When Does Lake Winnibigoshish Freeze? Ice-In Dates

Short answer: the Minnesota DNR has only two ice-in dates on file for Lake Winnibigoshish. It locked up on November 29, 2023 and on December 2, 2019. That is the whole record. The midpoint of those two dates is about November 30 or December 1. Two years is not a pattern. Nearby lakes have frozen as early as early November, so start watching in November, and treat these two dates as nothing more than a hint.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

Winnie is a big, shallow, wind-swept lake. The DNR lists it at 56,544 acres, with a mean depth of 15.1 feet and a maximum depth of 70 feet. It sits in the Chippewa National Forest, 15 miles northwest of Deer River. The DNR describes about 11 miles of open water between the north and south shores.

What the records show

The DNR keeps a statewide record of lake ice-in dates, reported by citizen observers and other sources. This is what is on file under "Winnibigoshish" (DNR lake ID 11014700, Cass County, latitude 47.44):

• Earliest: November 29, 2023.
• Latest: December 2, 2019.
• Entries: 2, covering 2 years.
• Median: the DNR does not list one for this lake. With two dates, the midpoint is about November 30 or December 1.

The DNR draws its ice-in map markers only for lakes with 20 or more years of data. Winnie's record runs from 2019 to 2023, so it gets no marker. There are no entries for 2020 to 2022, 2024, or 2025. We do not know when Winnie locked up in those years, and we will not guess.

We checked the lake ID against the DNR's coordinates and LakeFinder record. The DNR also lists a separate lake called Little Winnibigoshish, with its own ID and its own records. Make sure any ice-in page you read is for the right lake.

Nearby lakes for comparison

Longer records exist for lakes in the same part of the state. They are not Winnie. Treat them as clues only.

Bemidji's DNR median is November 28. Some Bemidji years have more than one entry from different sources. Leech also has separate basin records that we did not count here. Cass lists one odd entry dated January 7, 2024, which we left out of the Cass latest date below. We do not explain it.

Dates for the same year, from the DNR feed:

In both years Winnie matched Leech to the day. Two matches is a coincidence until more years prove otherwise.

What "ice in" means here

The DNR defines ice-in for its citizen observers as the day the entire lake is frozen over and the ice cover remains through winter. Observers do not report ice thickness. The DNR map is not updated in real time.

The DNR also says plainly that it does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes. Your safety is your responsibility. So an ice-in date tells you roughly when a lake locked up. It does not tell you what is safe to stand on today.

On a lake this big, the date also says little about any one spot. The DNR lists temperature, snow cover, currents, springs, wind and more as things that affect ice. It says ice is seldom the same thickness over a single body of water. It can be two feet thick in one place and one inch thick a few yards away.

Ice thickness minimums (Minnesota DNR guideline)

These are the DNR guidelines for new, clear ice only:

• Under 4 inches: stay off.
• 4 inches: ice fishing or other activities on foot.
• 5 to 7 inches: snowmobile or small ATV.
• 7 to 8 inches: side-by-side ATV.
• 9 to 10 inches: small car or SUV.
• 11 to 12 inches: medium SUV or small truck.
• 13 inches: medium truck.
• 16 to 17 inches: heavy-duty truck.
• 20 inches or more: heavy-duty truck with a wheelhouse shelter.

White ice is only about half as strong as new, clear ice. The DNR says to double these numbers on white ice. The DNR also says to park vehicles at least 50 feet apart and move them every two hours, because a parked load needs thicker ice than a moving one.

We did not find an official source for a typical start date for plowed roads or for the ice fishing season on Winnie, so we do not give one. Check local notices for current conditions.

How to check current ice

1. Do not rely on a date. Check thickness where you are standing.
2. Drill a hole. Measure clear ice, not slush or white ice.
3. Drill again every few steps. Ice changes fast.
4. Stay off the edges of pressure ridges, cracks, and open water.
5. Wear a flotation device and carry picks and a rope.
6. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back.

The DNR says new ice is usually stronger than old ice. It says four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.

Do not drive onto the lake because someone else did. A plowed road is not proof of safe ice. Measure for your own load.

No ice is ever 100% safe. Check it yourself.

What we will update

Iceline will update this guide as new Winnibigoshish entries are added to the DNR record. Until the record grows, this page cannot give a real typical date.

FAQ

When does Lake Winnibigoshish freeze?

The DNR has two dates on file: November 29, 2023 and December 2, 2019. That is too few to call a typical date. Start watching in November.

What is the earliest Winnie has frozen?

November 29, 2023 is the earliest on file. The latest on file is December 2, 2019. With two entries, an earlier or later lock-up is very possible.

How thick should ice be to walk on?

The Minnesota DNR guideline is 4 inches of new, clear ice for ice fishing or other activity on foot. Use 5 to 7 inches for a snowmobile or small ATV. Double the numbers on white ice. Check it yourself.

Does the DNR measure ice thickness on Winnibigoshish?

No. The DNR says it does not measure ice thickness on Minnesota lakes, and that your safety is your responsibility.

Can I use Leech Lake or Bemidji dates for Winnie?

Only as a rough clue. They are different lakes. Winnie matched Leech on both dates in the record, but two years is not enough to rely on.