Ice Conditions, Weather Reports, and More!

A full moon will be on display Sunday, so it’s sure to be an action-packed weekend. Everybody knows that a full moon brings out the crazy. It’s no different on the ice than it is in other places where many people, anglers in this case, frequent. This weekend will be especially busy as the frigid…

It’s hump day—not just for the week, but for the ice season as well. Logically, this would be about halfway through the ice season, with about a month and a half left for some Yooper Gold. The end of January felt like the February blues set in early. Every ice season has a cycle. First…

Ahhhh! 10 mph sustained winds and 25 mph gusts—all part of the adventure on Little Bay de Noc. Witnessing the weather change throughout the day on the Noc never gets old for me. Brilliant blue skies above and snow whipping across the ice appear as a fast-moving layer of fog. Pictures and even videos rarely…

Ice conditions on Little Bay de Noc can only be described as PERFECTION! So, what could possibly be said about the Bay that hasn’t been said in recent posts? Not much about the ice. How about the incredible number of fish that want nothing to do with what anglers are offering? Some fish are being…

At midnight, it was -21°. By noon, temperatures had risen to a high for the day 30° warmer. That’s a pretty significant jump in just 12 hours. That constitutes a heat wave in my world. It’s amazing how comfortable 10° feels after the bitter negative temperatures of the last few days. Ice gained at least…

This morning, shortly after 6 o’clock, the -15° air was nipping at my cheeks, and I thought, “Wow, nobody is out here this morning.” Usually, by 6 a.m., machines are moving about the Bay en route to their spots. A little late, but prior to sunrise, 7 trucks—2 from the Red Gate access and 5…

“Extreme Cold Warning” sounds much better than “Dangerously Cold.” Ice fishing in “extremely cold” conditions requires a little more thought. Backup gloves are a must—maybe pack 3-4 pairs. Once they’re wet, it’s over. Cold hands can easily cause issues. Ever had hands so cold you couldn’t unzip the layers to pee? That’s a bad situation……

Double digit lows and single digit high temperatures in the extended forecast means making a lot of ice. We haven’t experienced a cold streak like this since 2019. Over the last five years we’ve lacked a good stretch of sub zero temperatures lasting longer than a day or two maybe a week, Expanding the ice…

Little Bay de Noc ice conditions are in prime shape. It’s been over 15 years since this vintage blue ice shack’s presence has graced the Bay. Extreme hard water habits have forced us to evolve many times over the years, pursuing fish from on top of the ice. From hubs and flips to hard-sided permanent…