Well, we are right in the thick of it now. Ice-out is either here or close enough to taste on all of the lakes in the area. After a pretty nice week last week with warm temps and some rain – we dipped back into the 20’s and 30’s just in time for the weekend – and woke up to temps in the teens on Monday. That gave a few of the smaller, shallower lakes one last stubborn morning of ice along the shorelines – the forecast climbing into the mid-60s and even 70s by mid-week should put that to rest for good. That kind of warmth, a little wind (which there’s been no shortage of) and some of that spring sunshine in late April up here tends to do the job fast. …
The saying goes, “All good things must come to an end”, and we sure had a great ice fishing season this winter! It has officially come to it’s conclusion with the warming trend that finally arrived over the weekend and has continued into this week, along with some rain. Ice-out area-wide is close. As of this writing, a drive around to visit area lakes will take you to some open water and some lakes that are still locked up, but that will change quickly now. Perfect timing.
All in all, it was a beautiful winter season for the Eagle River area. Perch fishing was a highlight from start to finish, with some very respectable fish showing up on the mud flats and weed edges. …
Winter decided to remind us of who’s still in charge this past weekend and into the beginning of this week. We are surely all hoping that by mid- to late-week temperatures will start to climb again. This is classic Northwoods April, and anyone surprised by it hasn’t been up here long enough.
Ice conditions have deteriorated noticeably over the past week. Reports from around the area indicate that very few anglers are venturing out, and frankly, that’s probably the right call for many folks right now. The overnight temps dropping back below freezing this week will firm things up some in the mornings, but the cumulative effect of the warming trend and the mixed precipitation we’ve been having is adding up. …
Well, we got a taste of something nice last weekend — temps climbed into the upper 50s on Sunday with southwest winds and fair skies, which felt pretty good after the stretch we’ve been through. Don’t read too much into it, though. Monday looks to be the highlight of the week with a high near 55, but after that we’re sliding back down — rain and snow mix by Tuesday, highs only in the upper 30s through the middle of the week, and a good chance of snow Thursday. The Northwoods winter isn’t ready to let go just yet.
There is still plenty of ice out there, but it’s getting messy and iffy in spots. Current areas like the Chain deserve extra caution right now. …