Author Topic: what does snow on top do to ice?  (Read 1757 times)

Offline Robbie L

  • IceShanty Rookie
  • **
  • Posts: 75
what does snow on top do to ice?
« on: Mar 15, 2017, 08:52 AM »
HI all,
    I am looking for someone who has years of experience with ice fishing to help me out.
I am in PA, and there is a lake that had about 3 and a half inches of ice on it. We just got
snow of about 30 inches on top. I have heard that the snow keeps the ice from forming
but also from melting. I have also heard that 30 inches of snow could sink the ice.
Can someone with a lot of knowledge on this please help out.
                                            Thanks, catch the big one, Rob

P.S. 172 acre lake

Offline robebrz

  • IceShanty Rookie
  • **
  • Posts: 47
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #1 on: Mar 15, 2017, 12:55 PM »
Not sure what you consider lots of experience but from what I have I would say 30 inches of snow will probably push the ice down to some extent. You will have lots of water on top making for some deep slush. If it gets cold you may get a thin layer of ice in the slush. So you would have ice then slush then thin layer of ice then snow. I wouldn't go out on it. I have been on 12 plus inches like that and it's not fun. Plus being only 3 inches to start I would be concerned about the integrity. Better to live and fish in the spring. Just my thoughts though.

Offline mitch seguin

  • IceShanty Rookie
  • **
  • Posts: 23
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #2 on: Mar 15, 2017, 05:44 PM »
X2 on your assessment.

Offline climber2k

  • IceShanty Rookie
  • **
  • Posts: 2
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #3 on: Mar 21, 2017, 07:58 AM »
One other point, That much snow will also insulate it from the cold, allowing what may be warm water to melt it from underneath. Anything greater than 32 being warm.

Offline viciouscircle

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,082
  • sure its thick enough to hold our weight, after u
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #4 on: Mar 23, 2017, 07:45 AM »
Stay off!
   "SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!"

Offline nocod

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,266
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #5 on: Dec 09, 2017, 10:06 PM »

Offline Ice Scratcher

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 3,120
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #6 on: Dec 09, 2017, 10:24 PM »
Trashed!

But, give it time, could prove to be the thickest ice around, after a week or so...

<°)))>{

Offline sodakdave

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 303
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #7 on: Dec 10, 2017, 12:08 AM »
To give you an idea, one cubic foot of snow can weigh 15 lbs (more if it's drifted or compacted). So a one foot square section of ice already has 37 lbs on it. Multiply that by the surface area of the lake and look at how much that 3" of ice is supporting. That's way too much.

Offline Fisherman 1

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 1,138
  • Fish..the other white meat
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #8 on: Dec 10, 2017, 10:41 AM »
In two words, you're screwed.  Any amount of snow like that with push the ice down, water will seep up through the cracks and make massive slush beds that never really freeze again.

Offline Gills-only

  • Team IceShanty Maniac
  • **
  • Posts: 4,893
  • When hell freezes over, I'll ice fish there too!!
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #9 on: Dec 10, 2017, 10:50 AM »
When u punch a hole(if u are brave enough to go on that) it will be like a well , water will gush out of hole. Lot of weight with the wet snow on so little ice !!

Offline hardwater diehard

  • Iceshanty Militia
  • Team IceshantyInsanity
  • *
  • Posts: 12,477
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #10 on: Dec 10, 2017, 10:52 AM »
Give a man a fish he eats for a day .Teach a man to ice fish he has an obsession for a lifetime

Offline dekatronic

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 369
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #11 on: Dec 10, 2017, 11:49 AM »
I've fished on ice with 14" fresh snow. Same as others have said, the weight depresses the ice and causes water to seep creating a slush layer. In my case when I drilled a hole it flooded the area and I was immediately standing in 6" of slush and that's when I discovered I had a leak in my right boot. Ice was a solid 12" thick so there was no danger of falling through so I stayed and happened to limit out in twenty min.

Offline Blue Mago

  • Team IceShanty Regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 422
Re: what does snow on top do to ice?
« Reply #12 on: Dec 10, 2017, 01:24 PM »
That much snow will insulate the ice keeping it from freezing , or freezing at a very slow rate .....i wouldn't venture on there for no money !
Enjoy The Ride ,You only Get One Chance

 



Iceshanty | MyFishFinder | MyHuntingForum
Contact | Disclaimer | Privacypolicy | Sponsor
© 1996- Iceshanty.com
All Rights Reserved.