Who are the best follows on Facebook for BWCA-area ice reports? I'm following most of the lodges and outfitters already, I think.

Steve Foss, a fishing guide out of Ely, occasionally posts about his ice fishing adventures. He was just out and reported about 4 inches already. I'm not sure what lake though.

Thanks. Following him now.

egknuti: "Steve Foss, a fishing guide out of Ely, occasionally posts about his ice fishing adventures. He was just out and reported about 4 inches already. I'm not sure what lake though."

+1

Tuscarora

Also what I hear now at present and new snowstorms coming I think this might make ice conditions terrible for a long time this winter

Arrowhead Outdoors and Babe's Bait and Tackle were fairly consistent about fishing reports through the summer and into the fall. Arrowhead has done one ice report so far-hoping they will continue. I was on Shagawa Lake in Ely last night and there was 4-6" of mixed ice (top 2 inches was cloudy from our last snowfall). We will see how this upcoming snowstorm goes, but I am not optimistic about the next 6 weeks with the warmer weather we've seen and the snow we're supposed to get...

ericinely: "Arrowhead Outdoors and Babe's Bait and Tackle were fairly consistent about fishing reports through the summer and into the fall. Arrowhead has done one ice report so far-hoping they will continue. I was on Shagawa Lake in Ely last night and there was 4-6" of mixed ice (top 2 inches was cloudy from our last snowfall). We will see how this upcoming snowstorm goes, but I am not optimistic about the next 6 weeks with the warmer weather we've seen and the snow we're supposed to get..."

Use to fish Shagawa in the winter-very good luck.

Planning a trip on the west side for mid December. Hoping for the snow to stay south and east. I was amazed to see people out fishing isle bay yesterday. The lakes that are still open will fair much better than those with ice on them right now.

Gadfly: "Planning a trip on the west side for mid December. Hoping for the snow to stay south and east. I was amazed to see people out fishing isle bay yesterday. The lakes that are still open will fair much better than those with ice on them right now. "

Isle Bay or Cove Bay people have always pushed it a little there. That area I also seen car-trucks drive out early and some people didn't come back.
I am not sure,but northern pike spearing season is open or will open soon and lot of people living just south of there love their spearing. Especially the Pierz-Foley area people and they usually fish together quite often in numbers.
Main Mille lacs is wide open.

Looked at many lakes in the Brainerd area that were froze over last week. They have REOPENED with much of the lake ice free as of today. Slow down your ice fishing. Now with more snow coming ice may not be good for a long time.

It's certainly not ideal, but I have to find something to pass the time while I wait for trout season to open

Last weekend most of the lakes had ice. However I flew over the area and the deep lakes like Burntside, Snowbank and Trout were still open.