Minnesota Predictions....early ice out???
 

Yo Minnesota Crew! Can you beielve this weather! I was in Cali last week riding and thought that I would have to wait months before I could get my MN shred on but with weahter we might be out riding soon. 50s-60-70s for as far out as they are predicting the weather! Who says global warning is a bad thing! What are the ice reports around the state, has anyone spotted any open water yet? I moved up to Grand Rapids last fall and all the lakes are for the most part still covered in ice, but the lake we live on the shore line is starting to pull way. This morning there was about 10-15 between the shore and the ice. I can feel it coming soon, MN wakeboarding will be ON! We never really had a super thick Ice cover this winter either, most of the time when I was fishing the ice was between 18-24 inches thick. My neighbor told me that last week the ice was only about 12-18 inches thick when he was out fishing. God I hope its gone soon!

Just wanted to spread some stoke!

whats global warning?

Looking forward to my first season as an MN rider! I'm going crazy waiting for the ice to clear. I heard they are predicting White Bear Lake to be clear by March 25, but I don't know where to check for myself so don't know if its true.

Crossing fingers that we may be riding this weekend.:D

I picked the 17th in the MWMC contest. That's first lake out here.

Lou are you in the wbl area?

out on marion in Lakeville, the "old man" I rent a dock space from said the center of the lake barely froze over this year. When I was out there over a moth ago it was open water about 50 feet out from shore in the whole center of the lake.

I have been saying March 15th for the past couple of months. The low tonight is only supposed to get down to 50 so we could see it this weekend...Hoping my prediction is correct.

@Andy - yup, I'm in Lino Lakes

I was out today in chest waders drilling holes with the auger and spreading sand to melt the ice faster. We've got about 5 feet of open water on the shores here in Maple Grove. I'm with Tuneman here, in all seriousness I might be riding this weekend!

FWIW - Our 350 acre lake in central Wisco is about 50% open, just a few big sheets that move around based off the wind ... I'm hoping to be 90-100% by this Sunday

friends are riding in wetsuits today in Grand Rapids (MI). Looks like it should be trunking season by early next week. Strange weather this year

GANGSTAR you gave me a heat attack for a second when I saw Grand Rapids until I realized it was MI!

78 degrees on Friday for the Twin Cities!

hoping for this weekend. Lake Sarah never froze over this year. If i get out this weekend that means i went 2 weeks between sledding and skiing/wakeboarding in two weeks. Not bad.

If anybody around the Twin Cities area is going this weekend, I'd love to join in if you have room. I'm good for gas $$, driving, launching, cleaning, whatever you need.

Any lakes around the NW side of the cities opening up this weekend??? I think Fish Lake in Maple Grove is normally pretty early???

Fish goes out early. It's black and pulling away from the shores. I think most of the stuff will be at 50-100% out by the weekend end. Suppose to be high 70's all weekend.

When I lived in SoCal I pulled off the triple threat once! We Surfed at first light, then wakeboarded from about 9:30 to 11:30. Hopped in the car and busted arse to Mt. High before last chair! It was epic.


The lake on live on in Grand Rapids, just turned black over night! We're close!

Eagle is looking about the same. I'm thinking Sunday might be the day to go, but I can keep everybody updated. Charlie do you usually ride in the NW?

From my buddy's facebook (he lives in Madison)
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...01194165_n.jpg

Mississippi is open north of the coon rapids damn, and water is set at summer levels..... have at it.

Mississippi River south of Red Wing has been open ALL winter long. Went winching last weekend and will bring out the jetski this weekend.

Jordan- Yeah, We live out in Buffalo and normally ride on Lake Pulaski. We come down to Fish Lake in Maple Grove if that opens up before Pulaski. Also hit Minnetonka occasionally.

....and we're in
http://sphotos.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-...31687891_n.jpg

Nick i am so jealous!!!!!!! Dude

Nick, that is awesome! Boat in by St. Patrick's Day, unreal.

Put in some hours digging holes in the ice today. I believe we will be in either tonight or tomorrow, this water is clearing literally by the minute!

I'm guessing tomorrow AM Sarah will be open. Same as the above pictures. Hope the wind stays up tonight.

Took this today around 6. Riley out in EP went from 25% open on saturday morning to about 90% open today. Time to get shreddy....

Halsteads Bay is 100% open:) The rest of Minnetonka will be ice free within a couple of days.

Update for Eagle in Maple Grove. We rode today. First people in on the lake, even beat the fisherman. First set I went in a drysuit, but decided it was nice enough out, and switched into a shorty. No gauge for temperature, but the first time I fell I went into shock for a bit. ALWAYS WEAR A LIFE JACKET.

We went out with John Tietz yesterday. Ice finally cleared the lake at about 2pm. It was actually pleasant out there. Didn't get the frozen fingers or toes like we typically would in March or even April. A few pics...

Ice left Sarah yesterday, i told my wife i'm going to go prep the boat so a buddy and myself could hit the lake in the evening... And I got a list of other stuff to do instead. Baby comes tomorrow, i guess getting a set in wasn't top priority. Goal is still to get out in March one time though.

I have serious respect for yall...i just stopped wearing my heater top and water temp is 78 degrees lol

Glad to hear ur ice has cleared though.

I seriously think we have just as long of a season as some of the southern states for the fact we are willing to jump in the same day the ice is off.

Jay and Becca... wetsuits... now thats pushing it. I woulda went dry suit!

Finally got ahold of pictures from Sunday. Had some fun using chunks of ice as sliders and obstacles:D

Who had the Nautique out on Fish Lake today? I'm back from Cali and the first thing I see is people out there shredding in my backyard!

^snowlider76 and tburt, probably a lot of man on man hugging and butt slapping happening on said nautique

we shredded Riley today in EP, its money being the only boat on the water.... totally worth being in cold water.

IN A SHORTY COME ON! That NUTS!!!

My guess would be Burton on Fish with the Nautique. White/Black...

Yep the Fish Side Riders (FSR) made it out all weekend lol.

don't forget about a few of use west siders that were there!

West Metro Riders then? WMR

Just got my boat out of storage and planning to hit Bald Eagle on Saturday with the family. Anybody else going to be out there?

Trying owasso on sunday ...

have you guys ever rode when lake was 40 degrees with only wet suit on or do you always wear a dry suit

Drysuit for me, I don't even want to know what 40 degrees feels like in a wetsuit. But if you look at the pics above, obviously it can be done.

I don't have an official temp, but I wore I shorty in what was ~40 water last week. But I'm just a kid out to do stupid things while my body still holds together, which won't be long at my rate..

If anyone needs a 3rd/nth on Fish Lake let me know, I'm down to ride pretty much anytime during the week as long as I'm not out of state for work (blah blah gas, drive boat, blah blah :D ).

How is the landing at Fish / Eagle lakes in Maple Grove? I drove over to the landing at Fish and it seemed a bit sketchy. The slab was all shifted and it looked really shallow just past the landing. Does anyone have any tricks / tips to that landing? I just moved from Bloomington to the northwest burbs 610 & 169 area. I used to ride Prior but don't want to make that drive and want something close to home. What other options do I have without driving too far? Thanks for your input.

No idea about fish, but I live on Eagle and I just helped put a v230 in last week with no problems whatsoever. Super clean, in and out and youre done. There isnt a dock to walk out onto, just a shallow sandy area you can pull onto to get back into the boat. Personally I love Eagle! Not too shallow, never too busy, and if there is traffic it is fisherman anchored off in the weeds! If you decide come out, shoot me a PM with some info and maybe we can ride!

Fish is a big part of our crews home lake. Legit water to the shape and it being N/S.

Smith and Burton will give you the 4-1-1 on the launch. They launch a newer XStar and new 210 on Fish 4-5x a week each. Shouldn't be issues.. It's never been the prettiest launch but it's worth it to be on a protected lake that isn't a fishbowl.

Jeff, what do you mean by N/S?

North / South

pretty sure Jeff means North/South. Fish has relatively high banks and it's configuration means it's usually protected from the wind. Nice place to ride. I had a blast when I went out with those guys....super fun crew!

Hey Chad, we'll have to shred the WFC again this summer, I'm getting up next weekend to get the docks and lifts in.

Fish Lake launch is do-able at best right now, up from last fall, I smoked three props last September/October.. Either make sure your crew is at the launch when you put the boat in or pick them up at the fishing dock. Don't try to pick up off the launch dock right now. Worst is right behind the launch where all the power loading has stirred up rocks, other then that area it's all muck bottom, shallow but fine.

If you see a black and orange Xstar or white and black Natique say what up.

I mean picking up people with full ballast is sketchy at the launch dock, empty is just a small roll of the dice.

Jason, I'd love to get a few sessions in up at WFC this summer! My schedule still sucks, Monday-Tuesdays off, but I'll be up July 1-10 and 21-24 besides my usual weekends. You know Sunday nights are usually butter, so if you have a long weekend, hit me up! Good to hear from ya.

Thanks for the help guys. I made it 2 years without banging up my prop so I hope I can keep it that way with your help. If I see either of those boats I'll pull up and introduce myself. I've got an older Yellow Centurion Elite V, normally all loaded up port for surfing but I love getting my wake sets on too.

I just rode today in saskatchewan, canada... water temp at 42 degrees... was amazing the only boat out, though it was cold as hell haha. i was quite warm in my wetsuit other than my hands freezing.. they actually hurt up to half a hour of being out of the water. had to get a rip in before the boat goes for some work! perfect pass and new prop on my old ski nautique! haha

Chad - hit me up with a text or a FB message if you get the boat in town and want to ride south metro. I'm in Lakeville now (I live across the street from a dude you worked with at Farmington ATC actually).. Bryce has his boat down here too (Marion'ish) so we will keep you in mind as a third when we're riding.

Jeff, The boat is up at the WFC for the summer, but I may have it down here in Aug-Sept. I'm ALWAYS up for a pull, schedule permitting, and you know I'm good for gas, bev, driving, etc. Thanks for keeping me in mind!

april 16th in nisswa!

Sinko, that was probably my Nautique. PM me if you ever want to ride. We get out on fish regularly.