“It’s been reported Lake of the Woods in some places had 50 inches of ice,” he said. Sundin said larger lakes farther north of Leech likely will still have ice on the opener. The earliest ice-out on Leech Lake was Apthe latest was May 23, 1950, and the average is April 27. “I can’t guarantee all our lakes up here will be ice-free by then, but I will guarantee we will be fishing in boats somewhere up here by then.” “I’m optimistic,” said Sundin of the opener. After a lake tour Monday, Sundin said ice conditions, particularly on smaller lakes in his region, are “deteriorating fast.” Ice thickness, he said, hasn’t changed much, but ice quality has. In the last week or so, he’s been monitoring ice conditions and he likes what he’s seeing. He fishes numerous lakes in north-central Minnesota, including Leech, Winnibigoshish, Cass and Upper Red. Jeff Sundin of Grand Rapids has been a fishing guide for 30 years. We just won’t know how much for a few weeks.” But this return to normal to even above-normal temperatures should help. “We’re about 21 days later than the median in southern Minnesota, and we’ll probably set some records there.
“Mother Nature has been tough this year and extended winter well into April, which is delaying ice-out across the state,” said Pete Boulay, a climatologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Mark Dayton found Park Rapids’ Fish Hook Lake covered in ice and had to fish at the nearby Fish Hook River instead. Minnesota is, after all, known for inhospitable openers: As recently as 2013, Gov. With the walleye opener roughly three weeks away, ice-out on Minnesota lakes is lagging well behind compared to historic averages, which has some anglers, fishing guides and business owners nervous.
I’ve been in this business long enough to know I can’t control the weather.” “We may lose some business over the opener, but last year we had an early ice-out. “I’d be shocked if it happened at this point - I think we have close to 30 inches out there right now - but I’m really, really hoping I’m wrong,” said Pitt, adding that some unseasonably warm weather, rain and wind would help open up one of the state’s premiere walleye fisheries. Pitt, who’s been in the business 20 years, is less than optimistic about Leech Lake being ice-free for the May 12 event. They have nine cabins, most of which are rented by anglers for the walleye opener.
Pitt and his wife, Cindy, own Bailey’s Resort. From his living-room window overlooking Leech Lake’s secluded Kabekona Bay late Monday, Dana Pitt described what he saw.
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