Yesterday after lunch I took my first walk out checking the ice. (It had just frozen over on Monday). Ice depths ranges from 4″-6″ inches and some really rough areas a little more.  That was in the first 200 yards from shore.

Walking is not the way to go out there for any distance as the ice is pretty rough  and bumpy from freezing when it was so windy, especially within that first 1/4 mile from our shore.  Farther out it looks like it turns more to “dishplate” ice.  Today I will find that out as I check more ice depths.

We will NOT be opening the access this weekend.  Until I get more ice checked and colder weather is on the horizon I’m not going to push it. With the water levels almost 20″ lower than last year there is alot more shallow areas in some parts of the lake.   Shallow rock reefs and shallow mud bottoms retain heat.  And the heat from the bottom greatly affects ice depths, (it may freeze over, but the ice thickness does not increase as fast in areas like that compared to where it is deeper), And with the warmer weather we are supposed to have over the next few days.  It can actually go backwards.

The weather will turn colder eventually and by then I will have more ice checked and we will go from there.

Keep a Tight Line!!

Eddy

6:30 pm.. Just a quick update.. made it out to Gull Reef this afternoon.  most ice is 5-6 inches to that point. I will be checking more over the weekend. Once I got past the first 1/8 mile mark, the ice was just like I thought and it smoothed out to the plate style ice.  It was a blessing to see the snow stay to the south.  Hope we can stay that lucky..