Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Ice Fishing 2011 - 2012

Skinny, a true challenge has boundries, thought it would be a good challenge to try and incorperate the Mouse trap.... Just for some thing to screw around with. and the self hook set one, there are tricks, that people have been nice enough to share.


I do have a very practical tip up I've been working on for a while. But dont have the proto type done yet.

Hopefully this week as its my week off, but the trip to visit the inlaws... WHat do they say. When life throughs you a curve ball, make lemonade, or yellow slushies!! hehe.

I think someone also once said "don't eat the yellow snow."

<sigh>
15 day forecast updated this morning so that the entire preceeding week to when i am supposed to start fishing has highs in the mid-low 40's. With rain and thunderstorms, too.

LAME.

Went fishing at Dwight's and listened to the games. Didn't get a picture, but got some perch, bluegill and crappie. Got a half dozen nice healthy bass we released. The time around sunset and an hour past dark are usually hot, but slower yesterday. I am putting it down to after effects of a large cold front that went by, or one of those big NP hanging around driving the panfish away. Ice at 7", clarity about the same at 36".

Just got the report from my favorite bait shop in crystal lake, IL, dead center of crystal lake is 5" thick, with highs in the 20's for the rest of the week.

However, that does not make it safe, as a strong reminder to everyone as impatient as i am, a man died in long lake, IL, this past weekend, fishing on 4-5 inches of ice, but his son did report that they found areas where it was only 2-3 inches thick, fell through as it melted in the afternoon, and drowned. Please, everybody, be as careful as possible.

This man's failing, i believe, was that he let his son leave him out there alone for an hour or two. When the son came back he found the hole his father had fallen through, but his father had been moved by the current and drowned.

Here's a brief article on it:
http://www.galesburg.com/news/x3499557/Body-pulled-from-lake-off-of-Knox-County-Highway-15

Wow, sad story. I haven't grown a big enough pair to give my ice a test. I always wonder about currents under ice chewing away where I cannot see.

BTW how does one test ice thickness without getting out on it? Do you chuck larger and larger rocks until you find that a 210 pound rock chucked to 40MPH doesn't go thorough? (j/k but still?)

Only thing I can think of is going out on skis or snowshoes to distribute weight when ice near the edge is at least 3 inches. I am still too chicken though. Unfortunately I cannot find any politicians in DC to test my ice.

You gotta' get on it to test it. Use a spud bar or auger as you move out.

Yeah, I usually stand on the dock, drill straight down and measure. Then, if i feel that is safe, i go about 10 yards out to where the first of many good fishing spots are located, and i test it there. Wherever i am planning on going, unless i know the ice is a good 8 inches, i drill at least one test hole along the way, stop and measure. You can never be safe enough.

Also, it helps to know where your upwells of warm water are. Like my dad's pond bubbles water up from a variety of deep springs, so water that in the summer feels ice cold comes up, and the ice is always last to form there, and remains clear longer than anywhere else. If it is in any way shaky ice, stay away, stay far away from those spots.

Looking for "honeycomb" ice is a good indicator too.

-mike

That's terrible. Always best to keep the safety precautions at the forefront. No matter how "seasoned" you are.

Of course this year, I just look for waves gently lapping against the shore to gage my ice thickness..............

We have a small lake 2 miles away for perch and rainbow trout. 2 years ago it was late march with heavy snow cover. There was alot of methane gas(I think) bubbling up from the bottom. Every 4-5 seconds a big bubble(half the size of a gallon pail) would come up the fishing hole. Went back the next day and the hole was almost twice the size at the top of the ice and big below the surface. The ice was over 2 feet thick before but the bubbles had lifted enough water to eat ice like aeration. Temps were around freezing.

It was still safe to fish in but a truck driving over that hole would have put a tire through.Never know what happens in some lakes to make poor ice. Dad fell through one winter up to his armpits on our way out fishing. The ice was normally good but he stepped in a weaker boil looking spot and went through. The next weekend driving a 88 gmc regular cab long box drove over a snow drift and the back end fell in. Good thing it was only 3 feet deep. He has learned his lesson(I hope)

Here they are calling for highs in the 20's and nights in the teens/single digits until Sat. Then 30's for a high and 50's for a high this coming Sunday.

First time on ice on a larger lake, I let others be the testers. If they are out there, then I think it's safe to go out. On my pond, I take a few steps and drill a hole. Couple more steps and another hole until I get to where I'm going. The Lazer auger drills holes fast.

Another thing to do is carry the auger horizontal to the ice. It will act as a wide wedge, and shouldn't go thru the hole with you as long as you keep holding onto it.

Good call, esshup! I almost forgot my trusty walking stick. I use it the same way, carrying it horizontally when walking on the ice. I never even considered using my auger the same way. Genius! 2 birds 1 stone.

Well, cross your fingers everybody. This morning I get to tell my boss that when I postponed my trip to next weekend, yeah I was lying about that, im leaving tomorrow!

Think the bossman will be okay with 18 hours notice?

The Bossman Approves!!!! It's ON, TOM SKILLING!

pan fish on ice, can't beat it!

We're aiming for pikecicles. Gotta get as many out as possible before they can spawn.

-mike

9°F at Midway on my thermometer last night. Calling for 0°F Thurs night.

aaaaarrrrgggghhhhh

like 5.5 hours until i start my drive up.

soooooo.....about 0 work is being accomplished today.

-mike

Was going to head out on Friday. 15 degree high and 3-6 inches of snow. Call me a sissy, but I am staying home to tend the fire.

If you were sitting on a bucket outside, I wouldn't call you a sissy.

Should be good to go by this weekend here! Bout time!

Game on!!

Here is some excitement for you.

So, when did you stock Lakers in Bremmer Pond?

Nice ice!