Chill brightens outlook for fishing contest
Ice on Gull Lake is building slowly.
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Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl and Sheriff's Sgt. Phil Stoll on Thursday drilled four holes through the ice in the area where the Brainerd Jaycees $150,000 Ice Fishing Extravaganza is hosted on Hole in the Day Bay of Gull Lake.
What they found was between 12 to 12 1/2 inches of ice, which was a positive from the last time they drilled, Dahl said.
Crow Wing County Sheriff Todd Dahl (left) looked on Thursday as Sheriff's Sgt. Phil Stoll drilled four holes on Hole in the Day Bay.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
"There's a little improvement," Dahl said. "We certainly hope the next couple of days of cooler weather will help."
On Monday, the sheriff's department and the Jaycees found 11.5 inches of ice in the contest site. Dahl has said 16 inches would be the minimum needed to have the contest.
Members of the Jaycees will be checking ice thickness this weekend. Dahl said the sheriff's department would return to check the ice Tuesday.
Ice thickness measured 12 inches in one of the four holes cut Thursday on Hole in the Day Bay.
» Purchase reprints of this photo.Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
The forecast should cooperate with Extravaganza organizers. Overnight low temperatures Thursday through Tuesday are expected to drop below zero. On Friday, high temperatures are forecasted to be 5-10 degrees; Saturday, 13-18 degrees; Sunday and Monday 3-8 degrees.
MATT ERICKSON can be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.