Don't Know What To Make Of It...............

[Frank Walsh]

The spring that is. Last year at this time, we had seagulls back already, and open water in the current areas. This year you would swear it's still January. Yesterday morning, it was 20 below, and we got a blizzard overnight, with another one to come in a few hours. Lots of (barely) below zero mornings in the forecast for the week.

Existing snow is almost knee deep in the yard, and probably close to waist deep in the bush. With no sign of melting. The water level is 1058, which is about 6" below average for this time of year.

All in all, I say it's destined to be a very late ice out this year. Anything can happen weather wise, but this is where we are at right now. The way the calendar falls this year, musky season will open early on the 15th.

Should make for an interesting opener.

[dougj@wiktel.com]

Wonder if they'll hit a suick jigged under the ice? Better get the sinking model I suppose.

Where is Al Gore when we need him? I picked a bad year not to go south, getting tired of shoveling snow!

Doug J

[dpear]

Amen.Blizzard here all day.No travel,gusts to 60mph.I've got drifts from the last blizzard 9ft high.On the other hand,Shannon Green was fishing walleyes in his boat on the Missouri in SoDak just 175 miles from me all weekend.It's not fair.

[Frank Walsh]

After shoveling 11 different decks and porches, as well as banking fish houses all winter, I have had enough of the Mexican Backhoe to last a lifetime. Sure glad we are done for the season, and only have to deal with getting out of the house once in a while.

If you can believe it, I could easily drive my sled over the propane tank, or barge right now. Thank god spring starts in 2 days. Might have to get the houses back out for the walleye opener.

[jimmyb]

Geezzzz Frankie, please pencil us in for an air boat ride on May 30th..... We're comin either way... 73 DAYS!!!!!!

[Tim Kelly]

Not much better this side of the pond Frank. Blizzards in Scotland today, cold, wet and miserable everywhere else. Never liked spring, it's always such a tart. You get a day or two of milder weather with a bit of sun and think that's the back of winter, then it comes back and gives you another kick. Seems to be really enjoying kicking us this year too. Still, no doubt by early July there will be hosepipe bans and they'll be wringing their hands about a drought again. LOL

[Frank Walsh]

Yeah, I hate those hosepipe bans myself. Whatever they are????

[dpear]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outdoor...se_restriction

[Frank Walsh]

Picture from Dick's yard this morning..............






Attachment 19489

[fishwizard]

Millions and millions of Geese have been in my area and flying over for the past week or two. It was mostly Canadians for the first few days, but the Snows have pretty much taken over our lake and the skies and fields around us. Sure are noisy buggers. Lots of ducks are in the mix as well. We have very little snow on the ground right now, but it's in the forecast for the next couple days. We had high 60's for temps last week. I can't imagine the winter you guys have had up north, but I'm certainly over my first Nebraska winter after four years in Tennessee. Definitely ready for Spring to stay around for more than a day or two every other week.

Frank, apparently you left the urban rat race before politicians started mandating against flagrant lawn watering and sprinkler usage. We had plenty of that going around here last summer, and the drought really hasn’t gotten much better. Our lake is four foot low. I can’t wait to go from bitching about the winter, to bitching about the heat in a span of a month or so. Good Stuff.

Ryan

[YOOOP]

Yah this March is something. Here in Amery, WI I had minus 13F at 7:30AM at my house this morning.

In a great act of defiance I have locked my snowblower in the garage and it is not coming out again, we've decided just to drive through the stuff with 4WD.

Besides even if I did start the thing up and blow it out, the 300MPH winds that will not cease would just fill it in again anyway.

Compare today to one year ago (within days) - I was sitting on our upper deck with cocktail in hand visiting with my elderly folks, cooking out and it had a high of 80F that day.

Tim, I have a few hosepipes in my garage too, they are so stiff that I were to try bend them, they would snap.

I checked it out on-line. The first known use of the word Hosepipe was in 1825.

Depressing weather causes me to become interested in such things. Perhaps due to utter boredom.

[lambeau]

you guys are nuts!
at this time last year i already had to mow my lawn for the first time.
i'll take a little cold and snow over that nonsense every time.

Attachment 19495

[Tim Kelly]

I thought you guys all had tame Mexicans for that chore, so you could be fishing instead?

[dpear]

Attachment 19497

Lambeau(on the right)and friends enjoying the 'Opener' at Baystore.

[Tim Kelly]

Whoa! Might need a "hosepipe ban" on that one.

[lambeau]

Ice out by May 18th.
You taking the over or under?

[dpear]

Ice out by May 18th.
You taking the over or under?

Under.5/4.

[Frank Walsh]

To be clear, our definition if 'ice out" is boating freely to and from Young's Bay.

Sitting here at one degree right now, and not one night above freezing in the ten day forecast, I am really torn as to how to bet.

I'm going to say under, but gritting my teeth. If you posted a week earlier, I'd jump to the over side for sure. Besides, I asked the expert, and Laura said, "under".

[dpear]

Well if we are playing the 'definition' game and by 'rules',I'm still going under but will drive by boat to there from Youngs Bay on 5/10.

[Frank Walsh]

Have to have a definition as some define ice out when the big lake is entirely clear. Kenora can be a week or two behind us. On the 10th, you may be traveling to Young's Bay in your boat. But could easily still be on the trailer.

There is no sign of a let up. Not even dark by the red buoy at Mergen's Point. Last year it was open water most of the year. Getting pretty dark by the green buoy off Cyclone though.

[DSmith]

Attachment 19542Finally when I had the time to do some Lake Trout fishing with Frank, the ice break up will not cooperate. Where is global warming when we need it. Maybe next year. My boat is all ready to hit the water so I am traveling to Chamberlain on the 15th to see how the Walleye population is doing. Frank, you might as well leave the island for a few days and join John and I. Surely Laura is ready to have some quiet time by now!!

[Frank Walsh]

Travel to South Dakota for walleyes???? Are you nuts????? I don't even like to travel as far as Deep Water Bay for walleyes.

By the time we can make it to Whitefish Bay for lake trout this season, we should be able to use bait, and barbed hooks. Corresponds with the opening of Ontario walleye season. Which has not even closed yet.

As an interesting note, Laura mentioned that a year ago tomorrow, we boated to Young's Bay.

[Frank Walsh]

Finally, an explanation...........


Attachment 19556

[DSmith]

Attachment 19558
Good one Frank. I just cancelled SD so instead I'm going Turkey hunting next week in Iowa.

[Frank Walsh]

Now you're talking.

[dpear]

I would like to adjust my open water estimate a tad.I'll go with August 3rd now.

[dougj@wiktel.com]

Sounds optimistic!! I'm in Minneapolis and the forcast is for 6"-12" of snow for tonight and tomorrow!

Will winter ever end!!!!

Doug J

[Frank Walsh]

Tomorrow makes 4 weeks to the opener. 7-14 inches of snow predicted for the weekend. Can I switch to the "over" at this point??????

[dpear]

You make the rules but fine with me.However 8/3 is taken.

[c green]

Do all of the OM guides have snowmobiles?

[dpear]

Good question.Might be a bit premature to fret about but there likely will be 'fishing' consequences.Likely 6 weeks behind-at least.

[Frank Walsh]

When dealing with customer snowmobiles, I ask if they have a snowmobile that runs. Hopefully for at least two days in a row.

[Frank Walsh]

Film from last year's event......




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWvThet2dh4

[c green]

Looks like Norm out front - must be Paul keeping him honest...

[Frank Walsh]

Best we can hope for?????


Attachment 19589