Drove by some skimmed over shallow ponds on my way to Mille Lacs on Saturday morning. Water temps have been dropping RAPIDLY! Mille Lacs was about 46 degrees on the main lake. We are getting close to the end of open water. Thought maybe we could get some reports of lakes icing up as we get closer to winter. Robin up at Muskie Bay Resort--let us know how the ice progresses. You will be the first one to freeze and have fishable ice. For everyone else, as the ice pushes south, let us know how your local waters are fairing.

Let the freezing begin--just make sure you wait for the ice to get safe. Swimming season is over!
Brett Erickson

Hey we had some skim on the bay the other day but the tempuratures have risen a bit since then. Most of the beaver ponds and swamps were also frozen over last weekend. Lets not get too excited about ice just yet, we still have 3 and a half more weeks of hunting and we need open ice for that. But after the 11th of November I say lets get 15 inches of ice.

Robin,
Muskie Bay Resort

October 25th Ice Report.
I took some hunters out this morning and again I had to break ice getting into most of the bays on Stevens Bay and Stoney Bay. All the beaver ponds and swamps appear frozen. The ice is melting during the day when the sun is out but if the weather stays cold at night the water temp. will continue to drop on the main lake daily. Lake of the Woods water temp. is around 37 F in most places. Be prepared for earlier ice than last year I predict. Also the deer have had alot more fat on them so I think the winter will also be a colder winter. Lots of ice and lots of fishing.

Robin

That's good news Robin! I'm all for early ice this year! I'm predicting the weekend before Thanksgiving for first ice in the area... hopefully you'll be out before that up there...