Ice conditions range from 3 to 8 inches on our area lakes, depending on the lake.
The smaller shallow-basin lakes have the best and thickest ice right now. They skimmed over the earliest and have been building ice the longest.
The large deep lakes Like Cormorant, Rose, Ottertail, and Pelican are developing mid-lake ice slowly.
You must still check conditions as you venture out! The heavy wet snow of Tuesday night and the Wednesday mid-40 degree weather has stalled, and even deteriorated, ice development.
With a couple other above-freezing days on Thursday and Friday the next few days, walk-out ice fishing through the weekend and into Monday is recommended. A cold snap after that should make wheeler or sled travel by mid-week ( Wednesday or Thursday) next week possible on many of the area lakes.
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The panfish bite for crappies and gils has been good in 8- to 12-foot water. Small jigs/spoons in brighter colors tipped with high action plastic tails or wax worms have been producing.
Rock, both Rice lakes, Shell, Tamarac, Height of Land, and Island have drawn early ice panfish anglers. Local ice guides and panfish enthusiasts are getting on some smaller, out-of-the-way and more private lakes for good action.
Not much to report on walleye action on our area lakes. That action will improve as access to prime locations on the lakes improves. Even classic early ice walleye action on Red Lake (usually one of the premier early ice walleye bite lakes) has been slow, compared to the past years start to the ice season.
With this last week’s weather, they are pushing back travel conditions on the lake. Check with the resort you plan on accessing the lake from before heading up to get in on that ice bite.
Lake of the Woods reports Four Mile Bay has about 4 inches of ice, but some ice cracks have much less ice thickness and it will take more cold before ATV/UTV and sled travel is allowed on their ice roads.
They are predicting Dec. 9 or after before wheeler and sled travel will be safe on Lake of the Woods with the way things are developing.
Try not to be too impatient for your ice season to get rolling and the chance to get your hard house on the water. It is looking like a week or less of walk-out, a week or two of ATV, UTV, sled travel after that, and then before you know it, vehicle travel on the ice (if the weather cooperates as it should).
We will have a long season ahead of us and we are just starting December. We will probably be able to have truck travel and get wheel houses out by Christmas. By the time we get to the 20-below weather and are getting sick of winter in February, all this anticipation will be long forgotten. Stay safe and make good decisions on the ice.
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(Laabs owns Brad Laabs Guide Service in Detroit Lakes)
