2020 Platte Lake Ice Out(4/8/20) (Also Rock and Long)

View to the West Platte Lake Access

View to the NE Platte Lake Public Access

View toward Jenny's

Scattered ice and foam off of West Point at the current break.  It was really rolling out there.

Rock Lake looking NE

Rock Lake looking SE

I hit my ice-out prediction on the nose, April 8th it is.  Today's heavy winds were enough to bust up the ice on all but the extreme north on Platte Lake.  Jenny's to the Public access was doable so it's official ice-out day on Platte.  Rock and Long went out as well.

I caught my first bullhead of the year as well.

I also got the Trophy vacuumed out.  Steve was working so I just vacuumed it in place in the garage. I also discovered two more Mad Maxx's (Big Sexy & Bluegrass) that I had given to Steve three years ago.  He had them down in storage in Florida when he moved up here the first time.

Yes A Big Sexy

Sullivan went on the 9th.

I Gots Me A Bullhead

7" Cubby Mini-Mite/Minnow

6:30-9:30AM GOMH, Bulldog, Rock
38-44℉, Partly Cloudy, 3-8mph W

So I took my first-morning open water trip of 2020 this morning.  I got a bite, finally. It was none other than a tiger bullhead; First time that has ever happened for a first fish in open water.  I got it on the SE side.  John W. showed up as I was posting to Instagram.  I ended up getting his phone # before he left.
I was back on the SW side ad I made a cast into the hay area.  The bobber was drifting at a steady pace in the wind when it just stopped moving and turned sideway.  Thinking it was caught on a weed I didn't set the hook.  I'm pretty sure I rolled a big jumper because I saw a lot of white.  That was my last bite.

I also tried Bulldog and Rock without any success.

In the afternoon I vacuumed out the Trophy and discovered some treasure I had given to Steve three years ago that he left in Florida when he moved up here the first time. Two Madd Maxx Frogs (Big Sexy and Bluegrass).

I should have done this last year before I put it in the garage

Score

Clear at Jenny's

Heavy Wave with a brisk SW Wind

The vacuuming took longer than expected.  It was filthy and I had to stop for a break to get something to eat.  Steve gave me an energy bar that did the trick.  After I was done I went down to the boathouse and discovered the rods that I accidentally left there last winter.  I had intended to go back and get them late last Fall, but it slipped my mind.

Because I didn't get out of there until after 5 o'clock I went straight home rather than fish.  I ended up eating a Porky Burger which held me up until after 7PM.  When I crossed 27 conditions turned nasty fast.  Heavy snow and wind.  I was like dang.  By the time I got to Church the sun was beginning to poke out.  I went to Bulldog first, nothing biting.  It looked like ice was still on 40-50%.  Then I went to Rock briefly, the ice was out.  I drove Platte Lake drive and could see ice in the North Bay and some along the NW side of the Big Island.  I then drove to the Platte Lake Public Access which was totally ice-free, so Platte Lake ice out is official at Bass Pundit

 

It's Starting, Ice Ice Out, Baby

The first lakes went out on March 20th.  Pepin and the three on the far South end of the state.
Follow MN ice-out dates here.  I think a lot of the city lakes will probably be clear by April 1.  No joke.
Here is the forecast for the cities.

I think the central part of the state is going to be way behind the cities this year.

Platte Lake Ice Out Prediction for 2020

Well, it is time for me to give my official Platte Lake ice out date prediction for the year.  Last year my pessimistic prediction was wildly off the mark as Spring kicked into gear during the second half of the month and never looked back.  This winter has been on the snowy and mild side.  We got the snow early which insulated the Lake so ice depths at this point are below normal or at least that is what I've heard.  I haven't drilled a hole yet.  Also, we had high water at the start of the winter so we have had current moving through the lake.  We have as much open water right now at the Grumpy Old Man Hole as we did on March 22nd last year.  We have a lot of snow yet to be melted and that is going to take a while to happen.  I suspect we will see ice start coming off lakes in the Southern part of the State in the third week of March.

I predict ice will be off Platte Lake on April 8th this year

2019 Prediction May 9th Ice Off Date April 20th
2018 Prediciton April 22nd Ice Off Date May 2nd
2017 Prediction March 29th Ice Off Date April 1st
2015 Prediction April 20th Ice Out Date April 3rd

Long term forecast looks like temps mostly slightly above average with no big warm-ups just the way I like it with so much snow around.

 

Prediction: Ice Will Be Out By Easter This Year

I hadn't done any blogging so far this month, so I thought I would throw out my first ice out prediction of the year.  I think the chances of ice still being on the Platte/Sullivan area lakes on Easter Sunday, April 12th 2020 is looking pretty slim to me at this point.  In early March I will give my official ice out date guess.  Right now, I'm thinking the chances of a March ice out date aren't very good either.

Here is the forecast for the rest of February: