Guys, why is it every year everyone is in such a rush to go ice fishing? Is catching 0-6 walleyes a night really that big of a deal that you would risk your life? I have done the Little Rock deal for years. Yes, early ice can be decent at times. I have also gone out there on 2-3 inches of ice back in my young unintelligent years many times before and only caught little perch. Yes, I risked falling through the ice to catch perch! I don't like the upcoming forecast at all, and that is the only reason why I'm responding to this thread. I have fallen through the ice on Little Rock. This is almost the exact same scenario when it happened. Got really cold and the lake froze over only to have high winds to make the lake freeze inconsistently in a matter of feet. And then warmer weather followed which really caused issues. I would not be alive today if it weren't for my brave friend who helped me out. I know there will be people out there on 2" of ice and I bet you half of them don't even catch a walleye. What's the point?

us die hards will do everything possible to get out.

I won't get out there until the ice is strong enough to hold Icehawk.

Sure Aron put the big guy out first HAHAHA! Seriously as far as ice conditions most lakes includeing the chain are iced over (just froze over 2 days ago) but there is still some open pockets. They are predicting some warmer weather for next week not good, but it wont be long untill the ice is safe. Just remeber we all need to be paitent as no fish is worth risking our lives. Common sense is the best practice for first ice adventures!

Aron should be a good catfish bite this winter couldn't keep them off this fall fishing eye's!!! Seen you on the hardwater!

I saw a portable yesterday on Lower Spunk in Avon but I don't think it will be a good idea quite yet with temps near 40 on Sunday.

PS
Stay away from my geese, they need to fly over and say hi to my SBEII tomorrow.

Do feel bad Chris. Usually when I go out they send out the big guy with the Artic Armor. Me on both counts.

People fishing on Cove Bay on Mille Lacs, Little Rock & Briggs. Hope they have life jackets. I think a turkey is much better this time of year!!

Some guys on Becker and Schneider The ice is a little skinny for me yet!

IceHawk...just send Donny out first!!!! Hope all is well. Looking forward to your reports and some hardwater action.

Pleasant Lake only had about 1 inch just out from the shore on Sunday Morning, lot's of open water still near the point and outside the supper club.

PLease don't throw rocks out on to the ice in front of the landing tgo "see" if it's "thick enough" if you want to know use a spud bar, i'm sick of picking large rocks of the ice that can dull augers and cause accidents if they freeze in solid.

I went and looked at pearl a couple days ago and it actually looked pretty good. the whole lake was covered. when i walked out a little bit the ice looked to be about 2 inches(didnt measure though). I didnt want to walk out too far but does anyone know if anyone has fished pearl since it has been hard?

I have been out on most of the local St. Cloud area lakes.

Out of the Briggs/Elk/Julia chain, the most promising so far has been Julia. Briggs and Elk have very limited access to spots. 2 inches or less in most of it due to wind.
I have been fishing on Julia the past 3 days, and yesturday I didn't come by a spot with less than 3.

I also checked out Pearl, and it did not look good. You can walk out about 20 feet on 3 inches of ice, but after the snowline the ice gets very thin due to wind pushing it all up into the access area.

I'd say your best bet is to wait it out a week or so and check again. But if you do go out make sure you have your spud bar, and check the ice every so often.

Be Safe!