AUBURN – Boaters will be flocking to Lake Auburn this weekend in hopes of snagging a large togue or salmon.

Lake Auburn is now ice free.

Tuesday afternoon, about two-thirds of the lake was free of ice, with the remains drifting towards the south shore. Wednesday produced heavy fog and it was impossible to determine if the rest of the ice had disappeared. But the fog cleared overnight and early Thursday morning it was determined the lake was indeed ice free. The only remains were in the North Auburn area of Lake Shore Drive, so for all intents and purposes the 2003-2004 winter ice cover was history.

The date of Wednesday, April 14 will be etched into the unofficial Sun Journal files as the date for ice out for Lake Auburn in 2004. Last year’s ice-out date was April 26.

The boat launch at East Auburn was opened Wednesday.