Ice-Off Platte, Bulldog, Long, & Rock Lake Today(4/24/22)

 

I didn't make it to the Public Access on Platte Lake today, but it was definitely open today when I made the North Platte Lake Drive loop.

Rock to the South

Rock to the North

Bulldog Looking SE

Bulldog Looking NE

Sullivan Looking SW

Sullivan will probably be ice-free tomorrow. 

Lake Pepin Did Open In March

During the last couple of days in March, I had thought I heard a report on the news that Lake Pepin was open for shipping but was too lazy to play it back to verify that is what I heard. Because the DNR Climatology website didn't record it by April 1st I thought maybe I was wrong about what I thought I had heard. Turns out they were just slow about relaying the info. It opened on the 31st. 

Turns out they were way behind what was going on. The first lake went off on March 22, and a bunch went off on the 23 and 24th.

 

Will A Lake Go Ice Free in March

 

As of today, the MN DNR isn't reporting any open lakes in the state. I thought for sure there would be a few by now. It could be that the MN Climatology Facebook Page no longer allows people to post to the page. That could be a Facebook thing. Or it could be the department that keeps track got shuffled or is running behind. Who knows. 

Open Water At The GOMH(3/23/22)

 The rain we got on Tuesday opened up the Grumpy Old Man Hole. It will be interesting to see how quickly the area opens up. My guess is that the snow decelerated the melting process significantly. The melt and runoff are slower and colder. I need to force myself to be ok with that. Later ice off prolongs the pre-spawn bite, provided we don't run into an ill-timed heatwave. Thinking of ice off on Platte in less than 30 days.

Update: It looks like we are about 4 days behind 2019. The ice went off Platte on April 20th that year. I think April was on the cool side that year after a few lovely days to start the month.

Platte Lake Ice Out Prediction for 2022

 A Couple of days late with my Official 2022 Ice Out Prediction for 2022. This year's weather has been up for a day or two, then down for about a week. Looks like we are going to be in for more extended cold next week, with no signs of a turn towards Spring. I wonder if I will need to put the extension on my auger next week. Yikes! 

I predict ice goes off Platte Lake on Easter Sunday, April 17th, quite a reversal from my initial spit-balling of ice off April 1st. I think I need to re-train my brain to like ice fishing more and not be so gung-ho for ice off. I've got positive elements to work with to do it. Patience BP, patience.

I think the ice will be off the lakes in the lower 3rd of the State early this year. It has been way warmer down there than it has been up here, and they are supposed to get a soaking today.

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February Platte Lake Ice Off Prediction

 This month has been flying by. I think we are at about peak ice this upcoming week, and I don't think it is even 20-inches thick on Bulldog. Therefore I believe ice will be out by April 1st this year. No fooling! I will be shocked if there is ice on the lake on April 1st.