I usually go up for a week at the time Tip Up Town is happening. This year its around January 22nd or so. I have not been on before the middle of January. I know being a deep and spring fed lake, it takes longer than say Houghton Lake. Last year, the ice was 18 inches thick during Tip Up Town time. Of course it depends on the weather but you can call some bait shops around there or maybe the DNR on south side can tell you when it's safe. I fish on south side in a Shappel 5500 Widehouse about 200 yards of shore. Caught lake trout every day fishing in 80 foot deep water. Not too many people out there during the week.
