The last 24 hours the bite was slower than the previous 24.  Last evening it was not at all like the night before.  Today reports were of activity but more small Walleyes than slots or larger.  Depths were a little deeper for those that had the better luck.

The thaw has started a little. The flooding we did yesterday on the thinner areas of our roads closer to shore didn’t completely freeze overnight like it had done earlier.  By the forecast I have seen and I research many versions of, the clouds over this weekend will help slow the the deterioration somewhat and the low temps at night are just a little below freezing and that will help some. But next week into next weekend is what I’m worried about because of the ice we are running on.  it would be no big deal if we had 24″ of ice, but right now there is 15-16″.

The last two days I have contacted all of our permanent customers, told them of the situation and most everyone understood. They agreed with my decision to wait to go out until “normal” temps happen so we can finish the last 3 weeks of the season if it does.  I will gladly try to do that if we can see some cold coming in the future. There has only been a couple that don’t get it, but I understand, everybody wants to go. But I do not control the weather and my job is to get customers houses out there and back safely. Having been on this ice for over 50 years I have seen many times what warm weather can do to ice with no snow on it, especially the clear dark ice we are running now. I know when things can get bad. With the weather forecasted with the ice depths we have currently this will be one of those years unless something drastically changes.  I am not going to take that chance for that reason. Like it or not.

For this coming weekend what few rentals we have out customers can drive a vehicle to them under the 5000 lb weight limit or they will be shuttled.  Single axle wheelhouses and “light” 1/4 ton rated trucks can go. But I would strongly recommend a chained up ATV with a dolly or SxS instead for pulling.  Wheelhouse people will need to get on our list and call our office tomorrow morning for the weekend.  We have roads established to most of all the places we run including the East Bar,  Tundra, Banana, Graveyard, Spider, Gull, and Popes.  Anything going to the East Bar, Tundra and Banana as far as wheelhouse will need to be SxS pulled as we have a couple cracks in that direction.  All portables, ATV’s etc can run anywhere easily.  Camping available at no charge in our large lot. Just an access required. After this weekend everything is up in the air and we will go day by day.

Keep a Tight Line

Eddy