Ice Out Update #6 “Final Chapter”

You heard it right…..the final chapter of the ice out saga of 2026. The updates are done……we await the explosive conclusion.

Here’s a shot of the lake from last evening with a good NW wind. It’s not obvious in this photo but there was some ice movement as evidenced by the ice piling up on Strawberry Island. (yes, I know you can’t see it, but it’s true!)

Today is cloudy and cool…….which makes it hard to make out the ice. I would say half the bay is open water. Tomorrow is supposed to be a SE wind so we’ll see what ends up on this shore. Any last minute guesses on ice out? Email me with your prediction!

Progress is being made on getting ready for our opening week. The ladies start on Wednesday getting the cabins set up and sparkling……I’ll be working on Monday turning on the water and heat. Around camp some accomplishments…….

A new shore deck for this section of dock……..and revamped walkway. This week we’re changing the electrical setup to the docks to remedy that pesky problem of the breaker tripping when Len plugs in his vibrator……seriously though, boats are getting bigger with more batteries and electronics. This will help.

A bit more “leg room” on the inner dock after some of the bank was cut away last fall.

…….and more “nose room” on the other docks so your butt doesn’t hang out as much in the channel.

There seems to be a never ending supply of leaves & pine needles to rake up in the spring. One time a guest insulted me by stating that the John Deere was nothing but a motorized wheel barrow. Call me a pussy, but I’ll take a motorized wheel barrow over the manual version anyday! It’s probably the best money we’ve spent at VBL……..I believe it’s a 1980’s vintage machine that started it’s life at Blue Lake Provincial park way back in the day. Still chugging along 40 years later.

So while I’m on about old shit, here’s a few items I found while trying to straighten out the fish house……

The box of “daily dock sheets” that came with the camp 34 years ago. I use them as weekly dock sheets and the supply is dwindling. At my rate of consumption I figure I have 2 or 3 years left………

Another relic……not quite as old as the dock sheets. I bought a box of Swiss made filleting knives at the Minneapolis Sport Show many moons ago. I think there was maybe 4 knives and they were a good deal at (I think) 6 or 8 bucks apiece. Still have one left in the box……..

Enough about the old stuff. The Municipality is trying to generate some funds for the waterfront maintenance by charging launching fees at the government dock. While most of VBL guests launch at the camp I do have a few guests with bigger boats that like using the concrete ramp over there. I thought I would be proactive and purchase this season pass that we can use for that purpose. I have pass #1……obviously this permit thing isn’t catching on with the locals!

I thought I should just remind guests that there is a sauna down at the lake for your use……be prepared by bringing your appropriate “sauna wear”. We had to ban the “man thong”, also known as the “banana hammock” after last years disastrously revealing “thong-fest & sausage raffle” at the Musky Madness Week windup.

So that’s about it. Definately going to be open water for our anglers with some warmer temperatures for the next couple of weeks (what, no snow flurries for walleye opener!?)….I’m afraid not, but come prepared anyways. Till the big announcement, signing off for now…….