Thread: Ice Fishing

Does anyone icefish Caryle, Rend, etc.

Been really wanting to give it a good try this year. Just something about pulling a slabber thru the ice.

If so how thick is safe ?

Thank, Manny

Mnny - Here is a good website to read if you are thinking about ice fishing.
How to Know When Ice is Safe - wikiHow

. Fifty years ago I would try it on 3 inches of ice over shallow water. I broke through the ice one New Years Day when the ice was a good 5 inches thick as I stepped out on ice where a spring was running under it. I only went in to my armpits, but it was a cold 40 mile ride back home to change into dry clothes. Some years the ice fishing on Lake Shelbyville may only last for a few weeks, if that long. Back in the winter of 78-79 I think the ice got as thick as 18 inches and we fished the lake clear up into March. I remember one day in March we were fishing in sweatshirts and wearing life jackets. The air temp was in the high 50's that day.

Manny if I were you I would take yourself a little further up north or your ass is going to fall in the lake down here. I've never tried it at rend or carlyle and don't know of anybody that has tried it.

I would love to try some of that ice fishing in a cabin up north with a fire going that would be great. If you do it down here I would slide out there in a paddle boat just to be safe.

Junie

I don't think those lakes would have safe ice once in ten years. I would hope our winter is not THAT cold!! It's too far south. We barely get enough ice to fish Shelbyville for more than a couple weeks and thats not every year. Your best and safest bet is to fish ponds or drive north about 100 miles.

Crappie10 is right. I would stick to ponds if you are going to ice fish around southern IL. I am sure there is someone who ice fishes Rend, but I don't know anyone. To catch crappie on the lake you would have to be in deep water.... Usally even the ponds only have a two week period or so when they are safe. I'M fat and scared so I try not to get on the ice:D

I would heed the advice of these posts, I would say Shelbyville is about as far south as I would go to ice fish, and I haven't iced Shelbyville in years. You can venture north a couple hours and get on some good ice and reduce the risk of taking a swim...

i wouldnt care if the ice is 3ft thick you wont find my fat ass out there....if i was you i wouldnt try it around here inless you slide out in a lil boat like junie said...just remember that water is cold...if you fall in and live to tell about it you may talk in a high pitch voice the rest of your life....good luck....

You need at least 4" of hard water to walk on safely.

Manny,
I fish Carlyle lake quite a bit, but have only ice fished it once. It's been a number of years, but we found a frozen cove near the Eldon Hazlet access.

There was a tree in about five feet of water & the Crappie were stacked in there. The fishing was incredible, but it was one of those rare occasions when it froze up thick enough to safely walk on.

I agree that four inches is the minimum ice thickness, that's safe. Sometimes the backwater sloughs along the Mississippi or Missouri rivers can be good places to ice fish for Crappies and Bluegill.

Are you new to ice fishing or just looking for some places to try? Send me a PM.