Spring Thaw

This picture was taken on March 22nd, It's French Narrows looking North @ Dorian Isl.Since then the open water has quadrupled in size.Not as many Geese hanging around as in past Springs.Took the truck off the ice on 17th,plane is still on ski's but not enough ice @ shoreline to support her on and off the dollie.Took quad off on 23rd and as of the 25th I will not walk on ice.On the surface it appears melting has stalled,but is eroding from underneath. Killed 1st mosquito on 23rd.When I get the call that ice is out on Laurensons Lake I will do another post as we open 1 week later.The Prop Shop is going to do a good business this year with low levels!!

Ice

Made our trip to Bare Point in Sidekick on 19th with no problems.Then 24hrs later covered the same area by quad and there were 8-12" diameter holes in the road. This morning will be our last quad trip to Bare Point as we have to build a bridge to get from shore to ice.The ice has lifted and eroding fast from underneath at Landings.
We fished(slow and only small ones) the Elbow with 16" ice,French Narrows had 14" and Andrew Bay only had 10". The surface is honeycomb and some areas of old ice road it is like driving on cobblestone.
In Moore Bay you could troll from the quad along ice road in places.
I'm with Peter-boating by April 7th.
There is a pair of Snow Geese hanging around French Narrows, and a bumble bee was buzzing around us while fishing.Also seen a butterfly.

End of Winter

With past weeks warm weather and heavy rain on 12th all the snow has melted off the ice and sunny all week the ice has turned black and getting mushy. Eroding both from underside and top side.
I took the truck off 16:00 on 17th,This is the earliest for us. Will travel with Sidekick today and tomorrow and then quad after that??
Geese arrived on 16th as well as black flys, Seagulls,Golden eye ducks and Grackles on 16th .
Coming through Dorian Marsh at dusk last night I counted 5 beavers on the ice-first time seeing that.
The coons have been here every night cleaning up the birdseed underneath the feeders,making lots of noise and giving the cat a hard time.
At the rate we are going should be boating in April.
This picture was taken on 13th North side of Dorian Marsh from the truck-showing ice road.