Ice on Metro Lakes?

Mike W · Post by **Mike W** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 10:27 am

I see that WBL was frozen yesterday. Anyone checked out Goose Lake or any other smaller metro lakes for ice thickness?

Coach · Post by **Coach** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:00 am

Goose had a big hole in it, and a series of smaller ones, up until a couple of days ago. I wouldn't quite trust it yet.

-Coach

john g · Post by **john g** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 3:23 pm

despite Steve B's post on contrary weather, I'll go ahead and chime in on Cedar Lake (WI). we finally have a full 1100 acre glaze. the edges are 3-4". if the temps can keep making ice, we should be a week out, tops. that is, if I havent jinxed it with this post.

Tom L · Post by **Tom L** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 5:43 pm

Minnetonka Report:

The main bay on the Lower Lake is wide open. The following bays (that I can report on, others on Mtka are also ice covered) froze on Monday night & have 1" as of Wednesday noon.

Lower Lake:Wayzata Bay, Lafayette Bay

Upper Lake: Spring Park Bay & the bay surrounding Casco Point,

Carman Bay has 3" of ice with a couple of seams & duck holes. If they stay open tonite they may be clearly marked by snowfall on Thursday.

Wayzata bay, Cresent Beach, Spring Park Bay, accesses might be good by this weekend. Lydiard Swim beach access to Carman Bay is good right now, but the bay is dicey because of the open water near by. At Lydiard you have to walk in 1 block thru a gate. No direct vehicle access.

Crescent beach is a little known launch. It is a great winter launch with a large, flat, staging area and ample parking. It is .5 miles down Birch Bluff Rd off of Co Rd 19 about 2 miles S of Hwy 15 where they intersect in Navarre. Sailable in anything except East winds.

Everything has duck holes right now, so be careful, you could be skating on 3" and hit something that just froze the night before. Hopefully Crescent Beach, Spring Park or Wayzata Bay will be sailable by Saturday. I'll update Friday.

Here is a map of the Northern Upper Lake area: Lake Minnetonka

cp2616 · Post by **cp2616** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:17 pm

Hey the ice is too thin in NW Iowa but conditions for land are going to be ideal this weekend. We got 6" last night, 11" only 50 miles southeast of here. They are forcasting an additional 2"-3" tomorrow. Shouldn't melt anytime soon either. Winds are looking good for both Saturday and Sunday. I know you Minnesotans might cringe at the thought of heading south for snow, but if the ice is too thin you may want to consider it. You may not have to come this far either. How's Clear Lake, IA?

Casey

sven shady · Post by **sven shady** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 7:39 pm

otter's been frozen since last wednesday.

Tighe · Post by **Tighe** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 10:33 pm

if we don't get more snow in the next few days, you may have company this weekend Casey. keep us posted on conditions.

Eric S · Post by **Eric S** » Wed Dec 03, 2003 11:33 pm

I just read this after re-reading John's post on Buffalo Lake on http://www.iceboating.net/ This report is from Monday afternoon. I drove by Buffalo on Sunday before and after sailing sweed. The ice looked so good out there that I thought it couldn't be safe enough. I didn't see any sailors but on the way home there were many ice fisherman on the north shore. Let's Do It!!

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Buffalo Lake, Buffalo Minnesota
Submitted by 4695 on 12/01/2003 - 15:06

Buffalo Lake, Buffalo Minnesota

Dec 1, 1:30 pm local

I walked approximately 1/2 mile west from the public landing (Sturges Park) launch site.

In an effort to avoid the surplatives these conditions call for...
er... It's a 10!!! Never ever gets any better than this... WunderIce... Quicksilver...Optically Clear... Difficult to stand without spikes...

4.5" of see through ice... the top crystals are appx 18 - 24 inches in length.

Directions to the Huge Sailing Area on the lake... Sail to the center of the lake...sail 3/4 mile downwind to starting line... course shall be 1.25 miles... leaving us an ample start & safety area ...and plenty of lake beneath the weather shore...

hope that sums it up for ya...

Think Ice, heck no... it's here! Needless to say... the Western Challenge Regatta is ON for Buffalo. Carpe Diem!

4695