Author Topic: Should we start Countin Em Down to the 2016/17 Season? (Read 3159 times)

J Miser · « **on:** Nov 21, 2016, 12:01 PM »

Anybody been outside?

Yeah its freezin. It was freezin all day yesterday. It'll be freezin all day tomorrow. Protected ponds will skim over.

Then hell will decide to warm back up.

Shall we review the start dates of our ice season in PA over the past couple years:

11/27/05
12/9/06
12/3/07
11/22/08
12/11/09
12/8/10
11/30/12
11/28/13
11/20/14
1/5/16

Gonna be a realist, no safe ice this week, but we are there, children, we are right on that cusp of what is needed to start building ice.

40 degree days, 20 degree nights will start the process

Look at all those November start dates. Pretty darn common if you ask me when ice fishing starts in PA.

The pessimist says Christmas, I've always said Thanksgiving. Maybe not this year, but we still got nine more days in November and I don't see anymore 50's in the forecast.

No prediction from me, but after this ridiculous holiday, my stuff will be in my car anticipating that first 2.5 inches of ice.

Skihunter, where you at? You gonna beat everyone in New Jersey onto the ice? Milwaukee and Erie this year buddy, Milwaukee and Erie.

Have fun children, I promise, once I see it, the pessimists will let you know that it doesn't exist, and the optimists will share in the glory. HA, ain't that a statement.

Dr. JM

Crappiehunter1981 · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 21, 2016, 12:07 PM »

So either way I'm a winner this year. I have been out of the states for almost two years. I was home for a couple of weeks last April and I bought a Mag 2000 auger. This means that we wont have any ice this year... So I had to even the playing field and I bought a new kayak. Either way I am set upon my return around Xmas... I bet I am using the Auger by the new year..... Fingers crossed.....

Chris338378 · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 21, 2016, 12:33 PM »

I'm going to guess December 10th.

Van_Cleaver · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 21, 2016, 03:58 PM »

Anytime early- mid Dec. would be fine with me. Slowly relining my reels and replacing augers blades as needed. Has to be better than last year!

capt.crappie · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 21, 2016, 06:22 PM »

Quote from: Van_Cleaver on Nov 21, 2016, 03:58 PM

Anytime early- mid Dec. would be fine with me. Slowly relining my reels and replacing augers blades as needed. Has to be better than last year!

Although last year was a very short season. About 5 weeks of ice in our area. Van. I managed to get out almost every day. I slayed alot of perch & gills too. Actually got tired of eating fish

. Im hoping we have safe ice before X mas

Chris338378 · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 21, 2016, 06:37 PM »

Tired of fishing?

Oh my God you need an intervention.

flyboyroy · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 21, 2016, 07:49 PM »

You always get a few that go out on a couple inches of ice with life vests and pics.and long pieces of rope.
Maybe December for that crew.
Probably early january for the rest of us, like usual. I remember a few years when we got out before Christmas in central pa, but not many.

Not to worry. We have deer to chase, then the holidays, then plenty of time to drill holes !

Van_Cleaver · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 21, 2016, 08:33 PM »

Chris; actually c.c said he was tired of eating fish; not tired of fishing. Maybe if he put a few more back......

I barely got out at all do to painting and prepping the home I bought in the fall. There are still lots of projects but they aren't quite as pressing. If I can't get out more than last year I'm in serious trouble!

J Miser · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 22, 2016, 08:23 AM »

Quote from: flyboyroy on Nov 21, 2016, 07:49 PM

You always get a few that go out on a couple inches of ice with life vests and pics.and long pieces of rope.
Maybe December for that crew.
Probably early january for the rest of us, like usual. I remember a few years when we got out before Christmas in central pa, but not many.

The Last time I wore a life vest and had a rope on the ice was October 13, 1998 University Lake, Anchorage Alaska. Even had the Fire Department watching me

.

Caught a 10 pound coho salmon through the ice that day and lost a rod to another one.

Never owned pics.

Can only imagine if my ponds were skimmed over this morning on the Pocono Plateau. Where's MarkD with his pics from Pocono Summit?

Dr. JM

Van_Cleaver · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 22, 2016, 09:15 AM »

He's probably out beating up on jumbo perch and gills.

Chris338378 · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 22, 2016, 09:39 AM »

Sorry about my typo but what I said still stands, that man needs an intervention. LOL I never get tired of fishing or eating fish.

1MOFISH · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 23, 2016, 07:13 PM »

countdown has commenced 10-9-8-7-6-------- ponds skimming over, it wont be long
GOD BLESS
mo

Chris338378 · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 23, 2016, 08:33 PM »

I saw three ponds skimmed over almost completely today. It's coming boys and girls.

ducksnbucks36 · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 25, 2016, 04:52 PM »

I'm predicting safe ice December 15th. If it's not by then it won't be till the 28th or the beginning of january.

JPascavage52 · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 28, 2016, 08:02 AM »

I can confirm that there was some skim ice on a little pond up the road from me this morning. Saw it for myself.

Probably still got a ways to go with the warm up coming this week, but still an encouraging sign. Here's to hoping for an early start to the season, after falling through on Erie last year, I'm happy to wait for confirmed safe ice this year.

flyboyroy · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 28, 2016, 05:27 PM »

Quote from: J Miser on Nov 22, 2016, 08:23 AM

The Last time I wore a life vest and had a rope on the ice was October 13, 1998 University Lake, Anchorage Alaska. Even had the Fire Department watching me .

Caught a 10 pound coho salmon through the ice that day and lost a rod to another one.

Never owned pics.

Can only imagine if my ponds were skimmed over this morning on the Pocono Plateau. Where's MarkD with his pics from Pocono Summit?

One of the guy I fish with lives in Juniata County. One day last week it got down to 16 in a cold spot and a couple of ponds were skimmed over in the am, open in the pm. Maybe you could get up real early a be the first one on the ice for the year and then fish the same spot from your boat later in the day 😀

chuck22 · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 30, 2016, 11:07 AM »

I keep counting down and throwing out my list with each of these warm fronts that come through I'm in southeast pa so I won't be on any hardwater down here for a long time but I have no problem driving to get some fishing in I keep looking at the weather up my usual haaunts and they still are 50 degrees during the day the wait is killing me

Van_Cleaver · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 30, 2016, 01:23 PM »

On the plus side today is likely the last of the really warm weather, and let's face it, the whole East coast needs the rain big time. Anything before Christmas would look good to me; especially after last year.

deer george · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 30, 2016, 03:42 PM »

OK time to start thinking of walking on water, This is my first time this year to visit the site but my best guess to get on top of the pond is the last few days of Dec. I'll be wishing it will get here sooner but I think that is just wishful thinking at least in central Pa.

flyboyroy · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 02, 2016, 07:23 PM »

Good to see you on the site George. Who knows when we will get to walk on water, but every day is one day closer !

flyboyroy · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 04, 2016, 03:10 PM »

I saw some of the Houston/Green Bay game. It sure looks like winter in Wisconsin !

slider · « **Reply #21 on:** Dec 04, 2016, 03:49 PM »

Weather here in Pittsburgh looks horrible
Artic front heading for us this is just absolutely horrible
(IF YOU DON'T ICE FISH)

iceman4667 · « **Reply #22 on:** Dec 04, 2016, 05:05 PM »

Lol let it come ,we did not ice fish at all last year

Rangerphil · « **Reply #23 on:** Dec 05, 2016, 02:18 AM »

Can't wait. I just ordered my striker ice predator suit today! Excited about it coming in. Hope the cold sticks around!

chez · « **Reply #24 on:** Dec 05, 2016, 06:53 AM »

IM THINKING DEC 18TH....OR HOPING.LOL.

Spider1 · « **Reply #25 on:** Dec 05, 2016, 09:01 AM »

Yeah, I'm thinking many of us will be carefully stepping out onto the ice and drillin holes that weekend! Maybe a little sooner too

J Miser · « **Reply #26 on:** Dec 05, 2016, 06:20 PM »

So who's going out Monday?

Not December 18, not Christmas, but next Monday.

One of you scrawny 150 pound wetpatch's may be able to walk on water come Sunday, but a fat fu(k like me will have to wait till Monday.

The protected ponds should cap Thursday night, sustain Friday, then grow all day Saturday and all day sunday, yeah, they'll be safe ice Monday Morning.

That'll scratch the itch. Then it can all melt and you all can have a snowthrower contest.

Time to straighten out the Wolframs and kill a bunch of bass.

Then again, they're stocking Tobyharlem Tomorrow, those fish will be protected, as much as I hate it, it'll be an option.

But we'll see.

Dr. JM

Chris338378 · « **Reply #27 on:** Dec 05, 2016, 08:27 PM »

I think Chez is going to have the winning guess.

Van_Cleaver · « **Reply #28 on:** Dec 05, 2016, 10:03 PM »

I'm all for the glass is half full approach; but typically when we get an Arctic Clipper we also get a lot of wind which can easily add a couple or even a few days to the initial cap. As JM stated there will be a couple super protected and usually small ponds that will freeze earlier. Living in the Southeast I'll be waiting for the 4" call. Be safe everyone it's coming!

Spider1 · « **Reply #29 on:** Dec 06, 2016, 05:32 AM »

yeeeah... I'm thinking monday might be a little too early. Take yer waders.

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Author Topic: Should we start Countin Em Down to the 2016/17 Season? (Read 3159 times)