Early Spring Means $$$ at Mille Lacs

Fiddlestix Golf Course in Isle was open April 1st. Izatys opened its operation the same day and its golf course is scheduled to open April 16. With this unseasonably warm weather, it seems folks are getting out and coming to Mille Lacs a bit earlier than normal. It appears that Mille Lacs ice-out should occur this week. The satellite view shows about 1/3 of the lake has ice on it and with the winds of today through Wednesday, it should be gone. People are thinking about getting their boats out of storage, uncovering their winter patio furniture and raking their yards. Let's just hope Mother Nature doesn't send us back into the lows 40s and pound us with April Showers now. For the readings in Cove Bay, the Mille Lacs lake level is about 10.70 which is about the same as it was on December 6th before ice over. Normally the lake level is up a fair amount, so we probably could use some well-timed rain this month. Expect to see Tribal netters on the lake as soon as the ice is off. The nice thing about the early ice is that these netters should be off the lake for at least two weeks prior to the May 15th fishing opener.