12 hours ago, BassinBrett said:

I am head to Mille Lax on Monday.  I hope there is no ice yet!  

Heck, I don't think there will be ice out there until December with the forecast they are predicting.

On 11/9/2023 at 10:38 AM, gimruis said:

Anyone still fishing these days?  Weather looks like its gonna stay warm all the way through Thanksgiving.  If I hadn't already winterized my boat in late October I'd consider going again.  I don't think anyone will be ice fishing until Christmas as this rate.

 

The annual Upper Red Lake ice fishing circus is going to be delayed big time.  Usually it starts up right around Thanksgiving.  People may want to bring their boat instead.  Or their pitchforks.

Geeeeez, I know.  I told myself to get the boat winterized earlier and get in the bow stand earlier this year.  That was stupid.  I am not going to complain much though.  I am enjoying this beautiful fall weather.   Winter is long enough here!   I agree the ice season looks to be short this year.  

33 minutes ago, Fishin Dad said:

I agree the ice season looks to be short this year.  

Of course now there are some “seasonal” colder temps coming for Thanksgiving. I am fine with that now though. I don’t see any snow in the forecast.

we went fishing this past saturday in n dakota, it was weather perfect at 50 degrees 5 mph wind. The dam river water was cold and clear the minnows were lively on the hook but no fish around.

No bites no fish but learned a a valuable lesson at this dam, dont fish here after Oct 18. last year was the same exact weather on Oct 18 and we caught walleye limit along with numerous catfish, smallies. Exactly 1 month later the fish have moved out.

Ya know, I never thought I'd be trying to decide whether to go ice fishing or get the kayak out in December..

Another month and there will be a 2024 MN Season Thread!

The way things are going, there might be some river smallies caught in January too.

The Mississippi is up a bit today the bite was slow.  The guy throwing minnows were not catching much either.  I still managed to get 3 little smallmouths.  2023 is not over yet!

@MN Fisher it was only a matter of time before a rescue was needed. Dozens stranded on upper red this evening when a sheet of ice broke away from the mainland. Happens every winter.

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/dozens-stranded-after-ice-breaks-on-upper-red-lake/

@gimruis - I'm surprised there's been nothing on Tonka. With the warm weather and the rain the past couple days, there's still people fishing Black Lake...even tonight when I went past for a cig run.

10 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

With the warm weather and the rain the past couple days

 

You'd have to be borderline suicidal to still be out there anywhere in the southern half of the state at this point with the warm temps and rain.

 

The issue with large pieces of ice breaking apart on Upper Red is well documented.  Happens every year in November or December when a big wind breaks it free from the mainland.  It quite often occurs on Lake Superior in St Louis Bay too, but lately that hasn't been freezing so no one can even go out there anymore in the winter.

@MN Fisher Lake Minnetonka is wide open again.  Even the areas that were froze before the rain are open lol.  May have to get the Bass Trek back out.

 

I got over 2 inches of rain since Sunday afternoon.  Would be about 2 feet if it was snow.