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THUNDER BAY — With the start of the walleye season less than three weeks away, some area anglers are wondering if they'll be confronted by ice when they arrive at their favourite fishing spot.
At Lac des Mille Lacs, there was still 40 inches (100 centimetres) of ice last week when it was measured with a power auger.
"Without an extension, they couldn't get all the way through," says Ken Wing.
Wing manages an access point at Shacks Landing.
He said ice-out this year "is going to be really close" to the Victoria Day weekend when the walleye season opens.
"It depends on how warm the weather gets, whether it re-freezes at night or not. I won't make a prediction but it's going to be close. I'll say that."
Wing explained that if it's mild enough to melt the blanket of snow that's currently insulating the ice, then the sun can get at the dark ice and "it doesn't take long to honeycomb and rot out quickly."
He said "we've still got all white snow on top. It's covered and it has to go before things start to break down."
Starting Wednesday, daily high temperatures in the Upsala area are predicted to climb into the double-digits and remain there at least through next Monday.
