Record Late Ice Out?

[cyclones]

What do you think, will the ice be out by the opener?

[Murph!]

What do you think, will the ice be out by the opener?

That is the $64,000 question on everyone's mind. We will need some sunny warm days with some wind to melt all the ice and snow that remains on the lake. All of the ice may not be totally gone. In the past we have experienced these conditions. I might add that the fishing was very good, but caution must be used.

Captain Murphy

[osty29]

How many inches of ice is currently on the lake? Are there areas that are better than others?

[Murph!]

There is more than 30 inches of ice on the lake. The DNR doesn't believe the ice will be out nearly 2 weeks after the opener. There is also more than 2 feet of snow on the lake. We need above normal temps and wind to get rid of the ice.

[osty29]

Thanks Murph for the update! I hope the ice gets off the lake soon! Maybe this weekends warm temperatures helped a lot? We have been coming up on Memorial Day weekend for several years. Hoping that we are able to again this year! I know a few years back, the ice out was just a few days prior to the weekend we came. Please keep us updated on the ice. Are there any areas of the lake that the ice is out yet? i know different areas can be a week a part sometimes. Thanks again!!

[Murph!]

Walker Bay is normally the last area to be ice free. The Big Lake goes first. We need sun and then some wind to break up the ice. I saw a weather fact yesterday that reported the 28th of April is the normal ice free day of Lake of the Woods. Come on Mother Nature we are ready to go.

[osty29]

Any new information on the ice on the lake? Had good temps last weekend, but then another terrible temperature week!

[Murph!]

Any new information on the ice on the lake? Had good temps last weekend, but then another terrible temperature week!

Looking at the lake from my beach and it does not look good. The ice has not receded from the shoe at all. Saw some folks ice fishing on Agency Bay. Ice still looks white no dark shades at all. Snow is gone so that's a good thing. Weather looks warmer for the rest of the week. We can only pray for the opener. All the small lakes north of Gull are still ice.

[EyeGuy03]

How will this late ice out affect the spawn/post spawn? I'm heading up to Leech the end of May (25-31st). Haven't fished Leech since 2009. That year fishing was pretty good and we had pretty good success Lindy Rigging shiners. Just wondered how the late ice out will affect the walleye fishing and if the walleye fishing was still as good or better than it was a couple of years ago when I was there? Any info would be appreciated

[osty29]

Another Good Day today! All we can hope for is many many more consecutive. My guess is the ice out won't be until middle of next week. Maybe we should have a contest?

[Murph!]

I was at Reeds yesterday and of course there was a lot of conversation concerning the late ice out. Most believe the Walleyes will spawn under the ice. I can remember past late ice seasons and the walleye fishing was very good. The key is the location of the bait, on Leech the bait is shiners. If the shiners are still in the shallow water the fish will also be there. Last season was a very early ice out and most of the bait were deeper and the bite was tough. The current laden areas of the lake are now ice free, the Roosevelt Canal is open and the areas around Shingabee Island are open. Starting to see most dark areas on the ice which is a good sign.

[cyclones]

Murph- Which areas of Leech tend to have ice out first, and which areas tend to be later? Thanks for all the great information!

[Murph!]

Walker Bay is normally last to go. Big lake is first, usually more wind and ice movement on the larger water mass. Current areas are already open, which allows ice movement and melting. Warm weather predicted all next week, so bring it on.

[osty29]

Anyone drop a line in the water today? More ice out today at least?

[Murph!]

Yesterdays very warm temps and a 30 mph wind pretty much ate most of the ice. Time to hit the water. Another problem is the lack of the preferred bait, shiners. With no open water till now bait shops have not been able to obtain the shiners. We will have to see if the minnow trappers can get some shiners now that the water is open. The shiners may not be in the shallows so this may be an indicator on the location of the walleyes. Stay tuned.

[osty29]

Any news on fishing and the bait?