Algonquin Adventures / 2018 Ice Out Predictions?

**Posted by vanslyke** 4/26/2018 8:53 am

AlgonquinLakes wrote:
MartinG wrote:
Reply 200!
I feel like we’re going to be at 300 before the ice actually goes out. If anyone needs me I’ll be on Opeongo with a hairdryer.

Just go out and light a bunch of big fires all over the ice. Get some holes in that cheese!

**Posted by Coureur des Biere** 4/26/2018 12:43 pm

Sean, ATV, Gord

I know everyone on here is very appreciative of your optimism/realism/experience and first hand reports of whats going on. It gives us all anxiety/hope haha

By ice out time every year we all have cabin fever and just want to wet a line and a paddle.

Also Im in for some lake fires if it'll help Martin and Vans

**Posted by Algonquin Outfitters** 4/26/2018 1:59 pm

We've done a few #IceOut2018 reports but until recently things weren't moving much. Here's to warmer weather, even rain and wind to clear up those lakes early in May.

March 2018 Ice Out Reports:
https://algonquinoutfitters.com/algonquin-ice-out-march-2018/

April 2018 Ice Out Reports:
https://algonquinoutfitters.com/algonquin-ice-out-april-2018/

We'll be announcing the winners in our 2018 Ice Out Contest once the ice is off of Lake Opeongo.
https://algonquinoutfitters.com/contest/2018-algonquin-park-ice-out-contest/

Photos from April 24th 2018
Lake Opeongo

Lake of Two Rivers

Smoke Lake

All photos by Randy Mitson (Algonquin Outfitters)

http://www.youtube.com/user/kayakcamper · **Posted by Uppa** 4/26/2018 3:28 pm

Cloud cover obscures most of the only satellite image for today so far (including all of Algonquin), but here's Lake Simcoe on the 23rd versus today.

http://www.youtube.com/user/kayakcamper · **Posted by Uppa** 4/26/2018 4:13 pm

.. and shortly thereafter a cloud-free image popped up. Certainly there's long way to go, but the good weather is clearly kicking winter's butt in a hurry. 23rd versus today (the 26th) again.

Last edited by Uppa (4/26/2018 4:14 pm)

**Posted by Was Hardcore** 4/26/2018 5:41 pm

I too would like to add my thanks to those who are keeping us up to date.

**Posted by ATVenture** 4/27/2018 5:27 am

10cm of snow for northern APP tomorrow.
I am seriously considering going ice fishing via snowmobile.
Even ALMOST considering pulling my canoe full of fishing gear behind my snowmobile down the snow covered Brent road tomorrow.

**Posted by Coureur des Biere** 4/27/2018 8:49 am

Its really starting to look like May 11 (or maybe a day or two earlier) is probably when opening will be. Any optimists??? lol

Sometime next week I am sure the park will delay opening a week to the 11th and then maybe move it back a day or two when/if the ice goes out earlier.

If its going below zero this weekend with the chance to add snow then I do not see how even with the temperatures forecast for early next week (as I've seen similar in past years that have taken 2 weeks to melt 18" of ice) that its even open by the 6th or 7th, nevermind the 4th.

I thought we were good this year after the February weather...I guess after 18 years watching ice out I should have known better haha

Sorry for thinking out loud in writing, but I have to make a final decision today on vacation time.

Cheers!

**Posted by ATVenture** 4/27/2018 12:12 pm

I was out at Kiosk again early this morning,
I was able to walk out onto the ice with no issues. The water level is coming up a bit creating a bit of open water on the shore, but the ice is still solid.
If I go and ice fish Kiosk lake tomorrow I wouldn't be breaking any laws would I? I would use a hand auger so that wouldn't be an issue, and I'd obviously only use worms. Possibly a once in a lifetime opportunity.

**Posted by RobW** 4/27/2018 12:46 pm

No rules against ice fishing when the trout season is open.

**Posted by nvm** 4/27/2018 12:57 pm

That's how I understand it as well. Presumably you wouldn't be snowmobiling into the park, as that is against the rules (your reference to a hand auger suggests you are well aware ATV, but I figured I'd put it out there in general).

I was holding out as much hope as I could for May 4, but it's really looking like there's no way I'm going. I'll be interested to hear your ice thickness report!

**Posted by Chuck Enwinde** 4/27/2018 1:48 pm

RobW wrote:
No rules against ice fishing when the trout season is open.

Maybe not on paper but don't let the wardens see you. I tried it one time and had an irate warden yelling at me from shore in short order. I went through the wording to make sure I wasn't breaking any rules beforehand but the Warden wasn't hearing it.

**Posted by AlgonquinLakes** 4/27/2018 1:49 pm

I keep thinking May 4 is still a long way away and just maybe .... and then I looked at my calendar and realized May 4 is next Friday and am pretty happy that I pushed my first trip back to May 14. Which ... the ice'll be gone by then, right?

http://www.youtube.com/user/kayakcamper · **Posted by Uppa** 4/27/2018 2:31 pm

AlgonquinLakes wrote:
I keep thinking May 4 is still a long way away and just maybe .... and then I looked at my calendar and realized May 4 is next Friday and am pretty happy that I pushed my first trip back to May 14. Which ... the ice'll be gone by then, right?

It's going to be close. Annoyingly, frustratingly close.

**Posted by ShawnD** 4/27/2018 2:57 pm

I'm surprised they haven't pushed back from the May 4th day yet.

**Posted by yellowcanoe** 4/27/2018 3:21 pm

Our Earth Sciences Field School started at a resort on Mississagagon Lake today. That's about 30km north of Kaladar on highway 7 and south of Bon Echo PP. The report I got from one of the instructors is that the lake is still frozen solid and the resort owner reported a couple of days ago that there was still a foot of ice on the lake. This is a location well to the SE of Algonquin Park that would normally be ice free long before Algonquin is.

**Posted by RobW** 4/27/2018 9:08 pm

ShawnD wrote:
I'm surprised they haven't pushed back from the May 4th day yet.

In past years those updates have happened on Mondays or maybe Tuesday if they are trying to do a survey flight and the weather is bad on Mondays.