GOMH Today(3/27/26)

 It was sunny and below freezing all day, but the next three days will be sunny and warm. If the temps live up to the forecast or exceed it, three straight days of warming may build enough momentum toward ice off that the cooler, but not cold weather later next week can't stop it. We'll see. 

GOMH nearing sunset

If the wind forecast is accurate, Ice out by Easter Sunday, the 4th, could be a thing.

Update: Monday only got to the low 50's and was cloudy. Snow and cold now in the forecast for Thursday through Saturday.

GOMH Today(3/21/26)

 It got to 70℉ today. It was breezy and overcast for the most part.  I stopped at the Grumpy Old Man Hole on my way to Brainerd for the Bass Snatchers banquet. I'm guessing the ice melt wil be bac to where it was pre-cold snap tomorrow on the Sullivan side and it may take 2 days on the Platte side. I watched eagles with the binocs and saw a good-sized muskrat. I wish I would have packed a rod as that there was an open casting lane from the rocks. The water level has come up. I'm guessing we will see quite a bit of progress on the ice out front before April 1st. I have had to remind myself that it is only just now getting to the March 20's, still plenty of month left, and also that it is March. 

GOMH Today(3/17/26)

 Hopefully, winter will be through with us after today. It is cold and windy out there. It will be interesting to see if all the snow is melted by Friday evening.

Winter Has Returned(GOMH)(3/14/26)

 Blizzard Warning for tonight/tomorrow and sub-zero temps for a couple of nights with highs in the high teens. I'm not really happy with the March weather at the moment. But it kind of looks like this will be winter's last gasp. I went fishing on Sullivan today, and I was a bit of a trainwreck. I only fished for about 15 minutes and gave up.  The ice was maybe 18" and very granulated. I had water coming up in the holes with 10" left to drill.

2026 Platte Lake Ice Out Prediction (3/8/26)

 

I have been poring over my records here at Bass Pundit, trying to get a grasp of where we are compared to past Aprils, and tracking the forecast for where things are going weather-wise. I have concluded that the cooler weather ahead for later this week will bring things in line with where they were last year, so I'm going with last year's prediction of April 7th for a second year in a row.

April 7th, It Is!

Last year, I mistakenly called Ice Out on April 5th, as 95% of the lake was ice-free, but ice in the North Bay held on until the 9th.

The forecast isn't ideal, but it isn't terrible either. There is a lot of bare ground now. Forecasting has been on the erratic side lately, as March is prone to do. I think I could catch a bullhead any day now at the Grumpy Old Man Hole. I won't be surprised if red-wings show up today.

GOMH Tonight (3/3/26)

50's and a 60 next week, yeah baby! Solid stretch right now.

I got skunked tonight. Things appear more open than they are. I htink this warm stretch will be lomg enough to do some damage.

BP's February Ice Off Platte Lake Spitball For 2026

 

This winter has not seemed super cold to me, but the ice thickness in the Platte/Sullivan area tells me it has been plenty cold. I have been drilling from 24-26" this past week. The warm-up and sunshine the last few days have been nice, but I don't think the sun is quite there yet to really kick the snow melt into high gear. I am pretty sure we have reached peak ice depth in central MN. I have been following long-term forecasts for a few weeks now, and they have been saying cooler-than-normal weather is on its way, but the temps keep getting revised upward rather than sustained cooler than normal temps.  Snow is the big X-factor in March and April. We haven't really been dumped on in 2026, yet. I've maybe had to use the snow blower once this year. By the end of this warm trend we have been in, there should be a lot of bare ground. Bare ground heats up in sunny weather and gets the ice melting process started from below, from the shallows to the depths. Ok I'm going to end my waffling now.

My spitball for ice off in 2026 has moved up from April 15th to April 12th for Platte Lake. I am counting on there being few March and April snows and near normal temps. Spring is in the air, I can feel it.

 

Spring Watch 2026, Part 2

 

As of right now, the possibility of a pretty good mid-February thaw is looking likely this upcoming weekend. Will there be open water at the Grumpy Old Man Hole a week from today? I wouldn't bet on it, but maybe. I think the snow will be mostly gone by then. The days are getting longer, and the sun is getting stronger.

Spring Watch 2026, Part 1

 

We will see if it holds, but consecutive 40℉ days are a good sign that Spring is right around the corner. It will be interesting to see how much snow remains after the upcoming warm stretch. I will probably do the first When Will I See The Driveway? post soon.

Weather For the First Half of February

 

I'm back-dating this post by a day. Today is Monday, February 2nd. As of a couple of days ago, the long-term forecast trend suggested mostly cooler-than-average temperatures. Yesterday, that changed to being close to average, and today it switched to average to slightly above average. I'm guessing that the lack of snow cover in wide open spaces has something to do with it. It seems like most snowstorms this winter have come with a lot of wind, so if there isn't a windbreak, the snow depth is really shallow in a lot of places. And to the South, there isn't much snow at this point. I will not do my Platte Lake Ice Out February Spit Ball until more toward the middle of the month.

Update: 2/20/26 We got lucky, and the jet stream brought warmer temps to the middle of the country and didn't dip back south until it was well to the East.

First Spring Has Arrived (2/24/25)

 

The past two days exceeded expectations for warm weather, with temps jumping into the high 40's. The mild weather and melting look to continue. If this forecast is accurate we will be snow-free around here by next week. No snow means the ground heats up when there is sun and the ice melts from below. I am ready for Spring.

Warmer Weather On The Way... (2/13/25)

 ... after one more cold week. I'll be giving my annual Platte Lake Ice Out February Spitball in a few days.

When will the first three consecutive 40℉ days be? 

Feb. 13th at the GOMH(2/13/25)

 

Cold, but sunny day. I had PT in Onamia. I went and visited with Bean and Bella for a couple of minutes. Checked out the Grumpy Old Man Hole and Platte Lake Access on the way home. There were fewer houses out on Platte than a week ago.  It is going to get close to 20℉ the next couple of days before another Polar Vortex moves in for a few days, but the final 7 days of February are all supposed to be above-average.