Please post the date of your final trip

[WARRIOR_ON_ICE]

Wow, what a long season  I thought it would be fun to track everyone's last date on the ice. No specific body of water, just an April date, because a March date is not unusual. I will be breaking my record of April 2 with a April 5-6 trip to Champlain, but I will not make it an officially posted date until I know I am done.

Wow, this is a season for the ages.   

Feel free to both reply now with your plans for April ice-fishing, and then when you know your final date, post again with that confirmed date so that everyone can compare against you. Gotta love a season this long. We are already close to the next one 

[trapper2000]

my  final  trip date will  be  written  on my  tombstone  

[big_guy_13021]

My last trip will be april 25th...i would love to stsrt pike season on the ice i dont think it will happen even though there is a ton a ice around here.just think tip upsbopening day of pike...i will post my last trip on here when it happens...

[NatefishNY]

I know it will at least be mid April maybe closer to May

[prchslyr]

I like Trap's answer best. 
I'll guess my last trip of this year will be the 3rd week of April.

[Slob slammer]

I was up in the Adirondacks this past week and if the weather doesn't change I see late April is an option        On March 23rd I saw full size trucks on lake George.   

[prchslyr]

The more I think of it...
May is a possibility. Every year I fish LG until it is no longer safe. Then move onto other waters up north and usually get another month.
We'll be on Lake George in April this year without a doubt.

Warrior,
We have crappie to get after up north once you and I are done with Champ and LG. 
We can't overlook that place man. That lake will certainly be hard deep into April.

[JJ]

From the DEC website, FYI:

Ice Fishing Seasons:
•November 15 - April 30 - for those species in the General Angling Regulations for which there is no closed season or no minimum length.
•November 15 - March 15 - for northern pike, pickerel, tiger muskellunge and walleye.

[bird21s]

I would assume that means ice fishing rules such as 5 tip ups. After the 30th of April the use of  5 extra or 15 extra tip ups/downs would be illegal.  Fishing should be ok with a jig rod. Might be an issue with trout waters also. Have to fish and find out.

[JJ]

Bird looks like you are correct, there is some contradiction on the DEC site. Checked the actual wording of the Conservation Law and found this, no interpretation needed :

§10.4 Ice fishing and use of tip-ups
(2) No person shall operate tip-ups on the waters of the State during the period from May 1st through November 14th.

[jiignut]

Yea, ICE FISHING and fishing through the ice if it happens to be in the way during trout season are 2 different things in my reg. book. If a trout lake after april 1st has ice on it and you can fish open water legally around the edges, you can stand on it and fish through cracks and holes.
Looking forward to it.

[bird21s]

Still the way everything is worded in the regs, you would think fishing through the ice is illegal after the 30th.  One day they might take out the fancy wording and get to the point.  Even a lot of encon officers have trouble interpreting the regs.  Most of the time they say if you appear to be trying to follow the rules you won't be bothered.

[TC5]

fished on 36 in of ice today so it will be a while around warren county.

[HybridHunter]

Still the way everything is worded in the regs, you would think fishing through the ice is illegal after the 30th.  One day they might take out the fancy wording and get to the point.  Even a lot of encon officers have trouble interpreting the regs.  Most of the time they say if you appear to be trying to follow the rules you won't be bothered.

So we can fish through the ice, through a natural opening, using only a jig rod on trout ponds/ lakes starting the 1st?

[bcons]

Bird looks like you are correct, there is some contradiction on the DEC site. Checked the actual wording of the Conservation Law and found this, no interpretation needed :

§10.4 Ice fishing and use of tip-ups
(2) No person shall operate tip-ups on the waters of the State during the period from May 1st through November 14th.

That's a silly law.  Sorry, I don't much care for tipups, but if that's your game and there's safe ice.....
The intent was probably to prevent people from trying something like floating tipups.

However it is clear, & the law is the law.

[bcons]

That being said I'll post my last date right after I get home and dry off 

[Hardwaternubie53]

That's a silly law.  Sorry, I don't much care for tipups, but if that's your game and there's safe ice.....
The intent was probably to prevent people from trying something like floating tipups.

However it is clear, & the law is the law.

Yup. And prevents "jug" fishing as well.

[prchslyr]

Thanks JJ.
That one is totally new to me.
I'm going to call my local office if I don't see an officer in the next couple weeks. 
I know better to leave the pond trout alone, but it would be crazy to think I could not cut a hole in a lake to get crappie or perch.

[JJ]

Anytime Jamie. That's a reg that rarely comes into play anymore.

I'm already done, caught enough fish myself but enjoy helping others ice fish. I am in western Nebraska bowhunting Merriam's turkeys. Beautiful country out here, don't see stuff like this in NY. 

[combsey]

Nice pic JJ.   Don't forget to post the turkey pics to.   It's beautiful out that part of the US

[bird21s]

Thanks JJ.
That one is totally new to me.
I'm going to call my local office if I don't see an officer in the next couple weeks. 
I know better to leave the pond trout alone, but it would be crazy to think I could not cut a hole in a lake to get crappie or perch.

A wise man once said " cut a lot of holes on the 30th "

[JJ]

Nice pic JJ.   Don't forget to post the turkey pics to.   It's beautiful out that part of the US

Thanks combsey, hopefully I'll have some pics, it is still early and they are flocked up.

If you've never been out in the western states I recommend it to anyone, and don't wait until you get too old.

[HybridHunter]

Beautiful! I'm ready to stalk some birds and after today it's looking like snow removal weather

[ship of fools]

March 27         ....   then we have 50 degree highs and a couple of rainy days   

I'm fishing tomorrow then moving on to baseball and striped bass.

[JJ]

Got one today, first Merriam's and first turkey with a recurve.

[Mr.Esox]

March 27 Middlebranch.

[combsey]

Great looking bird JJ

[cspoof]

I'm done.  Kept 17 fish on Otisco yesterday.  3-27-14.  Mostly Bluegill.  Over and out...

[Hardwaternubie53]

Got one today, first Merriam's and first turkey with a recurve.

(Image removed from quote.)

Good JOB!

[WARRIOR_ON_ICE]

Got one today, first Merriam's and first turkey with a recurve.

(Image removed from quote.)

Nice bird, but why aren't you here fishing ? NY is full of turkey that you can start getting on May 1. But, nice bird and you are obviously enjoying it, so it's all good.