You can get bait at bass haven (at the end of winter line)
I was out as far as 2km today and the ice was a consistent 12+
I cant really report on finding quality fish. I found quantity today, but all dinks. If I go back out, I'm going for a long walk, about 3.5km north west of the bay. It's a good area in the summer and there seemed to be a lot of activity over there today. For what it's worth, I saw a small SUV drive out that way today, and tonnes of ATV's, so the ice must be pretty good all the way.