Significant ice remains on some northern lakes
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Ice has gone out on more northern Minnesota lakes, but will remain on at least parts of some lakes on Saturday's fishing opener.
"We're definitely not going to be fishing on the opener, unless we're ice fishing," said Marilyn Kufahl of Gunflint Lodge on Gunflint Lake. "There's still about 10 inches of ice on it."
These lakes went ice-free on Wednesday: Woman (Cass County), Moose (Lake County), Fall (Lake County), Shagawa (St. Louis County) and Sturgeon (St. Louis County). The ice on Devil Track in Cook County went out Thursday.
But "significant ice" remains on Lake of the Woods, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Vermilion was about half to two-thirds covered. Kabetogama was about half covered. Rainy Lake was still more than 50 percent covered. On Leech Lake, significant ice remained in Walker Bay.
To see updated lake status, see www.startribune.com/a4342.
Meanwhile, anglers should prepare for possible problems at some public boat accesses. Most accesses should be ready Saturday, but those on lakes with late ice-out might not. Brainerd-area accesses should be fine, said Tim Browning, DNR trails and waterways regional manager.
But up to 50 docks might not be in place in the north. Browning said anglers might want to bring waders to help launch boats.
The DNR also said anglers should be sure to wear life jackets this weekend because the danger of drowning multiplies when the water is very cold.
DOUG SMITH
Featured comment
GORDODRAFT
The global warming part won't happen, we're in a cool down period. It won't be long and they'll be saying we're going to have another ice … read more age. Just like they did in the '70's. It's cyclical, we have warm periods, followed by cool periods. It's always been that way and always will.
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