The night bite still continues for those that stay out. It’s somewhat slower than the last week, but if you’re in the right place, it’s good.  Daytime Perch activity has picked up; some decent-sized Perch are showing up more and more.

Ice conditions are very slowly improving. Those who follow this report know we had a 150-yard stretch of ice running east and west along our shoreline about 250 feet from shore, 150 yards wide, that was and still is our thinnest ice.  After last week’s rains and warm temps, its thickness went from  15″-16″ to 13.5″.  Since it has got colder the last four days, it has increased to 14″.  Most of all, the rest of our ice ranges from 15″to 16″ in most areas, with a few small areas of 11″ around the Graveyard and the Bowl.  We have zero snow out there, and I am hoping we get a little bit out of this next disturbance passing through tonight.

Starting Thursday, we will increase the vehicle weight limit to 5000 curb weight. So lighter 1/2 ton rated trucks and SUVs can access the rentals and also portable fish.  Single axle wheelhouses that can be pulled with an ATV and dolly or UTV or SxS can go out. But no trucks will be pulling wheelhouses out because of that stretch of ice we have out in front.  In a normal year we usually let wheelhouse traffic start when we have 17″-18″ of ice. We are not even close to that and I am not going to push it.  If you look at the MNDNR minimum ice thickness chart you can see their recommendations. Along with no snow on the ice and varying temps the ice can crack and move a lot easier than with snow cover.

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We will continue with our smaller rentals, see what the colder weather does to improve ice depths over the weekend and decide what we will do for the last weekend of the season early next week.

Keep a Tight Line!

Eddy