Mil Lacs is about 2/3 froze over as of early afternoon Friday. Water on top of the ice in many places. There appeared to be open water 4-5 miles out as there was fog way out there. I traveled up and back on Hwy 169. Frankly it surprised me to see the ice frozen that far out.
Other deeper (30+') lakes in the Aitkin area froze over last night per the locals. I would NOT recommend anyone venturing out on this newly formed ice this weekend. Smaller shallower lakes that froze over earlier in the week may have 3" by Sat AM.
Also the lake 1 mile NE of Zimmerman on the east side of 169 was froze up too.
As for waterfowl, I saw a fair amount of Tundra Swans scattered where ever there was open water.