout north of Vermillion is usually one of the last, and it was around May 9 last year. I'm curious thoughts on if this will be an early or later deal this year, given the polar vortex that hit this winter."


Im not convinced that the extreme cold we had led to increased ice thickness. When that real cold stuff hit we had a lot of snow on the lakes which is a great insulator from the cold. I was fishing in northern MN after the worst of the cold and didn't even come close to needing an auger extension on my k-drill.

From what I could see from the lakes near me in the metro area the ice will start going out on them pretty quickly. I'm seeing a decent amount of open water forming along shore in some areas and with the 60's and rain in the forecast for the weekend we'll see the ice going quickly.
 
04/02/2019 10:32AM  
Coldness of the winter and thickness of the winter ice is really not a significant factor determining ice out in the north. Main factor is amount of sun and day time temps coupled with how cold and how often it gets cold at night. Significant snowfalls in late spring (that block sun from hitting the ice) will delay ice out.

Barring any significant weather events I think ice will be gone in the Ely area before the end of April.
 
Gadfly
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04/02/2019 10:49AM  
nofish: "
magicmule: "Best guess on Kawishiwi lake and north to Polly? Are those lakes usually early or later on ice out? I know that Trout north of Vermillion is usually one of the last, and it was around May 9 last year. I'm curious thoughts on if this will be an early or later deal this year, given the polar vortex that hit this winter."



Im not convinced that the extreme cold we had led to increased ice thickness. When that real cold stuff hit we had a lot of snow on the lakes which is a great insulator from the cold. I was fishing in northern MN after the worst of the cold and didn't even come close to needing an auger extension on my k-drill.
"


I agree,
spent 5 days up the gunflint in mid-late March and we found 2-3 inches of ice, then six inches of slush on top of 18 inches of ice. I would guess the ice thickness was a little less than an average year.
 
gravelroad
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04/02/2019 11:37AM  
Banksiana: "Coldness of the winter and thickness of the winter ice is really not a significant factor determining ice out in the north. Main factor is amount of sun and day time temps coupled with how cold and how often it gets cold at night. Significant snowfalls in late spring (that block sun from hitting the ice) will delay ice out.


Barring any significant weather events I think ice will be gone in the Ely area before the end of April."


I think I'll take that bet. :-) Have a peek at the day-to-day cloud cover and temperature forecast for the coming days into next week:

Still no water skiing likely
 
04/02/2019 11:48AM  
Banksiana: "Coldness of the winter and thickness of the winter ice is really not a significant factor determining ice out in the north. Main factor is amount of sun and day time temps coupled with how cold and how often it gets cold at night. Significant snowfalls in late spring (that block sun from hitting the ice) will delay ice out.


Barring any significant weather events I think ice will be gone in the Ely area before the end of April."


It does matter. (somewhat) If there was no / little winter- then things would be like 2012. I see your point and understand it- but a strong base layer of snow/cold can better "stand" up to the throngs of spring than the nothings of past winters for a time. Ice is usually gone in/around Ely by the end of April. This year will be no different- maybe a few days ahead of last year?
 
04/02/2019 11:52AM  
Ice thickness in Brainerd area was about 8-10 inches less than normal this year. We had extremely fluffy snow for insulation this year
 
04/02/2019 01:14PM  
Banksiana: "Coldness of the winter and thickness of the winter ice is really not a significant factor determining ice out in the north. Main factor is amount of sun and day time temps coupled with how cold and how often it gets cold at night. Significant snowfalls in late spring (that block sun from hitting the ice) will delay ice out.


Barring any significant weather events I think ice will be gone in the Ely area before the end of April."


If the starting ice thickness isn't a factor in determining how fast a lake will be ice free then what you're saying is that a lake with 3 feet of ice and a lake right next to it with 1 foot of ice will be ice free on the same day assuming otherwise equal conditions on both lakes. Seems to me that 3 feet of ice is going to hold up better to the warm temps and sun than the 1 foot of ice will. That doesn't mean its going to take 3 times longer to melt being 3 times as thick but it will take longer so I'm not sure I'd call it an insignificant factor.

Otherwise you are correct about some of the conditions impacting ice out. I'd also add in the amount of rain and wind a spring has. Rain will erode ice really quickly and once a small pocket of open water forms wind can really chew through ice in a hurry.
 
04/02/2019 03:15PM  
nofish: "
If the starting ice thickness isn't a factor in determining how fast a lake will be ice free then what you're saying is that a lake with 3 feet of ice and a lake right next to it with 1 foot of ice will be ice free on the same day assuming otherwise equal conditions on both lakes. Seems to me that 3 feet of ice is going to hold up better to the warm temps and sun than the 1 foot of ice will. That doesn't mean its going to take 3 times longer to melt being 3 times as thick but it will take longer so I'm not sure I'd call it an insignificant factor. "


Your response is silly and misconstrues and exaggerates my point. The subject of the thread is ice out and the factors that determine when this much anticipated event will occur. Many folks have posited that the cold winter means thick ice and a late ice out; with decades of life in Ely I'm counseling that this simply isn't true. I spend a lot of time traveling the ice, especially late season when the skiing is often at its best. I didn't say "thickness of ice isn't a factor" I said it's "really not a significant factor" in when the ice leaves. Obviously if the winter was such that little or no ice was formed it would make a huge difference. But year in and year out it's really the strength of the spring sun and the snow cover on the ice in spring that makes the major difference. Once the sun is penetrating the black ice it works fast; regardless of the thickness. The ice sheet doesn't simply melt away, getting thinner and thinner- once the snow is off the ice radiation from the sun fragments the sheet, fracturing the ice into small crystals, much like the pieces of a shattered windshield. The ice can be quite thick and still not be able to bear weight; I've poked my ski pole through 18" of ice late in the season.
 
04/02/2019 03:49PM  
Remember- the ice out process actually occurs from bottom to the top- the lower layer of ice gets washed out from heating below. Insolation and rain help- but lake ice actually melts from the bottom up due to physics of freezing/thaw (density) of water. The snow shield/thickness of ice just insolates the insolation -- reason why shallow/muddy/dark/moving water areas open first compared to deeper areas.
 
04/03/2019 06:30AM  
WhiteWolf: "Remember- the ice out process actually occurs from bottom to the top- the lower layer of ice gets washed out from heating below. Insolation and rain help- but lake ice actually melts from the bottom up due to physics of freezing/thaw (density) of water. The snow shield/thickness of ice just insolates the insolation -- reason why shallow/muddy/dark/moving water areas open first compared to deeper areas. "




You and banksiana pretty much describe what I see every year here too. My old chessy used to love going out in the cold ice out waters. Especially when the ice was at it’s worse. She liked the challenge of falling through and climbing back out onto the ice. All the time with a chunk of ice in her mouth.
 
04/03/2019 07:58AM  
Banksiana:

Your response is silly and misconstrues and exaggerates my point. The subject of the thread is ice out and the factors that determine when this much anticipated event will occur. Many folks have posited that the cold winter means thick ice and a late ice out; with decades of life in Ely I'm counseling that this simply isn't true. I spend a lot of time traveling the ice, especially late season when the skiing is often at its best. I didn't say "thickness of ice isn't a factor" I said it's "really not a significant factor" in when the ice leaves. Obviously if the winter was such that little or no ice was formed it would make a huge difference. But year in and year out it's really the strength of the spring sun and the snow cover on the ice in spring that makes the major difference. Once the sun is penetrating the black ice it works fast; regardless of the thickness. The ice sheet doesn't simply melt away, getting thinner and thinner- once the snow is off the ice radiation from the sun fragments the sheet, fracturing the ice into small crystals, much like the pieces of a shattered windshield. The ice can be quite thick and still not be able to bear weight; I've poked my ski pole through 18" of ice late in the season."


What you described here all makes sense and mimics my experience with late ice. I've done lots of fishing on late ice that requires long boards or ladders to get on to the ice. I think the disconnect between what we are both saying is in the meaning of "not significant". Obviously there are many factors that dictate how fast the ice leaves a lake, I believe they've all been discussed now. I guess what I'm saying is that if all other conditions are equal between 2 lakes and we're betting on which one is going to be ice free first I'm putting my money on the one that starts out with less ice. The question is how much sooner will that lake open up compared to the one that started with thicker ice and would you or I call the difference in time "not significant". Either way I guess its not really important.
 
The Great Outdoors
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04/03/2019 09:49PM  
Burntside River on County Rd 88 (Grant McMahon Blvd) is beginning to open in the middle.
 
04/04/2019 06:41AM  
It's coming.. but several road bumps in the way. Near 0F along the US/CAN border this morning in the Arrowhead-- 3F at Cook CTY airport. And the next 2 to even 3 weeks looks quite cool compared to normals Luckily- (hopefully)- the big storm next week stays S of the BWCA-- TWIN CITIES area on into WI-- be on the guard.



But at least it's not last APRIL-- top 5 to top 10 coldest Aprils on record and 26" of snow in MPS and 35"+ in Green Bay. So you got that going for ya- which is nice.
 
04/04/2019 09:32AM  
I was looking and Brainerd thru April 17 will be above normal Temps at least a little if not quite a bit some days.
Go north the situation changes. Must be a High front moving down and separating.
Normal ice out on many lakes here is around April 20. It will be close.
 
gravelroad
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04/04/2019 02:00PM  
WhiteWolf: "So you got that going for ya- which is nice. "


The pond is better for you, with a remark like that. :-)
 
BobDobbs
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04/05/2019 09:58AM  
justpaddlin: "


Kzoo river?"



The pics are from two different sections of the St Joseph river about 5 to 7 miles upstream of Lake Michigan."

hit me up with an email sometime - we might be neighbors!
 
04/05/2019 02:05PM  
180 acre N Twin Cities Metro lake. Main basin still 80% ice. Avg ice out over the last 54 years is April 2nd.
 
04/05/2019 02:44PM  
WhiteWolf: "180 acre N Twin Cities Metro lake. Main basin still 80% ice. Avg ice out over the last 54 years is April 2nd.
"


Next 4 days night time temps should be above freezing,that will make big difference.
 
Jamie B.
Guest Paddler
  
04/09/2019 09:14PM  
How fast do walleye spawn after ice out a week after?
 
04/09/2019 09:18PM  
Walleye spawn has more to do with water temps (42-46F) than ice out- though I get it that ice must be off for water temps to be 42-46F. The moon also plays a smaller factor. From my experience (20+ opener trips) the best walleye fishing is about 14-20 days after ice out. A way early or way late ice out in the BWCAW can mean a poor walleye opener for many.
 
04/09/2019 09:30PM  
WhiteWolf: "Walleye spawn has more to do with water temps (42-46F) than ice out- though I get it that ice must be off for water temps to be 42-46F. The moon also plays a smaller factor. From my experience (20+ opener trips) the best walleye fishing is about 14-20 days after ice out. A way early or way late ice out in the BWCAW can mean a poor walleye opener for many."


Right after spawning usually the males will only bite.
You look over the years some of the best walleye action be it Mille lacs or other northern lake, Memorial weekend is usually better than opener or early May.
 
04/10/2019 12:17AM  
 
04/11/2019 05:00AM  
Ice here is getting dark... should be a normal ice out for us.
 
riverrunner
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04/12/2019 12:14PM  
Lakes north of the twin cities are showing up.

This latest snow storm might slow things down.

But last year on April 15 we had 15 plus inches of snow
 
gravelroad
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04/12/2019 01:05PM  
Here's some solace for the uneasy, who might be imagining the worst after this week's storm. Note the open areas in flowing water showing up as dark spaces on this Landsat mosaic of the western BWCAW from April 10:






Winton reported a scant 2.2 inches and Snowbank just 1.5 inches of new snow this morning, which shouldn't affect melting all that much. Absent a heavy dump of snow in the weeks immediately ahead, I think the opener will be uniformly ice-free this time around.
 
Prospector
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04/17/2019 01:58PM  
Looking at the weekend before opener and wondering about the possibility Ely area lakes will be open. Any prognosticators have a prediction? I'm guessing the recent storm/colder weather last week slowed the melt. Median ice out on Burntside is 4/30 and I'm thinking it might be a little later than that but maybe open by 5/4?
 
04/17/2019 02:37PM  
Pinetree: "
WhiteWolf: "180 acre N Twin Cities Metro lake. Main basin still 80% ice. Avg ice out over the last 54 years is April 2nd.
"



Next 4 days night time temps should be above freezing,that will make big difference."


Looks like you possibly made the same mistake with your wooden paddle that I did
with mine. Next time I have some thin shore ice to get through, I'm taking the plastic paddle. Meanwhile, I get to do some paddle restoration, which I enjoy anyhow.
 
04/17/2019 02:42PM  
It looks like small lakes in the Brainerd area will be close to normal ice out,but maybe like 2-3 days late. Its getting very close. A warm sunny windy day and things are going to go fast.
 
The Great Outdoors
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04/17/2019 10:54PM  
Prospector: "Looking at the weekend before opener and wondering about the possibility Ely area lakes will be open. Any prognosticators have a prediction? I'm guessing the recent storm/colder weather last week slowed the melt. Median ice out on Burntside is 4/30 and I'm thinking it might be a little later than that but maybe open by 5/4?"


Shouldn't be any problem with the current forecast, despite the 5 day setback we got when the temps dropped last week. There is no snow on the ice to protect it from the sun, so I think that all lakes will be open by the end of April.
 
Prospector
member (28)member
  
04/18/2019 09:44AM  
Thanks, TGO! Hoping to get a paddle in that weekend, with a day trip into the Crab Lake area.
 
Bushpilot
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04/21/2019 07:53AM  
Minnetonka went out yesterday.
 
04/21/2019 07:24PM  
It’s going fast here. Another day or so and we’ll be wide open.
 
dicecupmaker
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04/21/2019 10:54PM  
Minnewaska went out early this morning!
 
luft
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04/22/2019 03:50AM  
The Great Outdoors: "
Prospector: "Looking at the weekend before opener and wondering about the possibility Ely area lakes will be open. Any prognosticators have a prediction? I'm guessing the recent storm/colder weather last week slowed the melt. Median ice out on Burntside is 4/30 and I'm thinking it might be a little later than that but maybe open by 5/4?"



Shouldn't be any problem with the current forecast, despite the 5 day setback we got when the temps dropped last week. There is no snow on the ice to protect it from the sun, so I think that all lakes will be open by the end of April."


I sure hope this is the case!

I am closely watching the Ely area as well as I want to head in for a week just during the fishing opener. I check the Moose Lake webcam daily.
 
magicmule
member (14)member
  
04/22/2019 12:32PM  
Does anyone know if there is a way to definitively know when an EP is ice out? The DNR site doesn't show all lakes, plus my guess is that some lakes are navigable by canoe prior to ice out, correct?
 
Wallski
Guest Paddler
  
04/22/2019 10:27PM  
Still ice fishing in the Northland. Had 2 feet today. It’s soft though.
 
04/22/2019 10:34PM  
Half of Brainerd lakes will be ice free by Tuesday night. Mille lacs still is mostly ice covered.
 
French Fur Trader
Guest Paddler
  
04/23/2019 12:27PM  
My buddy and I are planning a trip out of EP 55 (Sag Lake) for May 9. First time to the BWCA, but with work, school and a kid it was the only time we could get free. What do the experienced BWCAers believe ice out will be for Sag Lake? Sag-Otter-Knife-Ogish-Red Rock-Sag
 
kickapooviking
member (27)member
  
04/23/2019 07:38PM  
Ice has been out for a few weeks here in SW Wisconsin.
Loaded the Prism for a first paddle tomorrow morning, Wednesday on one of our little fake lakes.
Wish I was up north, but for now it will just feel good to get the paddle in the water!
It was a hell of a winter...
 
04/23/2019 08:50PM  
By this weekend 95% of Brainerd lakes will be ice free.
 
bwcasolo
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04/24/2019 06:45AM  
By the looks of ice, won't be long, right on course.
 
04/24/2019 02:46PM  
Rather big change in the weather coming starting this SAT. I have a feeling that lakes will not be going out as fast as was thought just 3-4 days ago. Arrowhead lakes are at the biggest risk. The next week from SAT looks rather bleak and cold and even snowy. I would post a snow map- but it's too dismal - even for me being the winter lover I'am. I do think starting around May 3rd-4th- a BIG warmup starts but I'am not sold on it as this pattern is changing mightly due to the changes in the Jet Stream (seasonal fights) and an unusual occurrence in the W Pacific ocean that is way too technical for this blog. I would not trust any forecast past 4 days in this pattern. Watch your weather apps on your phones go nuts over the next week or so-- especially Arrowhead.
 
04/24/2019 10:27PM  
Ed Shave Lake this evening.
A loon was on the lake and calling.



Big Lake
 
riverrunner
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04/25/2019 07:33AM  
A good wind will open big lake.

Nelson lake is wide open here near Hayward Wis.
 
04/25/2019 10:27AM  
Big Lake will be open by the end of today. Maybe Shagawa as well if the wind kicks in the afternoon.
 
tigs
  
04/26/2019 01:19PM  
Does anyone who is more of an expert on lake temps than myself have any idea on when one might expect the lakes to reach roughly 45-50 degrees? I have read on the only source I can find that it is approximately 40 deg currently but I'm also not sure how accurate that it.

Thank you!
 
04/26/2019 01:25PM  
If there is any ice on the lake the warmest water would be is 39 degrees F. at the bottom,with ice melting and water mixing I would say at first temp would be 35-38 degrees initially after melting. Shoreline water will warm at fairly fast. Streams can warm up very fast and could be in the mid 40's already. Kawishiwi river is 41 degrees F. today.
 
04/26/2019 02:46PM  
Shagawa is breaking.......
 
04/27/2019 08:50AM  
Moose Lake is starting to break up. Web cam shows water almost all the way around the island.
 
04/27/2019 08:59AM  
Gull lake by Brainerd.one of our bigger lakes went out April 25th,one day ahead of normal.
 
kevheads
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04/27/2019 01:08PM  
NorthernAir Lodge reported Mitchell lake went out yesterday the 26th
 
The Great Outdoors
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04/27/2019 10:16PM  
There are various ice flows left but you could travel the length of Shagawa Lake (east to west) at five this afternoon.
So according to the ice out rules of Bob Cary from past years, the lake is open! :)
 
Tuscarora Outfitters
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04/28/2019 11:15AM  
The ice at the end of the Gunflint Trail is really starting to go fast. Here is an update on what it looks like this morning.

Gunflint Trail Ice Update
 
04/28/2019 08:17PM  
Is there any snow in the woods? I am going up next weekend to hike. I am guessing it is mostly gone, but I really have no idea.
 
magicmule
member (14)member
  
05/01/2019 01:50PM  
Curious your thoughts on how the latest snowfall may have impacted to the ice out situation? I had planned to head up there today, but postponed until the weekend, now i'm second guessing that, and might have to push another week. Heading in at Kawishiwi.
 
05/01/2019 04:12PM  
I'm going up Snowbank tomorrow :)
I would think the river would be open.
 
neveragoosechase
member (27)member
  
05/01/2019 04:20PM  
magicmule: "Curious your thoughts on how the latest snowfall may have impacted to the ice out situation? I had planned to head up there today, but postponed until the weekend, now i'm second guessing that, and might have to push another week. Heading in at Kawishiwi."


I've been watching the signs the best I know, because I'll be going up in a couple weeks and I'm afraid the smaller lakes I'll be going through won't be open. Typically, snow on the ice will shield the ice from the sun and slow things down. There's been over a foot of snow still on the ground in some places, even before this last snowstorm. But there was so much snow in this last storm that now I'm wondering if the weight of the snow won't push the ice down and actually work in our favor.

I'd love to hear some firsthand intel from the mid-Gunflint area...
 
riverrunner
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05/02/2019 09:32AM  
Looks like lots of lakes on the ice out map are ice free.

I wouldn't be afraid of going in a week or so.
 
05/02/2019 09:38AM  
riverrunner: "Looks like lots of lakes on the ice out map are ice free.


I wouldn't be afraid of going in a week or so."


The state should be ice free in a week.
 
gravelroad
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05/02/2019 01:33PM  
Pinetree: "
riverrunner: "Looks like lots of lakes on the ice out map are ice free.

I wouldn't be afraid of going in a week or so."


The state should be ice free in a week."


I just might take some of that action. ;-) Bring your auger if you're headed to Brule anytime soon:

 
gravelroad
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05/02/2019 01:49PM  
neveragoosechase: "
magicmule: "Curious your thoughts on how the latest snowfall may have impacted to the ice out situation? I had planned to head up there today, but postponed until the weekend, now i'm second guessing that, and might have to push another week. Heading in at Kawishiwi."



I've been watching the signs the best I know, because I'll be going up in a couple weeks and I'm afraid the smaller lakes I'll be going through won't be open. Typically, snow on the ice will shield the ice from the sun and slow things down. There's been over a foot of snow still on the ground in some places, even before this last snowstorm. But there was so much snow in this last storm that now I'm wondering if the weight of the snow won't push the ice down and actually work in our favor.


I'd love to hear some firsthand intel from the mid-Gunflint area..."


Ask and ye shall receive:

"GRAND MARAIS AREA

The Brule, Cascade, and Poplar rivers are producing steelhead on spawn sacs and yarn-tied hooks. Open water on area lakes might be a ways off based on conditions early this week. Most lakes were ice-covered shore to shore, but some deterioration was showing. Unfortunately, the midway point of the Gunflint Trail received 10 inches of snow Monday.

Buck’s Hardware (218) 387-2280"

Grand Marais Area report for 5/1/2019
 
gravelroad
distinguished member(992)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/02/2019 03:00PM  
neveragoosechase:I'd love to hear some firsthand intel from the mid-Gunflint area..."


Forewarned is forearmed ... or stiff-armed, as the case might be:

"deepwater
05/01/2019 04:17PM
I talked to clear water lodge yesterday and they have 20 inches of ice and don't think it will be off by opener."

Is anyone else worried about their early May trip?
 
05/02/2019 05:19PM  
gravelroad: "
neveragoosechase:I'd love to hear some firsthand intel from the mid-Gunflint area..."



Forewarned is forearmed ... or stiff-armed, as the case might be:


"deepwater
05/01/2019 04:17PM
I talked to clear water lodge yesterday and they have 20 inches of ice and don't think it will be off by opener."


Is anyone else worried about their early May trip? "

I guess Sea Gull at the Public Access is out a long way and you can just see the big ice sheet out in the distance. So Sea Gull is getting toward the end.
 
tigs
  
05/06/2019 07:44PM  
Does anyone have any information on if snowbank ice is out, or where I could find information on it? Have a trip planned over opener, and that's our entry lake. I know birch is out, but more worried about that one after how brule is fairing.
 
gravelroad
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05/06/2019 08:14PM  
tigs: "Does anyone have any information on if snowbank ice is out, or where I could find information on it? Have a trip planned over opener, and that's our entry lake. I know birch is out, but more worried about that one after how brule is fairing. "


You can breathe a little easier and focus on sharpening your hooks. Posted yesterday on Facebook by Snowbank Lodge:

"Ice update: Snowbank Lake is almost free of ice! However, the Boundary Waters side still has a good amount of ice/slush covered water. This week’s weather should take care of it though."
 
gravelroad
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05/07/2019 03:56PM  
Looks like I might have won a bet on the state not being ice-free by the end of this week. Brule and Greenwood were hanging pretty tough two days ago, and Clearwater might frustrate the hell out of the lodge operator this Saturday:

 
gravelroad
distinguished member(992)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/07/2019 06:48PM  
As I was saying ...

 
05/07/2019 07:36PM  
gravelroad: "As I was saying ...


"


Clearwater holds the ice pretty well. Been mid week after the opener in past and ice just went out.
 
05/08/2019 01:35AM  
Poplar Lake May 7th-

 
05/08/2019 01:33PM  
 
neveragoosechase
member (27)member
  
05/09/2019 11:27AM  
Going into EP44 a week from today. This is getting to be a real nail biter. Gonna have to start looking into alternatives. ??
 
Seeds
  
05/10/2019 01:10PM  
Anyone have current info of the ice on brule?
 
flynn
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05/10/2019 01:16PM  
I just called Williams & Hall to ask about ice out on Moose and Charlene told me the ice has been out for a few weeks...(?!?) I asked about Birch and Ensign and she said ice is out on both of those and around that general area as well. It sounds like folks going into Moose this weekend or after should be set.
 
gravelroad
distinguished member(992)distinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished memberdistinguished member
  
05/10/2019 01:26PM  
Seeds: "Anyone have current info of the ice on brule? "


Based on the satellite images I've seen in the last few days and the comments on Wednesday morning from this DNR CO in Grand Marais, I really doubt that Brule will be open tomorrow morning ... or this weekend:

Some Cook County lakes still holding ice ahead of fishing opener
 
Seeds
  
05/10/2019 01:37PM  
gravelroad: "
Seeds: "Anyone have current info of the ice on brule? "



Based on the satellite images I've seen in the last few days and the comments on Wednesday morning from this DNR CO in Grand Marais, I really doubt that Brule will be open tomorrow morning ... or this weekend:


Some Cook County lakes still holding ice ahead of fishing opener "


Dang. Thanks
 
neveragoosechase
member (27)member
  
05/10/2019 03:25PM  
Seeds: "Anyone have current info of the ice on brule? "


I broke down and called the FS in Grand Marais this morning. Among other things, she told me "Brule, Greenwood, and Pine are going out..."

It might be close. I wouldn't give up hope. They might have more up-to-date info: 218-387-1750. Open til 4:30, I think.
 
05/10/2019 03:36PM  
neveragoosechase: "Going into EP44 a week from today. This is getting to be a real nail biter. Gonna have to start looking into alternatives. ??"


You will be fine
 
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