5/6/26 – Official Sawbill Lake ice out happened yesterday evening, May 5th, although you wouldn’t have been able to launch from the canoe landing until this morning due to ice blocking your path. The last remaining ice, per our reconnaissance up the lake path, had been blown to the south end and was blocking the way. This morning no ice remains, although it is quite brisk out with a cutting wind and a cross between snow and graupel, but more on the snow side of things, is dropping from the sky.

The above pictures from the landing were taken around 9am this morning. All other entry points in our area, except for Brule, are freshly ice free. Brule is probably soon to follow, but it’s hard to get a good gauge on that one due to the positioning of the canoe landing in proximity to the main body of the lake. Historically speaking Brule is usually the last to go out in our area, but is typically one to three days after Sawbill. -Jessica