I tryed to set up at Wayzata beach and the 4-wheelers have ruts all over making it a very long walk out to get to smooth snow. My lines kept getting hung up on ice chunks making for a kitemare.
Tom L. hows the lake out by you Is spring park bay good or bad?
Dave
Wayzata beach
Moderator: MK
Re: Wayzata beach
There actually are 2 Tom L's on Tonka, (Tom Lowe & Tom Latcham) and we both live on the Upper Lake. I'm out of town since the storm so I can't report on conditions. Tom Latcham lives on Phelps so he has probably driven by SP Bay. Sounds like the heavy snow has created a slush fest that has now frozen. You probably need to get launched in a good wind and then head out away from the motorized traffic for some clean snow. Wayzata Bay being more heavily traveled by fisherman might not be optimal. If you can get out from Browns or Smiths bay on the main lake there might be some cleaner snow.
Access points 4,7,8
http://www.loweprofile.com/misc/tonkamap.htm
Access points 4,7,8
http://www.loweprofile.com/misc/tonkamap.htm
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tom_latcham
- Posts: 242
- Joined: Wed May 14, 2008 3:52 pm
Re: Wayzata beach
The upper lake froze over weeks before lower lake. So the snow cover and ice thickness is much better on upper lake.
I have been enjoying kiting Phelps, Spring Park and cooks bay as well as the rest of the main upper lake. Because the ice and snow cover was thicker before the big wet snow The slush lakes are much bigger and worse on the lower lake. The weight of the snow forces water through cracks and fish holes to the top of the ice where it floods vast areas creating a sticky slush lake on top of the ice. It will refreeze. We will have a nice base fresh snow on top will make it real nice. For better snow Stick to upper lake for now. Spring park boat landing works for any wind with south in it. For winds with a north component Cresent Beach in Tonka bay on East upper works good. Mound bay park on cooks bay is a good launch for wind with a e,sse or s. Al and Almas boat charters and night club is a good cooks bay launch for winds with west in them.
One final observation. The end of the last big storm was rain. The line between rain and snow moved from east to west and ran out of steam around the Carver Heneppin County line. Because of this Waconia has the best snow in the metro. I rode it Monday. Western Lake minnetoka snow is better than eastern lake. I have not been to the east side lakes. But I suspect the further east in the metro you go the worse the crust, ice and ruts will be. Waconia has less fish houses, snow mobile tracks, foot trafic ect. The snow was smooth fast and nice. Beware the lot was not plowed. I pulled down the hill into the lot and saw a stuck four wheel drive truck. I spent the first hour getting my car back out of the lot and onto the road. So I would not have to deal with a stuck car at the end of my session.
Tom Latcham
I have been enjoying kiting Phelps, Spring Park and cooks bay as well as the rest of the main upper lake. Because the ice and snow cover was thicker before the big wet snow The slush lakes are much bigger and worse on the lower lake. The weight of the snow forces water through cracks and fish holes to the top of the ice where it floods vast areas creating a sticky slush lake on top of the ice. It will refreeze. We will have a nice base fresh snow on top will make it real nice. For better snow Stick to upper lake for now. Spring park boat landing works for any wind with south in it. For winds with a north component Cresent Beach in Tonka bay on East upper works good. Mound bay park on cooks bay is a good launch for wind with a e,sse or s. Al and Almas boat charters and night club is a good cooks bay launch for winds with west in them.
One final observation. The end of the last big storm was rain. The line between rain and snow moved from east to west and ran out of steam around the Carver Heneppin County line. Because of this Waconia has the best snow in the metro. I rode it Monday. Western Lake minnetoka snow is better than eastern lake. I have not been to the east side lakes. But I suspect the further east in the metro you go the worse the crust, ice and ruts will be. Waconia has less fish houses, snow mobile tracks, foot trafic ect. The snow was smooth fast and nice. Beware the lot was not plowed. I pulled down the hill into the lot and saw a stuck four wheel drive truck. I spent the first hour getting my car back out of the lot and onto the road. So I would not have to deal with a stuck car at the end of my session.
Tom Latcham
Re: Wayzata beach
Thanks too both Tom L. For getting back to me.
Tom Latcham we met up on Cooks bay about 2.5 weeks ago I was flying a yellow and black T2 9m and was driving the white van on a Monday afternoon. The night you were flying from bay to bay I was driving around trying to find you. The full moon is coming up we should ride and howl at the moon. Maybe the other Tom will be back in town and will join us.
Dave
Tom Latcham we met up on Cooks bay about 2.5 weeks ago I was flying a yellow and black T2 9m and was driving the white van on a Monday afternoon. The night you were flying from bay to bay I was driving around trying to find you. The full moon is coming up we should ride and howl at the moon. Maybe the other Tom will be back in town and will join us.
Dave