REGIONAL— Plentiful sunshine and summer-like temperatures over the past several days helped melt lingering ice on most North Country lakes just ahead of Saturday’s fishing opener, although anglers could still find some lingering ice on a handful of lakes, particularly to the east of Ely.
Lake Vermilion officially cleared of ice on May 5, six days later than the lake’s average April 30 ice-out date. As of the end of a cooler-than-average April, it had appeared doubtful that the lake would clear in time for the May 10 opener. But days of sunshine and temperatures that reached the upper 70s, helped melt the last of winter’s ice.
To the north, Pelican Lake cleared of ice on May 4. Other available ice out dates include Moose Lake (east of Ely, May 3), Fall Lake (May 2), Garden Lake (May 1), Clear Lake (May 1), Farm Lake (April 29), and Bear Head (April 29). For the latest ice-out information from the state Climatology Office, go to https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/index.html.