Cracks on Winter's Hold

It has been a long winter. Our lakes are still ice covered and plans for the fishing opener this weekend have been cancelled. The "Opener" is a serious event for anglers and there is a small group who are pushing to have it recognized as an official State Holiday. The only thing that we will have going for "Opener" this year is that you can fish through the ice with two lines.


We are starting to get phone calls from people who want to know if they should cancel their canoe trips scheduled for the Memorial Day weekend. Our wholesaler called and jokingly asked if we needed to place an order for bait. One of our local groups is even planning an ice boat regatta for this June.    

Actually, we are starting to see some signs that winter is over. The ice along the north shore of Poplar Lake is no longer tight to the shore. The bark on the younger aspens is starting to turn green. The Robins are back and we have even had a Red-Winged Blackbird at our feeder.  We'll have the water on to the bunkhouse next Thursday when the Border Route Trail crew will be staying with us.

                              

May 7th -- Open water on Poplar Lake

May 9th. -- Ice and Fog on Poplar Lake

I have gone to bed thinking that the lake will not open of another week only to have awakened to the sound of waves. Lake ice conditions can change fast once it starts to turn black and warmer water starts to drain into the lake. Our best advice for people who are planning an early May canoe trip is to call before you start heading north.