A year ago, Minnesotans were experiencing record ice-out on lakes around the state.
Not this year.
Last year, Bemidji, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Leech, Rainy, Winnibigoshish, Saganaga, Vermilion were among the lakes that set ice-out records last year, and were already ice-free by now. All remain locked in ice this year.
It appears ice-out will be closer to normal this spring, said Henry Drewes, Department of Natural Resources regional fisheries manager in Bemidji.
"They were ice fishing on Lake Bemidji and Lake of the Woods on Saturday," he said. "But Sunday we got more than an inch of rain, and that ice really deteriorated fast. I'd say we're now on pace for a normal ice-out."
That would be April 26 for Lake Bemidji, April 29 for Lake of the Woods and Vermilion, April 27 for Leech, May 3 for Rainy and Saganaga. But with the fishing opener late this year -- May 14 -- Drewes figures the timing might be right for a good fishing opener. Last year, fish in some lakes had dispersed by the opener, making fishing tougher.
"I would expect it to be a really good opener," he said. "I think [Upper] Red Lake will be gangbusters, and Leech Lake should be exceptional, too."
But Drewes noted there's a month to go before the opener, and anything could happen with the weather between now and then.
