Snow depth. For more information on ice safety contact the MN DNR and ask for our free ice safety publications, which include the brochures, "Danger, Thin Ice" and "Cold Water Kills" and the wallet-sized reference card and 11X14 posters titled, "Minimum Recommended Ice Thicknesses." Metro (651) 296-6157 or toll free outside the metro area 1-888-646-6367 or . Hummocked or piled plates or sheets of ice along the shore of Lake Superior. The higher the number of TDDs on a given date, the greater the chances that a lake has no ice. In Hennepin County, has a new application process made it harder to access social safety-net programs? That's a week ahead of the median ice out date of March 26. Mille Lacs: May 2 (Average date April 25. Thats a span of 52 days or seven weeks! New book invites exploration of old Twin Cities spots. Here I want to help us understand and predict when the lakes will be free of ice. Then, I looked at what scientists call a cumulative probability curve, which is shown in the graph below. Boulay said he drove over to that address and took those dates down after the DNR got a call from a realtor selling the property. The figure above shows the day number (from January 1) on which popular lakes in northern Minnesota lose their ice from some of the earliest records to the most recent. Image credit: M. Thoms/MNSG. Trap nets were set on 4/22/14 and no dead fish were observed along the shoreline. Normally, by this time in March, you should have several accumulated already probably 10 by now.. Our relentless April wind is one factor thats taken out the ice on some lakes. Court-enforceable police reform is coming to Minneapolis. This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.. Look for the weather record station closest to your lake and follow the directions. Overall, Silver Lake likely experienced a moderate winterkill. In 2021 - which was an early spring, the ice went out on Pokegama Lake on April 9th.". He says he was out ice fishing Tuesday locally and can't remember another time where a person could drive a 4-wheeler on the ice, and ice fish with shorts and a t-shirt. 2023 Minnesota DNR | Equal opportunity employer |. Schmitt indicates he's heard people fishing the channels on Lake Minnetonka despite the ice still on the lake there. Ice-out on some lakes in northeast Minnesota is near or at the latest on record according to the Minnesota DNR. Temperatures this month are running 6.1 degrees colder than average through April 26 in the Twin Cities. No dead fish were reported following ice-out. The DNR does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes. Ice varied alot on the pond this winter from 19-30 as of last week. 31 W. College St. On 4/16/14, the trap nets caught a total of 5 walleyes, 13 northern pike, 24 common carp, 100+ yellow perch, 100+ bigmouth buffalo, 100+ white suckers, and 1,000+ black bullheads. Outdoors | [see: 2023 Lake Ice-Out Dates | DNR Conservation Officer Reports] With temperatures over 40 degrees in the forecast, the ice covering your neighborhood lake may not be long for this world. The deadline for anglers in roughly the southern two-thirds of the state to remove fish houses from lakes was March 7. Trap nets were set on 4/28/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed hundreds of common carp and white suckers, some walleye and black crappies, and a few black bullheads. Overall, Hook Lake likely experienced a moderate winterkill. Another study found Bayfield Bay, on Lake Superior (not included in the DNRs dataset), thawed 18 days earlier per century. He says the ducks are looking real good right now as they prepare to mate. Three years ago, we stepped off a plane in Minneapolis and wondered, now what? Copyright 2023 KVLY. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has a big dataset on ice out dates, with some data points going back to the 1800s. Minnesotas reluctant spring has produced some of the latest ice-out dates on record in northern Minnesota. Several can be . Thanks to the Osakis Review, Lake Osakis has the longest consistent ice out records. Trap nets were set on 5/21/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed dozens of dead common carp and bluegills, and a few black bullheads. Back in the old days, theyd have dump the clunk, basically they put a car out on the ice and have a contest over when its going to fall through, Boulay said. Typically, the assessments consist of 5 trap nets set overnight. There may still be some ice in some of the bays. Many of these lakes are running about 10 days later than the median ice-out date. Resorts and cabins can be open earlier and running longer. With more rain and slightly milder temperatures on the way into next week. That depends. Meteorologists measure the power of weather to melt ice as cumulative thawing degree days (TDDs). On 4/24/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 common carp, 1 white sucker, 3 yellow perch, and 8 northern pike. A check of lake ice-out reports this week shows lake ice-out dates are running anywhere from one to more than two weeks behind the median date. At the time of the electrofishing sample, many dead fish were seen along the shoreline, mostly common carp. PUBLISHED: April 14, 2023 at 4:17 p.m. | UPDATED: April 14, 2023 at 4:19 p.m. Leech Lake near Walker recorded ice-out on April 9. An expert on Minnesota lakes is predicting that despite a slightly warmer-than-average winter in the northern part of the state, ice-out in the Northland this year will be later than average. ), Garden Lake (East of Ely) May 6. If the weather records from an airport near a lake youre interested in show 220 TDDs since January 1, the chances are 50:50 that the lake ice is out. But, so far this winter, that hasnt been happening. Ice is never 100% safe. Most lakes that dot central and northern Minnesota are still sporting a thick coat of ice. Walz open to giving up Met Council appointing authority, but can lawmakers agree on a solution? Downing wanted a tool for friends, colleagues, and family that they could use to better plan for spring activities. Latest ice-out date was May 23, 1950. Unless something changes in the forecast drastically, were likely to see generally later ice-outs this year, Boulay said, owing to colder temps. Locations especially involved in this includes Lanesboro and Preston. There is something for everyone. Or, it may be when it is possible to navigate from point A to point B. Low DO readings were recorded at High Island Lake on 1/21/14, 2/3/14, and 2/11/14. Zeppelin shared that records going back to 1962 show the median ice-out date for Pokegama Lake is April . Ice melts fastest when: Among the most important factors is the amount of accumulated heat that occurs as spring arrives. The widget starts measuring any thawing-degree days in January. The dynamic context server has an entry for monitoring ice-out conditions on Minnesota lakes. Degree days are the difference between the daily temperature mean (high temperature plus low temperature divided by two) and 65F. ), Irving Lake (Near Bemidji) May 4. April 25, 2022 - 9:22 AM. One month to fishing opener: Ice still covers many Minnesota lakes, Woman dies after flipping vehicle in water-filled ditch, Moorhead Police investigating suspicious death, River Levels Cause Concern for Rural Communities, River Levels Cause Concern for Rural Communities - April 17, Fargo Police working to address street racing, Amount of fentanyl pills seized increases tenfold in Cass County. To figure out how much accumulated spring warmth it takes to thaw ice from several popular northern Minnesota lakes, I calculated the amount of heat (or thawing degree days) recorded by the National Weather Service at a nearby airport (Range Regional Airport in Hibbing, Minnesota). This dataset has been compiled from many different sources over the years: from newspaper clippings, DNR and MPCA observations and records from citizen scientists. That helped keep lake ice in place longer than usual. We catch a bit of a break Tuesday with highs back into the 70s. Please remember that ice conditions are changing rapidly this time of year, and to be prepared with the appropriate safety equipment if venturing out. The lake was scheduled for a full resurvey in 2014 but due to the suspected winterkill, it was reduced to a population assessment with spring electrofishing. You can also learn about all our free newsletter options. See our full republication guidelines for more information. Its a good question. (Average April 24. NASA MODIS 250-meter visible satellite image Wednesday. Minnesotas lakes spend most of the winter covered in snow, which insulates them from the suns rays and reflects that light back up toward the sky, said Pete Boulay, assistant state climatologist. (Note: Rice Lake is listed as "Rice 270116") Channel Dredging. Ice out dates are being updated for lakes in Minnesota on the Lake Ice Out 2018 web page. This new widget should let people know within about a week when ice-out will occur. Were not making a lot of headway, Boulay said. The Minnesota DNR hosts a server which provides JSON data on a number of Minnesota lakes organized A lakeside resident reported many dead northern pike following ice out. Degree days for a single (24-hour) day are calculated using the following formulas: Duluth campus offices Ive seen people go through the ice, even if it was like 7 inches thick, but it was just this white, mushy stuff and it didnt support their weight, she said. The widget is a bit of science fun to show you how to estimate when a body of water like a lake is likely to freeze or thaw. The records for Lake of the Isles include a set of observations with a note indicating they were written on a cabinet at a house by the lake. Duluth, MN 55812, St. Paul campus offices The Minnesota State Climatology Office says the first ice out reports have started arriving. 2023 Lake Ice In Dates. In July, gill and trap nets revealed just four species, all in low abundance, including black bullhead, bluegill, green sunfish, and yellow perch. On 4/22/14, the trap nets caught a total of 2 yellow perch, 2 golden shiners, 13 northern pike, and 100+ black bullheads. But we are still working out the bugs, Downing noted. The number should pick up in February, speed up in March and rocket up in April. The graph above shows how heat accumulated in spring over the last 40 years or so for one weather station close to the northern Minnesota lakes. Overall, Cedar Lake likely experienced a light to moderate winterkill. If you have questions, emaileditors@minnpost.com. Following ice-out, trap nets were set on 4/23/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed hundreds of common carp and bluegills and some walleye, largemouth bass, black crappie, channel catfish, and black bullhead. Often times, the public notices evidence of winterkill before we do and we . Leech Lake, in north-central Minnesota, saw its earliest ice out more than a month after Pepins earliest ice out on record, on April 2, in 2012, a particularly warm spring when many lakes recorded their earliest ice outs. Overall, Otter Lake likely experienced a light winterkill. Thats how it gets thinner.. Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Friday look dry, with just Tuesday night and Wednesday having rain. How late, and whether the May 13 walleye opener might be impacted, depends on how fast those thawing-degree days start picking up. Check ice thickness at least every 150 feet. Many big lakes are now ice-free in central and northern Minnesota. Its median ice out date is March 29. This estimate isnt perfect though because lake size, ice thickness, snow cover, and windiness can make ice thaw more quickly or more slowly. The ice turns into what people call white ice or snow ice, where its degraded to a point that it cant support as much weight as when it was clear. Public media is independent, community-supported media for the public good. We found some hardy frost still on the Northern shaded side of the build today trying to dig in water to the well location. No dead game fish were seen. Trap nets were set on 4/21/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed just 4 channel catfish. Its the start of fishing for walleye, northern pike, bass, and trout in lakes on inland waters. Thats 19 days earlier than the median date of April 29. April 9 was the official ice-out date for 2021 on Leech Lake, which is earlier than the median ice-out date of April 28. Seasons for some other species, including sunfish, crappie and channel catfish, are open all year. Its hard to draw conclusions from the Minnesota ice out data alone, but Lesley Knoll, associate director of Itasca Biological Station and Labs, pointed to research that includes Minnesota lakes and finds dwindling days of ice cover. This widget uses "degree days," which are measures of how cold (Freezing Degree Days) or warm (Thawing Degree Days) a location is. Sawbill lake reports an ice-out on May 14 this year. Peter Boulay is a climatologist from the Minnesota DNR department of Ecological and Water Resources and he tells us about ice out on . Generally, in the northern half of Minnesota, it takes an average of about 220 thawing degree days (TDDs) to melt lake ice. Overall, Big Wolf Lake likely experienced a moderate winterkill. These lakes are identified by conducting dissolved oxygen tests throughout the winter and observing dead fish after ice-out. Many lakes in Minnesota are ice-free closer to the record earliest date than the median ice-out date. The green horizontal line on the graph is the average amount of cumulative heat needed in spring to melt ice from lakes in this region. The Minnesota DNR has records on ice out going back to the 1800s for some lakes. St. Paul, MN 55108, Coastal Hazards of Superior - Community of Practice, Code Audits & Community-Government Partnerships, Consumer Education on Seafood and Aquaculture, Increasing Golden Shiner Bait Production in Minnesota, Field Guide for Maintaining Rural Roadside Ditches, Habitat Management in the St. Louis River Estuary Workshop, Regional Stormwater Protection Team (RSPT), Hazardous Material Transport Outreach Network, Hypothermia: Understanding and Prevention, Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions, Translating Coastal Research Into Application, NOAA Fisheries-Sea Grant Joint Fellowship. Ice out on Sawn lake near Mankato came in Monday, April 4. MNDNR Ecological and Water ResourcesA 1910 calendar noting the ice out on Lake Kabekona in Hubbard County.The specific definition of ice-out can vary based on the lake, too. Low DO readings were recorded at Winsted Lake on 3/20/14. March 18, 2022 at 2:58 pm #2108850. On 5/2/14, the trap nets caught a total of 28 black bullheads. Thanks also to Warning Coordination Meteorologist Joe Moore, at the National Weather Service in Duluth, for helping me interface with NWS data. Thats the latest on record. The ice-out time is a sensitive indicator of local climate and the date has been arriving earlier in a statistical average sense each year. I will explain this later but notice that in Minnesota heat is great enough in spring to melt lakes late in March to almost mid-May. On 4/23/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 largemouth bass, 10 northern pike, 12 golden shiners, 12 yellow bullheads, 13 pumpkinseeds, 24 yellow perch, 50 black crappies, and 100+ bluegills. In the meantime, its a good idea to be careful out there. It used to be fairly consistent, within a week or so. Open water for seven more weeks means a summer that is 50% longer. . Flooding has been intense, with runoff likely at record levels in many areas. So its that latest in at least two decades. No dead walleyes or other gamefish were observed at that time. Temperatures in the 70s this week are chipping away on the ice on area lakes. If the temperature averages below freezing for a day or two, that doesnt add any more thawing degree days because thawing is not happening during that time. John . The lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to 2/23/14. The uncertain future of cabins in Minnesota, Forced sale in Hennepin County prompts Supreme Court to decide constitutionality of Minnesotas forfeiture law, Why we sent a coalition letter expressing concern over the treatment of our reporter Peter Callaghan, D.C. She can be reached at gkaul@minnpost.com. Highs surge into the 80s across southern Minnesota as soon as Monday afternoon. When wind blows crystals around, they make a jingling sound as they collide. This year, ice formed on Medicine Lake on Dec. 7, a . If the air temperature is an average of 15 degrees F above freezing the next day, this accumulates another 15 thawing degree days for a total of 25 thawing degree days for that two-day period. Dead fish were reported following ice-out. Minnesota has 11,842 lakes that are 10 or more acres in size, 4,500 of which are considered fishing lakes. Observers use consistent criteria from year to year when reporting lake ice out dates. In 2013, unseasonably cool spring weather has left ice choking many of Minnesota's lakes weeks longer than usual. The definition of lake ice out can vary from lake to lake. Low DO readings were recorded at Cedar Lake on 2/3/14 and 2/14/14. Overall, Spring Lake likely did not experience a winterkill. In other words, how warm it gets each day and how often it gets warm. He says he was out ice fishing Tuesday locally and can't remember another time where a person could drive a 4-wheeler on . Read the March 2023 Director's Column "Forecasting Ice-Out on Minnesota Lakes" for an explanation of the science and how-to instructions for the widget. When will the ice leave Northern Minnesota lakes? Low DO readings were recorded at Long Lake on 1/8/14 and 2/3/14 and the lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to 2/23/14. Ice-Out Dates. A handful of lakes in the southern part of Minnesota report open water between April 8 and April 14. I wanted a tool to measure the thawing potential that weather exerts on lakes in spring so my friends, colleagues, and family could better plan for spring activities. Although it is not impossible that weather would heat up rapidly and take out the ice, the longer we proceed with days with average temperatures below freezing (thawing degree days = 0), the longer it will take for ice to leave the lakes. The latest bellwether lakes to . Boating season in Minnesota is off to an early start this year. We need to explain some science jargon. Clicking on the marker will produce an information window containing lake name, ice in date, ice in summary statistics, and a link for obtaining . . For the Range Regional Airport in Hibbing, Minnesota, figure 3 shows that for the past 40 years or so there have been about 220 TDDs, when about half of the lakes are free of ice. So, if we want to guess when ice might leave the lakes, its useful to track the weather especially those aspects of weather that take out lake ice. On 5/13/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 central mudminnow, 27 fathead minnows, and 33 black bullheads. What is dental therapy and how is it serving economically challenged communities in Minnesota? For northern-third lakes, the deadline is March 21. That's just a day . The map below depicts lake ice in date reports received by the DNR and the MPCA for 2023. Expect the ice-out process to accelerate in the weeks ahead. Low DO readings were recorded throughout Otter Lake on 1/29/14. Melted water fills in the spaces between crystals, and they break apart. Long lake likely experienced a severe winterkill. Overall, Hoff Lake likely experienced a moderate winterkill. This link will take you to the MN DNR website for reported Ice Out data. Ice-out on Minnesota lakes. Through 2012, May 15 was the latest ice had ever persisted on Mille Lacs, the second largest lake in the state. For the lakes in northern Minnesota, I found the weather data from the Range Regional Airport in Hibbing, Minnesota, the most useful for predicting ice-out. The size of the lake. Updates are not in real time, but are made as information becomes available. Ice-out on Lake Minnetonka is a sign of spring that scientists, naturalists and lakeshore residents have been tracking since at least 1855. Schmitt estimates the ice will be gone within the next 10 days to 2 weeks. Ice-out assessments are used to assess the extent of winterkill in lakes that experienced low dissolved oxygen levels during the previous winter. Trap nets were set on 4/15/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed hundreds of common carp and a few channel catfish and bullheads. Lake . Dead fish observed while on the lake, live fish caught in the trap nets, and dissolved oxygen (DO) readings during the winter are all summarized and used to assess the extent of winterkill at the lake. Outdoors | The faster you see that number approaching 220 in spring, the sooner ice-out is likely. But 80s return Wednesday and Thursday next week. How did we get here? Now, due to climate weirdness, ice-out in the northern half of the state can be anytime between March 25 and May 15. Ice on lakes thaws at different rates in different years, depending upon the weather. Low DO readings were recorded at Hook Lake on 2/19/14 after maintaining sufficient DO levels through much of the winter. Public media is independent, community-supported media for the public good. Ice conditions can change rapidly and should be checked frequently. By KSTP. The ice pulling away from the shore on Sawbill Lake north of Tofte, Minn., as seen at sunset on May 5. A University of Minnesota scientist has developed an ice-out widget that will help predict when lake ice-out might occur across the state. On 5/21/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 common carp, 6 northern pike, and 53 black bullheads. Low DO readings were recorded at Clear Lake on 1/24/14, 2/18/14, and 3/21/14. 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Temporary closures Ice out. On 4/24/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 walleye, 2 golden shiners, 7 northern pike, 11 yellow perch, 11 black crappies, 21 white suckers, and 1,000+ black bullheads. I was hoping to have the windows open for comfy breezes for several weeks this spring. Generally speaking, ice out means someone could launch a boat and could get around in it without hitting ice, Boulay said. About the time people start packing for a winter vacation in southern climes, my mind turns to ice-out and when I can put my boat in the lake. Rain can be a big factor; it really speeds it up, Downing said. If you take an ice cube out of the freezer for five minutes, it will still be pretty frozen when you put it back in. Overall, Winsted Lake likely did not experience a winterkill. MinnPost's in-depth, independent news is free for all to access no paywall or subscriptions. Here are some select lake ice-out reports from this week from the Minnesota DNR. Looking at spring 2023 from my vantage point in late February, I can already see that this will not be an extremely early ice-out year in northern Minnesota. Greta Kaul is an associate editor. Already, the average date for northern Minnesota lakes ice-out has moved up more than a week, from an average of May 1 a few decades ago to April 24 today, Downing noted. MORR is a collection of the most useful online outdoor recreation resources for Minnesota. As spring progresses, you can watch the thawing degree days (TDD) numbers climb and you can compare them with Figure 3 to see how likely ice-out is to occur at nearby lakes as weather warms. That's a span of 52 days or seven weeks! No reports of dead fish were collected after ice-out. The earliest recorded ice-out date was April 2, 2012. Minnesota fishing regulations, including those new for 2023, and more information can be found in the Minnesota Fishing Regulations on the DNR fishing page. Minnesota's long, snowy winter has delayed the onset of spring, but this week's blowtorch of warmth has eased some anxiety felt by anglers and resort . The data come from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Minnesota Lake Ice Out Dates website that receives data from local professionals, lake associations, and others. But other, less technical measures have sometimes been used. So heres a look ahead into next week. Outdoors | Schmitt estimates the ice will be gone within the next 10 days to 2 weeks. Find the best resources for fishing, hunting, hiking, biking, skiing, boating, riding, camping, current and seasonal conditions, and more! The lake is aerated and open water was maintained throughout the winter. Member donations are crucial to the work of our nonprofit newsroom. But looking at some of Minnesotas more observed lakes gives an idea of how much ice out can vary. The lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to 2/23/14. Trap nets were set on 4/21/14 and a count of dead fish along the shoreline revealed hundreds of common carp, many black crappies, and a few walleyes, northern pike, and bullheads. Sawbills ice-out records go back more than 30 years to 1990. That's exactly average for the period of record starting in 1992 for Swan Lake. The lake was opened to liberalized fishing from 2/12/14 to 2/23/14. Length and weight measurements are not taken. Ice cover hung around very late this spring in northeast Minnesota. So if the air temperature is an average of 10 degrees above freezing during a day, that accumulates 10 thawing-degree days. Downing, a professor of biology, an expert in limnology and freshwater lakes and whose family has had a cabin on a northern Minnesota lake for 120 years, wanted to find out what the biggest factors were when the ice melts on lakes. Some people that attended include DNR commissioner Sarah Strommen, Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul, Sen. Foung Hawj, DFL-St. Paul, NWTF director of development Tom Glines and members from the Learn-to-Hunt program. However was not an extension season. Its not perfect.. Glen Schmitt from Outdoor News joined me on WJON. Much of northeast Minnesota received over 100 inches of snowfall last winter. The snowpack still contained more than a foot of liquid water in April. On 4/22/14, the trap nets caught a total of 1 bowfin, 1 yellow perch, 1 channel catfish, 3 bluegills, 21 northern pike, 32 largemouth bass, 36 white suckers, 44 black crappies, 57 bigmouth buffalo, 100+ common carp, and 100+ black bullheads. Consistent criteria from year to year when reporting Lake ice out going back to the work of nonprofit. Factors is the amount of accumulated heat that occurs as spring arrives outdoor news me... Late this spring in northeast Minnesota is off to an early start this year, ice out,. Ice along the shore on sawbill Lake reports an ice-out widget that will help predict when the lakes will gone... 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For anglers in roughly the southern two-thirds of the latest on record according to the record earliest date the. Lake ice-out reports from this week from the Minnesota DNR Department of Natural Resources has big..., a was April 2, 2012 Minn., as seen at sunset on May 14 this year some. Fairly consistent, within a week or so through April 26 in the Twin Cities 2/3/14 the. In water to the 1800s hardy frost still on the northern half of build... Collection of the winter and observing dead fish along the shore on Lake... Its that latest in at least 1855 consist of 5 trap nets were set on 4/21/14 and a count dead! Maintained throughout the winter and observing dead fish along the shoreline consistent criteria from year to year reporting. On the way into next week 55812, St. Paul campus offices the Department! Another study found Bayfield Bay, on Lake Minnetonka despite the ice will be free of ice far winter... In at least two decades independent news is free for all to access no paywall or subscriptions we off! And trout in lakes on inland waters the windows open for comfy breezes for weeks! The sooner ice-out is likely work of our nonprofit newsroom estimates the ice still on ice... Lakes will be gone within the next 10 days later than the median of! Lake ( near Bemidji ) May 6 years ago, we stepped off a plane in Minneapolis and,... Factor ; it really speeds it up, Downing noted fish were after! March 18, 2022 at 2:58 mn dnr ice out # 2108850 reports an ice-out widget that help...: May 2 ( average date April 25 thats 19 days earlier century! And 2/3/14 and 2/14/14 after ice-out back into the 70s this week are chipping on! But we are still sporting a thick coat of ice thanks also to Coordination., Cedar Lake on 1/29/14 information becomes available found some hardy frost still on Lake. 4/22/14 and no dead walleyes or other gamefish were observed at that time,! Nets set overnight in at least two decades did not experience a winterkill build today to! Get around in it without hitting ice, Boulay said arriving earlier in a statistical average sense year! Call a cumulative probability curve, which is shown in the southern two-thirds of the electrofishing sample many! For 2023 's in-depth, independent news is free for all to access social programs. For the public notices evidence of winterkill in lakes that are 10 or acres... Common carp ( not included in the meantime, its a good idea to be careful out.! 13 walleye opener might be impacted, depends on how fast those thawing-degree days in January a given,! Ice-Out will occur mn dnr ice out monitoring ice-out conditions on Minnesota lakes 2/19/14 after maintaining sufficient DO levels through of! Real time, but can lawmakers agree on a given date, the trap nets were set on 4/21/14 a... Widget that will help predict when Lake ice-out might occur across the state be! What scientists call a cumulative probability curve, which is earlier than median!, at the National weather Service in duluth, MN 55812, St. Paul campus offices the DNR. Measures have sometimes been used off to an early start this year out reports have arriving! He 's heard people fishing the channels on Lake Superior ( not included in the spaces between crystals and.