Mille Lacs Ice Fishing

hey everyone, i have a reservation for Fishermans Wharf the monday after Xmas. i was wondering if the ice is safe yet and if the fish are biting?

Thanks!:o

I'd wait until Christmas Eve morning and call. Yesterday a big chunk of ice came free and stranded 4 adults and two kids on the floe. I read where the wrecked a rescue rig attempting to retreive them. Several reports of people going thru, even on foot, have been seen. Between now and Christmas we are supposed to see some cooler temps but nothing what I'd call cold, as in "good ice' making cold.....upeer 20's, lower 30's.

I also heard someone fell thru up there... Shallow and in the bays is the only way so far... Not safe enough and ice is still moving.. I might be headed up there a couple days after Christmas.. Please keep us updated on the conditions and how you do..

Its 22 degrees right now and colder to the north near Mille Lacs. The wind went down last night so maybe things will harden up now. We had another 40 degree day here yesterday but the weather is supposed to stay chilly until well into the weekend. If the wind stays away things will set up quickly.

This has been an odd year and those who push limits, the rewards may be wet. Or worse. When it comes to ice, taking chances also means that there is a chance you could die. Are fish worth it? I've done the dip three times in my 60 some years and each time I was lucky. I haven't got the need to prove anything anymore so I let the "learners" hit the early ice.

I'm probablly just going to stay in the smaller bodies for a few more weeks. ..lol.. I'm no hero... ;-)ru

Hello from missouri. Some of us missouri boys have reservations at Lyback's in January. We have never been ice fishing at all. Cant wait to give it a try. Any thoughts on how the fishing will be in the middle of jan.? Does any body have comments about Lyback's?

ColeKillsCrappie Here's a link for live web cams for the lake...Hunter's Point Resort on Mille Lacs Lake - Launch fishing - Ice Fishing' There are 2 live web cams that look at the lake and it also shows water temp, and barometer...
snagged
If you don't know the lake.. I would suggest a guide for the first day..... They can be very helpful.... Don't know anything about Lybacks sorry... Have fun!!! I might be headed up there next week....

Snagged.....January is a good month and you should have some decent ice then, but I always recommend a phone call prior to leaving home to get the latest ice updates. Much of the southern 1/3 of the state yesterday was sitting in the mid-40 dgree temperature range. It was still 38 degrees here in Rochester at 10:30 last night and currently is only 27 degrees. The wind lately has played havoc with any ice on Mille Lac. Then too the warmer temps have put a damper on a lot of the ice being made this winter. Make a call before you come up and have a back-up plan for when you arrive if things take a turn....tons of lakes with great fishing up that way.

Another 12 anglers had to be plucked off the ice on Mille Lacs Tuesday. I am hearing that 5 rescues have had to be made just on Mille Lacs from this winter's ice. The Red Door Resort [north shore] has closed the ramp to access for the second time already due to poor ice conditions. A 69 year old man drowned in southern WS yesterday after going thru thin ice. I don't ice fish much anymore and I won't go on ice until mid winter and then only if we have had lots of cold with little snow.

Thanks for the tips CTom. This is all new to me, I can promise you I will not get caught out there unless its been proven safe!

We've had some unusual warmth here for this time of year and that coupled with the wind can slide things around on that lake...thats what is happeneing when you hear of these reports. Its a big lake and open water still can be found way out on the basin. The weather today here in the southern part of Minnesota is supposed to be ushering in a cold front with much cooler temps. At 27 degrees right now we are at today's high I think. It may go up a degree or two but the temps are supposed to shrink as the day wears on with much colder air in store for tonight and the next few days and snow chances are supposed to be nill too. You don't want to see snow on young and thin ice. Mille Lacs is about 175 miles north of us down here this cold front will be visiting that area long before we see it.

Snagged....if you need some tackle recommendations or suggestions pm me. What you'll need to fish with is higher in price at and around the lake than what you pay for it on the internet. I am assuming you are chasing walleyes?

Thanks everyone for responding! I'm a little late on my response but we decided not to go because we didn't feel safe with that shifting ice! I've just been pounding the local lake (White Bear, Bald Eagle, Etc.) and the crappie and walleye fishing has been fantastic! I've caught 5 or more 16 inch slabs and a couple 20 inch walliedawgs on the Bear. If anyone out there is headed to the Bear anytime soon, look for my, my Dakota is very noticable, it is the only dakota ever parked on Bellaire with a 5" chrome smoke stack stickin outta the bed! just give me a holler!

ill be postin pics after i pull my fish outta the freezer for a clean out.

thanks again everyone!