Thanks for the replies. Could anyone confirm that the ice is off? By the looks of the web cam it looks clear. Time is short, I'm trying to organize that last second dock put in party. We all know that attendance on this is subject is questionable.
We traveled around the lake yesterday and there was ice as far as you could see on the West and North side. Starting at Malmo the open water started to appear and is the lake is wide open on the SE. Big West winds coming tomorrow, I wouldn't gamble with docs until someone confirms that ice is gone.
The Minnesota Climatology Group still lists Mille lacs as 'Partial Cover' ice status as of today04/39/11. (University of Minnesota Climatology Study). They have been tracking ice out for 54 years on most lakes....
Here is the State DNR /Climatology site that lists all Minneosta Lakes and Ice Out status for 2011: (scroll down to East Central lakes region)...
I believe when the Messenger calls it out, is what we go with. They call it when you could boat from Garrison to Isle, without impedement, I believe. I say Monday....
Just drove the north end. Three foot rollers coming in from the heavy south wind. All open from Malmo to Reddick Creek. Solid ice in a line from there in a line to Garrison.
If they don't declare ice out today, it'll be tomorrow for sure...
The wind will really speed up the ice out declaration.
Yes, I remember the Messenger's Isle to Garrison unimpedeed passage rule for Ice Out. Also, you must be able to hold onto a cold all the way to the Garrison walleye. HA! (Okay that is Malmo Mike's Rule de Jour.)
Sunday, May 1st: 4 foot waves and plenty of WIND. No visible ICE.
There is no visble ice on the Eastside from Isle to Malmo Bay. Has anyone driven the west side or Garrison recently? Jon, what doe sit look like at Red Door? No updtae yet on the Mille Lacs Lake Messenger web site of course.
Here's what the north end looks like right now. (The north end is the only place there was ice. At 8:00 it was out 200 yards or so, but now the wind has switched and is out of he north again. Not much left of the ice pack. I don't think it will reach the other side on the south, but with this cold north wind blowing, who knows. It's the winter that wouldn't die.
“When nets tear, they normally tear horizontally,” Kalk said. “Having the tags on opposite ends, top and bottom, will provide better accountability.”
The tags are numbered and permanently attached to the net. Each tag number is assigned to the permittee of the net for the day the permit is pulled. Permits are required for every net. The net ID tag number must match the net ID number identified on the permit.
New permits are required daily. For Mille Lacs Band members, permits must be issued by 11 a.m. for the net to be set that night. Most nets are set at sunset. If a permittee pulls a permit, but for whatever reason does not actually set the net, he or she must contact a game warden immediately.
“This way, we won’t have employees waiting to creel that net the next day and the permittee must take full responsibility,” Kalk said.
If a permittee does not comply with the notification regulation, the permittee will be reprimanded, “grounded” or restricted, from netting for three days. If it happens again, the permittee may not be allowed to net the remainder of the season.
Other changes to the nets themselves include a requirement for a 10-pound weight, or anchor, to be affixed to the bottom of each corner of the net.
Buoy lines are required to have at least 6 feet of slack on the surface so the buoys or floats will remain on the surface and visible if the net moves. Six-feet of line is required under the surface as well.
“We are trying preventative measures,” Kalk said. “In theory, this will create less drag, less movement and the net will lay down if ice moves across it.”
The permittee is required to monitor ice and wind conditions and pull their nets immediately if warranted or contacted by the game warden. If the permittee does not stay close to the net during the set, a phone number or contact must be provided in case it is needed.
Game wardens, either Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission or tribal conservation officers, will be monitoring sets this year. “Not every set will be watched, but people should be aware the possibility exists that an officer is watching,” Kalk said.