Lake is not open yet still some ice hanging on

 This is the Route Rob used to get around ice, he left Devils Gap destination Hay Island. Go Past Galt Island and West side Town Island toward North Side Scotty’s. There was ice around Galt but clear after that to Hay Island. There is still ice South French Narrows and East towards Yellow Girl, also Manitou has ice. Today I went through Moore Bay through Eagles Pass and into Bigstone. No ice along this Route. With the price of gas I won’t be going out again until Wednesday heading to Barepoint. This is 2 nd longest spring break up in 20 years. This will be last spring post for this season, safe boating enjoy the season .

May 10 th update

 French Narrows,Andrew Bay, Pipestone,Moore Bay, all ice free, I made it as far as Rocky Narrows it’s a solid sheet in the whole surrounding area into Barepoint and as far East into Big Stone as I can see. The ice at Heaps point  doesn’t look all that strong ( what I drove into was only 1” thick) there is open water towards Camp Steven’s the Manitou is 1 big sheet ice stretching from Allen’s reef as far West as I can see.Im guessing should be gone by Tuesday ? This is a spring from H**ll as far weather.

Candled ic

Another cold gloomy morning,boathouse roof is white with snow. I was on East side of the day market a couple posts back, yesterday at 14:00 I picked up this piece of ice 200 yards to West same marker and by 17:00 all that ice gone! We are ice free between French Narrows and SE tip of Queer island, the Elbow is also clear ice, report there is open water on South side Hay Island West of Eagles Pass. Saw picture of a boat in Holstrom marsh., Flag is barely moving this morning, high +3 , cloudy only 14 km wind  so not best forecast for melting ice.

Couple additions

 I forgot to mention Laurenson Lake is open as well Malachi, they both open around same time , when this happens we are anywhere from 2 to 8 days behind them. Loons have been back for couple weeks, yesterday say first Robin and Pelican, Sunday I killed couple skitters. Friends in Bigstone said open water in front their place, ice pushed up onto Hay Island., I’ll be out in boat later today when we warm up to our forecast high plus 2, the snow I mentioned in previous post well gravel paths white !

Big changes due to wind

 

At 17:00 Monday I couldn’t get more than couple hundred yards from our dock, ice was candled and 6” thick. An hour later strong South winds had large chunks ice drifting past our dock, also 1/8” rain. Then during night the strong gusty North West wind picked up and by morning we were ice free to North..This picture is the day marker at Bald Island, from here I travelled North into Andrew Bay open water almost all way to Queer Island, the wind blew most night but has let up this morning, it’s currently-2c and snowing 

The crack to East Allie

 The crack I use as a guide appeared at 16:00 May 01, this is the 3 rd latest date in 20 years.With minus temperatures at night we are still making ice in mornings. Our water intake is 10-15’ deep yesterday water temperature was +4c , still leaning towards May15-16. I lowered a boat yesterday and have her running ready to see how far I can get once the Narrows clear , approximately one week ? The water bomber was out flying around yesterday but not enough open water around Barrier Island to fill tank. About 10 years ago we had early spring and lots open water, bomber would pick up a load in The Elbow and his circuit brought him over our way and they were dumping tank on target South side East Allie, our own private air show. Actually worried we will have a fire ban if we don’t get some rain our island very dry.

On April 30 th In 2014 I could canoe across to East Allie without touching ice and lake was open May 19.

Today on April 30 There is still a little ice it looks honeycomb and with some wind should disappear in couple days. On morning of 28 th we made 1/4” ice on open water, tonight is colder at -5 so expect 3/8”ice to form ? On 26 th I went to Barepoint by ice boat and Strawberry was froze over , on 28 th she opened up approximately 150’ wide. There were a few small puddles of open water 5-6’ diameter on East side of Queer otherwise solid ice. The long range forecast has minus temperatures up till May 06 and warmest daytime is only 13,  lake level has risen close to 2” since opening around our dock. Normal height for this time of year but we have had very little precipitation. Hopefully make Barepoint by May 15-16 th ?
 

 

Ice

 This is the channel I spoke about, when a crack develops that I can canoe across without touching ice it averages 14 days to Barepoint.

Spring ,2026

 This spring thaw is very similar to 2014 Spring, including cooler temperatures. We had more open water in 14 than we do today. In 14 we had more snow on island than this year. We were ice free May 19 in 2014 ,Working around docks yesterday in morning ice was dry and by 16:00 there were holes and flooded, but 20’ from shore still 30” thick. Yesterday was sunny,calm 14c, today is 20 with sun so expect to see shoreline open up. My guess is boating between May 12 to 19 ? Leaning closer to 19 th, I’ll have a better idea on April 30, that’s when I could canoe across to East Allie without touching ice and once that happens it averages 14 days till ice out.