South Shore Ice Report: Digging Out Nicely

By all accounts, you'd have to give South Shore Resort Owners and Ice Fishing Access folks at least a B+ for their efforts to move snow and open accesses and roads for anglers to get out this week.

Here's the rub on the lake. With the way the ice set up, there are jagged chunks everywhere on the main lake, making for some pretty treacherous plowing operations. Everywhere I went, I was allowed to drive my 1/2 ton Sierra 1500 onto the ice (at 10 mph) to check things out and take the photos you see below.



I visited Brandt's, Walleye Dundee's, Chapman's, Lyback's and Hunter Winfield's on Wednesday afternoon and offer this report.

Lyback's certainly has the largest amount of roads plowed. Eddie and Ryan Norell have combined to use a pair of 1966 Ford F250s (V-plow and Straight Blade) along with a Bomdardier with Disc plow to break ice ice, beat back drifts and get four-well plowed roads in nearly all directions from their landing. They are out more than 2 miles and all the way to Banana Reef. They have about 25-30 houses out in their sector. Ramp Access Fee $10/day or $40/week.

Both Chapman's and Hunter Winfield's appear to have teamed to conquer the Isle Bay network of roads and beyond. In talking with Tim Chapman, he said they have more than six miles of plowed roads. They also have 14-plus inches of ice in most areas. Ramp Access fee for both is $10/day. There are many houses out in Isle Bay.

Walleye Dundee's has cleared a single road with offshoots to Half Moon Island area. They also charge $10/day ramp fee. There are a large cluster of houses out on the bay area.

Jerry Brandt has cleared his access area and developed a sled/ATV trail from the access all the way out to Sloppy Joes. There is plenty of ice in this area but the vehicle highway has not yet been developed.

In all, expect to be able to drive light vehicles onto the ice across the south shore this weekend and emplace your portables and smaller wheelhouses. As always, check with resort owners and access folk before driving onto the ice.