Hey guys just wondering if there are any lakes in the metro that are fishable yet? I'm getting antsy over here.

Tonka is still socked in - some melting along the shore, but if you cast more than 5yds, you'll end up on ice.

There is an annual page maintained by the MN DNR that tracks the ice out on lakes in Minnesota.  Looks like there's a couple in far southern MN so far.  I don't think its updated daily, but its definitely updated weekly.  Based on the warm temps this week and possible measurable rain this weekend, you might see some open up in about a week.

 

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/index.html

 

 

Good stuff. Thanks for the link.

Latest report

 

Spoon by 36 & 61 in Little Canada has made the grade - shows a boat ramp, so boats should be fine.

So has Taft by 62 & 77 in Richfield

 

Many, many years ago I use to shore-fish Taft, back when I lived in Richfield.

 

Just remember - it's panfish only for another month+

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Spoon by 36 & 61 in Little Canada has made the grade - shows a boat ramp, so boats should be fine.

Spoon isn't really a lake.  Its just a small area in between Gervais Lake and Keller Lake with nothing but a boat ramp and a fishing pier.  The whole area there only deepens to about 4 feet.  If I was going to launch there, I would make sure that either Keller or Gervais were open too.  Otherwise you'd just kind of sit there in front of the access.

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I would make sure that either Keller or Gervais were open too.  Otherwise you'd just kind of sit there in front of the access.

Now I know - never been fishing in that part of the metro. It was always Richfield/Bloomington when I lived down there - now it's Tonka and environs.

21 hours ago, gimruis said:

I would make sure that either Keller or Gervais were open too.  Otherwise you'd just kind of sit there in front of the access.

Ok - Keller has been declared open now

2 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Ok - Keller has been declared open now

I think by early next week a bunch of smaller "metro" lakes will be wide open.

12 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I think by early next week a bunch of smaller "metro" lakes will be wide open.

Dutch and Whaletail are the one's I'm looking closely at....

On 4/13/2023 at 1:42 PM, MN Fisher said:

Dutch and Whaletail are the one's I'm looking closely at....

Whaletail is open according to the DNR's ice out map.  Quite a number of lakes are listed as being open now, and even a few further north around St Cloud.  What's the word on Tonka?  I thought it would be listed as ice out by now.

6 minutes ago, gimruis said:

What's the word on Tonka?  I thought it would be listed as ice out by now.

Some have said it is - but yesterday when I was out I noticed a swath of ice about 20yds wide on the north-west side of Phelps Island...Al and Alma's docks eastward almost to Emerald Lake channel. Until any ice pushed against shorelines is gone, it's not ice-free.

 

Though there are boats out - saw a couple launching at Spring Park.

Thanks for all the info guys. Went to spoon yesterday and could hardly find a spot from shore. So many people out there. I got skunked but saw several people pulling out some Crappie and sunnys. In my defense I didn't stay very long. Just wanted to make some casts and throw a couple of new lures I bought.

On 4/11/2023 at 3:39 PM, gimruis said:

There is an annual page maintained by the MN DNR that tracks the ice out on lakes in Minnesota.  Looks like there's a couple in far southern MN so far.  I don't think its updated daily, but its definitely updated weekly.  Based on the warm temps this week and possible measurable rain this weekend, you might see some open up in about a week.

 

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/index.html

 

 

Thanks for the link.