It aint over till its over

[eriksat1]

I caught a bunch tonight and kept about 15 nice crappies this evening 10"-12" I was able to drive the F150 right out on the lake. 16" of ice, bottom 12" rock hard clear ice. This will probably be the last weekend you can drive a truck out here, the shoreline edge is going to go soon. But should be able to still ice fish at least another week or 2.

[rabbittrapper]

Some lakes by me are open on the shore no way to get out there. I wouldn't trust a truck on the ice now.

[eriksat1]

Its funny first ice you got guys driving trucks all over 8"-10" total of ice here, (not me) but then late ice you got 12" -15" good hard clear ice with 4"- 5" of hard white ice on top of that, and everyone is scared to drive on it. I find it funny, lol. If you are going to break through it will be right at the shoreline.

[rabbittrapper]

Its funny first ice you got guys driving trucks all over 8"-10" total of ice here, (not me) but then late ice you got 12" -15" good hard clear ice with 4"- 5" of hard white ice on top of that, and everyone is scared to drive on it. I find it funny, lol. If you are going to break through it will be right at the shoreline.

I wouldn't drive a truck out there with 30 inches. Its just me

[eriksat1]

Your not alone a lot of people won't, but to me late ice is a heck of a lot safer than first ice. i drill and check ice before I drive on any of it. 12" or more hard clear ice, with some more inches of hard white ice on top of that, then some slush on top of that, I have no problem driving on. It is the shoreline that gets if'y.

[Whopper Stopper]

Your not alone a lot of people won't, but to me late ice is a heck of a lot safer than first ice. i drill and check ice before I drive on any of it. 12" or more hard clear ice, with some more inches of hard white ice on top of that, then some slush on top of that, I have no problem driving on. It is the shoreline that gets if'y.

Good luck with that 

        WS

[gearheart]

It got warm here and went to hell in 4 days.  I drove out on Monday and by Friday couldn't even walk out.

[Drifter_016]

Still 5 feet of clear black ice up here!!!!   
We can drive on the ice until the shoreline goes out.
Even then if we had strong enough ramps to bridge the gap we could still drive on it. 

[eriksat1]

It is normally the same here, as in the main lake ice sheet is plenty solid, but it is the shore ice that stops you from driving out.

[Desperado]

 Was on White Bear Lake this weekend, still 2 feet of decent ice
 Was melted about 20 ft away from shoreline, but less than knee deep water at edge of ice
 I wouldn't drive a truck on it now either
 But if ya wanna get out to where the ice is, there are ways

 Decent crappie bite (some decent sized) an hour before sundown

[thomasthepikehunter]

I caught a bunch tonight and kept about 15 nice crappies this evening 10"-12" I was able to drive the F150 right out on the lake. 16" of ice, bottom 12" rock hard clear ice. This will probably be the last weekend you can drive a truck out here, the shoreline edge is going to go soon. But should be able to still ice fish at least another week or 2.

You really shouldn't be bragging about doing very foolish things. 12" of new ice is pushing it with a full size pickup, but last ice? You can't just see how strong ice is, and even if you could, its so patchy this time of year. This kind of thinking is what makes news.

[rabbittrapper]

You really shouldn't be bragging about doing very foolish things. 12" of new ice is pushing it with a full size pickup, but last ice?

Exactly what I was thinking

[Dakota Angler]

Not sure if I would be driving out in April or not but each to their own on the conditions they have. In dec/jan/feb have no problem driving on 12in of "good" ice as the temps are typical well below freezing. (this year was driving out the whole month of march) This time of the year the tilt of the earth is closer to the sun and we have longer days and temps that are well above freezing and lows above freezing. That being said just remember that ice thaws from the bottom up as the water underneath heats up with help from the sun melting from the top. Just remember that rock bottom spots will heat up faster (as rocks retain heat and adsorb heat) than mud bottom or weed bottom spots. Therefore in those areas the ice will typically be thinner this time of the year.
I was out last week and had no problem getting on (walking) but after being out there for nearly 10hrs in 60 degree temps walking back I could barley make it. Ice was over 20" where I was fishing and felt very safe even though water was coming up the hole before it was even close to being completely drilled out. Problem was the ice was flexing from 50 yards out from shore and people were falling in and I stepped fell through twice and a kid went in to his arm pits.  For me that was enough and called it my season ice was changing to fast for my liking.

[eriksat1]

For the record I am done driving out now.
Weather update: Forecast low tonight 10f and Wed. snow 4"-6"
I heard that today and just have to say **censored**!
On top of the 28" of ice still on the big lakes here. We will be tip up fishing the opener May 3rd. Just 19 days away.

[Drifter_016]

I drove 250 miles on one of our ice roads for work yesterday.   
Ain't over here yet.   

[eriksat1]

Ya its still cold here, ya it's snowing today 12" expected, ya we still have good ice, ya I caught a 13" crappie out of the 14 I caught last night through the ice. I don't care if we have ice until June. Btw my biggest so far and it ain't over yet just warming up. And I lied I drove my truck out on the ice last night, not far just off the landing, but on the lake, the ice isn't even cracking yet, nor is the water draining down the holes yet. Meaning the ice is still locked up to shore and the lake bottom around shore, so the ice sheet has not floated up yet letting the water drain down the holes yet. The thick bottom ice still is as clear as looking though 12" of glass. The low temp yesterday was 11f, the high today was 36f.

[Svengalli]

Nice crappie.  Your making me long for another day on the ice.  Hopefully after this weekend I'll be able to make a multi-day trip... fingers crossed.