I hear the ice is black on most lakes. How soon ice out?

May 15th,

The ice has come off most lakes in southern Alberta in the last week roughly. I fished a lake this weekend that was iced over completely earlier in the week.

It was May 16th last year looks to be about the same this year. We had a rather mild winter but Spring kinda stalled out with very slow thaw. Hard frost every night so that helps with road conditions and culverts. Smelt are running on Lake Superior should run this coming weekend on Lake Nipigon.

Thanks good folks.

Wabigoon Lake is usually one of the first in your northern AOO. Thunder is one of the last, but a long term part time resident like you knows all that. Some of the local boys keep records of that very thing.

The lakes might be iced over again before I make it to NW Ontario. Good open water fishing good Canucks.

Ice went off Lake Nipigon yesterday—dipped a few smelt last night.

One of my old buddies sent me the picture of a nice pickerel his son caught in Thunder Lake. Said it was 31 inches long. Nice fish.

Be next year before you make it up here again for fishing. I think the Feds are milking this Covid crap for all it's worth and there is some talk the border is closed for "several more months".