We took our
first short ice walk on Lake Waconia today, 12/12/16. Despite the extreme cold, the snow we received
on Saturday and Sunday has stunted ice growth for now. We stopped our check after only walking out
about 50 to 75 yards from shore. Ice
thicknesses were in the 2-1/4 to 2-1/2” range, which is not enough for us to comfortably
continue. Unfortunately, snow is a great
insulator. We found that accumulations
were 6 to 9 inches and fluffy, which adds to the insulating factor hampering
ice growth. The weight of the snow is
not helping as it stresses the ice, diminishing its’ strength. Also, when you
punch a hole, water is forced up (there is no freeboard) creating a slushy area
which can cause its’ own set of problems for future ice growth. Due to the
minimal gains expected in the near future, we likely will not be updating again
until Thursday. Our bait shop will
remain closed until the lake is in better shape. Let’s all keep our fingers crossed we have
better information to report for our next update.
