At 8:00 am this morning we could have boated over to East Allie Island,by 9:00 am she started to skim over. The overnight low was -16c and the winds dropped to West @5kms.It is now noon with a light dusting of snow on the fresh ice. The Bay between our Island and East Allie towards the Narrows is ice covered as well as from our Island South to the next Island. The large area South of us is still open water with lots of steam, zero visibility.The next 2 nights have lows of -18c good for making ice,but this weekend's forecast is for plus temps with chance of rain! This has been a very cloudy fall with lighter than normal winds so we have been running the generator on a regular basis.

Yesterdays strong North winds dropped overnight and switched to South,When this happened the bay to our North froze. Still open South , The next time the winds drop is Nov. 28th and I expect the rest will freeze at that time. Moore Bay,Welcome Channel also froze during night

2012 /2013 Freeze Up

Welcome back for another "freeze up". On October 28th Laurenson Creek was froze from shore to shore,on 29th the boat traffic and broken it up down the center. The following are lake temp,dates of previous freeze ups. 2006--Date of reading Oct 31,Lake temp 4.5C,Lake froze Nov 23. 2007--Date of reading Nov 09,Lake temp 6 C,Lake froze Nov 27. 2008--Date of reading Oct 29,Lake temp 8 C,Lake froze Dec 05. 2009--Date of reading Nov 03,Lake temp 6 C,Lake froze Dec 08 2010--Date of reading Nov 07,Lake temp 6 C,Lake froze Dec 03 2011--Date of reading Nov 04,Lake temp 8 C,Lake froze Dec 04 2012--Date of reading Oct 27,Lake temp 5 C,Lake froze ?? With the cooler days and nights this season I am guessing an earlier freeze up.

Coney Island Bridge

The bridge to Coney is supposed to come out today-weather permitting???

On my way home this morning it looks like there may still be some ice in Manitou.

For everyone else boating East and South of there no ice.

Yesterday morning the lake was glass-temp was -3c and we made 1/4" ice. I had to boat over to Shammis Narrows travelling on the South side of the Barrier Islands and 50% of the water was covered in ice.That ice was gone later in the day. With today's East wind and rain in forecast that should take care of the last remaining ice in Manitou.

Boating Season

Made it all the way to Bare Point this morning and did not see any ice!!!!
However on the way home in the stretch between Bare Point and Hades we spotted a fox walking on the water?? as we got closer he was actually on a piece of ice the size of a football field,this had broken off from the Manitou.
There is still ice in the Manitou, but the rest of the lake is open!!!We heard there were 35 boats fishing in Keewatin Channel on 8th.
Turkey Vulchers are back but still no sign of the Loons yet.
The lake level has risen slightly-still a chore getting in and out of the boat from stationary dock.
Will be back for Fall Freeze up!!!

1st boat ride

This afternoon we launched boat to see how far we could get!!
Pushed through black/mushy/candled ice about 5" thick. The 2 Islands in picture are in a straight line between Bald Island and the Red/Green Bouys @ Square Island with a depth of 15' That is the NE tip of Queer at left corner of picture-had to turn around at the 2 Islands as ice was white and thicker-could not push through it-rode up on top.
We have -7c in forecast for a couple nights this week as well as cooler days but still think Bare Point by 14th.

Laurensons Lake

Ice is now gone on Laurensons Lake(This is 7 days earlier than the earliest recorded by our friend), Usually when this happens we can boat to Bald Island,Not so this year as the only open water around here is at our dock and across to East Allie Island,otherwise Black Ice all around.
The rule of thumb is we can boat to Bare Point within 7 days.But with no current this Spring,and cooler nights(made ice again last night and we were only-1c but calm).
Should make Bare Point by 14th. No pictures as not enough water for floats yet.