Overnight we got about 2-3 inches of snow and so far no wind to mention so the snow is blanketing the ice.  It will slow down the freeze process some but shouldn’t hurt it too much if we start to go below zero.  I did not check any ice today.

Fishermen out there said the bite was slow.  One caught a 21.5″ Walleye so he went home early. There are some still out at 6:00 pm and I have two anglers overnite in one of my rentals, so we will see if the night bite is going to happen..

Keep a Tight Line!!   Eddy

Today I finished move the ice piles and completed the road to the Banana Reef with the Land Cruiser.  Then  went checking ice  depths out to Ray’s Reef ,the NW side of Gull Reef, south of Spider to North Twin Island to see if I would have enough ice to plow roads with one of the 3/4 ton Fords.  ( just because it would be easier), but after drilling numerous holes decided against it.  None of it was a real 10″ and I still found areas of 7.5″ of ice.  Average was about 8″-9″.  Not enough for me in a 8000 lb truck w/plow.

So until the cold starts making ice it will be ATV/Snowmobile portable traffic only.  I will be pulling my 8′-12′ basic houses out for the weekend and those renting will need an ATV or Snowmobile to have out there with them.  We will “shuttle” people and equipment, but they should have something out there for an emergency.

I’m presuming with the colder weather we will have close to 12″ of ice by Tuesday-Wednesday and will slowly start pulling more houses.  As far as privates it will be smallest and lightest first and they will need compact cars, SUV’s etc if they are going to drive out.  It will all be day by day until we see more ice.  Keep following the report.

A few fishermen were out today and the bite was slow.  However most reported marking decent fish all day, but couldn’t get them to go.   Like I said….I’m thinking night bite this year…

Keep a Tight Line!   Eddy

Today I spent all day in the Land Cruiser clearing rough areas of ice working my way out to the Banana Reef.  There were numerous spots where it was stacked up pretty good, but managed to get four wide areas open and the road will be pretty straight like I hoped.  Ice depths were 71/2″ to 10″ and in some spots where the ice was piled up as thick as 18″.  But most was 8″-9″.  We have a few cold nights to go before I’m going to really get going.  I am hoping the snow Wednesday afternoon and evening  doesn’t amount to much.  A couple inches would be nice, but 4-5 inches and no wind would be like laying a blanket of insulation over the ice and it would slow the freeze process down considerably.  Winds are fore-casted at only 10-15 and that doesn’t move snow too much.

Very few showed with the strong NW wind that started at about 9:00 am. and the reports were of a very slow bite.  I am seriously thinking that the Walleye bite this winter is going to be at night much like last year.  Not many have stayed over since we are only letting portables go, but that will change soon with the weather turning colder.

For those wanting to know when their house is going out it is currently up in the air yet.  My hope is to start pulling some on Tuesday after Christmas, but that is not for sure….just the plan. Get on the list and I will do the best I can as always, but don’t push me.  I’m too old and ornery to put up with that…   😉

Keep a Tight Line!    Eddy