ice on the way

[blufloyd]

Finally a week of what looks now to be cold weather for the hardwater guys.
I got out a few days before the new year but that melted away.
This blast may make fishable ice a long way south of me.
Be safe and spud out.

[unknown 5]

I hope all of the hardwater guys are smart enough to wait until it is safe to be on the ice.

[Roberta]

The ice we had before Christmas is long gone and now we've had 9 inches of rain since the new year. All the lakes are in flood stage, so even though ice will probably form this coming week, it will be unsafe as soon as the water recedes. Oh well, we're halfway through January, can spring be far away? - Roberta

[chaunc]

The ice we had before Christmas is long gone and now we've had 9 inches of rain since the new year. All the lakes are in flood stage, so even though ice will probably form this coming week, it will be unsafe as soon as the water recedes. Oh well, we're halfway through January, can spring be far away? - Roberta

Bobbie, look for areas where the ice on the shoreline slopes down to the water level. It settles down on the water there. You wont find a gap of air beneath the ice and water. Only problem is getting on and off the slopeing hill of ice at shore. The slope depends on how much water is let out of the lake. If it's 9ft above winter pool now, they wont let all 9' out right away. Contact your Corps of Engineers for flow details. It'll be fishable but please be careful out there.

[Roberta]

Thanks for the tip, Chaunce. Unfortunately, the lakes we ice fish aren't flood control lakes, so as long as water can go over the spillway, it does. We'll keep an eye on it.
Stay safe out there. - Roberta

[blufloyd]

Well that's what cleats are for?? Spuds will keep you a float so to speak.
Around here Water only fluctuates a bit in the fishing lakes and not much ice getting made in the flood waters. Just waiting....