I asked a few weeks ago about the ice conditions on lil bay. its only 2 weeks before our anual trip up there, and was wondering if these cold nights have helped my prayers of growing ice.
we have 9 or 10 of us coming up from cadillac and will have to be making plans for bringing quads if ice continues to stay at the "Holy $#!+, that guys driving out there" state.
any help will as always be greatly appreciated.
...btw, that is one DAMN fine perch (14"er)! And seeing those 30+ inch walleyes really makes me regret not weighing my 32"er shown on my icon.
At this time, there is plenty of good ice from Gladstone north for driving vehicles with the best access being the Vagabond Resort (IMO). Just have to watch out for the heaves and cracks. I have seen a couple vehicles on the ice in front of the Gladstone Yacht Harbor too, but that ice in the narrows changes so fast from the current eating away at it from the bottom, I would not drive out there or anywhere south of Gladstone. The current will continue to get stronger from here on in the narrows pretty much regardless of what the weather does because the sun is so strong now that snowmelt is adding to the rivers just about everyday which increases the current in the narrows. It will really depend on what kind of weather we have between now and when you come up as to what you need to bring. I have not been off the Escanaba River, but a friend just told me today there is about 8 inches down there. No ice south of Escanaba. At least nothing you should be fishing on (IMO).
South of the river there just isnt enough ice for much of anything.. except maybe in close by the lighthouse.. and I mean close.
Seems to me, pressure cracks are whats inhibiting truck traffic in most places north of the Esky river. "From the west side of the bay anyway" I measured 15" solid near east bank off the Terrace yesterday but again.. Pressure cracks..which seem to be everywhere.. I wouldnt be crossing them with a truck.
2 weeks is a long time though so things WILL change alot between now and then. Seems the cracks are changing daily.
Thanks guys. This info is very helpful. I'm sure I will b asking again in 7-10 days. Catman, I'll be up w Edberg and will prob b seeing u or bro at shop unless ur peeling cod skin ;). Good luck fishing and be safe.
Yes kenny finally retired. Although the dumbass took another job about 30 secs after we kicked him out of the dept (just kidding ken). Now he spends his days staring at college chicks....wait a min is that a bad thing????