I believe there was a thread here last year that stated last years ice out on the last day of March was the earliest.
Printable View
I believe there was a thread here last year that stated last years ice out on the last day of March was the earliest.
As of 12/8 there was almost 3" of ice around and out from shore, but still open water in certain areas away from shore. I would not advise much travel quite yet!
Never ice fished the Turtle, and I see MuskieRandy's post as of 12/8. Is it much better up there now? At what point can a guy bring a 4-wheeler up there? Was thinking about possibly breaking my virginity on the Turtle Ice this weekend, 12/21.
I was out on Friday with some friends and caught some nice eyes along with a big smallie, had around 5 inches of good solid ice then. I was back out last evening with my 4 wheeler and found around 6 inches plus of ice, saw two other anglers out there with wheelers also. I can't say for sure if the ice thickness is the same all over, so if you venture out with a wheeler, be careful.
Made it out yesterday afternoon for a few hours and found the ice to be in great shape. Averaged close to 20" of good ice. Truck travel is still o.k., but there's about 8-10 inches on fresh snow on the ice thats making "some" small slush spots. I would assume it will only get worse in some places in the future. Fishing wasn't too bad either..... iced 8 walleyes with most being over 15" and a pike. Small sucker minnows out fished small shiners 3 to 1. 2-4 f.o.w sandy gravel bottom. A little slower in the grass.
Good Luck!
Bill Mundt
As of 4-6-13 Ice was 24"
As of 4-18-2014 there was 22" of solid ice.
As of April 20 2014, 19" of ice out from shore. 17" near shore. Wow! 3 inches gone in 2 days
As of 11-29-14, 6.5"
I've heard there's quite a bit of snow, and some slush on the ice. Any updates as to what the actual ice depth is? Trucks out on the ice?
There was at least 12" of ice and truck travel as of last weekend (1/10/15).
As of 2-28-2015 it's 21.5" thick. Not alot of slush. Snow on top is firm. I snowshoe, so I don't know about snowmobile, ATV, and truck conditions, but I see alot of them out there.
Ice is going out. Lots of open water around shore. Some bays are ice-free. Remaining ice is black, 3" thick, honeycombed, and rotten. Ice will be out in a couple days. No loons yet. Saw a pair of hooded mergansers, geese, and an otter.
Great news! Thanks for the update Muskie Randy!
Friday, 11/27/15 - Entire area from Bastine/Turtle to West side of Big Island was open water. Friday night got down to 7 degrees and Sat. AM 11/28/15 the entire area was iced over. I have never seen so quick a COMPLETE ice up. Usually you get certain areas that go first, and a mix of open water and ice, but this was almost complete in one evening! Sat. ice was a little over 1" thick along shore and as far out as I dared to go over shallow areas, which was about 6 feet from shore. Sunday 11/29 ice was 2". Today, 11/30, ice is 2 3/8". Looks like some not so cold weather coming, and snow, so ice formation will slow.
Any new updates muskie? Im very concerned that snowmobiling over the holidays won't be a possibility based on the forecast. Is the ice still there with the high temps?
Just drove home from LAKE GOGEBIC TODAY---I would say that it would take a MIRACLE for any type of real snowmobiling to happen before CHRISTMAS-----I know there might be some snow on the way---But it needs COLD and SNOW in a big way----MAYBE with some Help JAN 1 could happen......But safe Ice ??? Man it looks like that EL NINO might screw up my snowmobiling for this season...
Yesterday 12/27/15 there were still scattered areas of open water by Donner's Bay to Turtle/Bastine. Last night the open areas froze over. Ice is 3-4" and solid in other areas. Be very cautious, because, again, there was open water yesterday, and this means that certain areas are going to be unsafe. No snowmobiles out on the ice yet, and with good reason. Not much snow on the ice, just a light coating. You can hear the ice groaning occasionally, so it must be growing.
As of 4/28/18 there is 20" of ice. Top layer of 2" refrozen slush, then maybe 1" of water, then 17" of hard, solid ice. I used my hand auger to drill the hole, and it was work to get through it; the ice is solid and not honeycombed at all.