Looking for ice

[RuttNutt]

Just got back to R.I. after a quick trip to Ne Pa. Got there Thursday morning. Visited family and friends so I didn't get on the ice till around 3:00. Staying at a friends house lake Alden.  5 inches but I would say only good 4. Just jigged up a couple of bluegills, fished till dark. Talked to some friends and they fished Upper Woods and did good, 5 inches. Friday checked Prompton looked really not good, didn't even try to get on. Back to Alden did really good, 9 smallmouth, 6 largemouth, 7 pickerel and about a dozen bluegills. Saturday fished Alden again. 5 Smallmouth 1 largemouth, 5 pickerel, and a nice mess of bluegills, with a nice crappie to top it off. By then there was only 3 inches, but I got some time in. Looking to head back in mid February, Also I'm a catch and release guy.

Sounds like you had a GREAT trip back to Pa! 

[onlyhrdwtr]

My only other suggestion I have is take an 8 foot plank. That as the only way I was getting on last weekend.

[Captn66]

Took a trip to the UP last week.  Fishing was rather slow, but did manage some pike and all & all was good to get on the hard water for what will probably be the only time this year ... despite putting up with 30 mph winds early in the week. 

[RuttNutt]

My only other suggestion I have is take an 8 foot plank. That as the only way I was getting on last weekend.

I have two 8’ aluminum planks if needed. 😜

[Gfetch3914]

I know it's not thick but I went by wallenpaupack today around 5pm and I would say peeking over the dike about 90% of the lake is locked up. Definitely a good sign of hope with how large it is. Will have a bunch of friends up this weekend to hit some of our lakes in Pike County. Stay safe!

[IceSpartan]

I know it's not thick but I went by wallenpaupack today around 5pm and I would say peeking over the dike about 90% of the lake is locked up. Definitely a good sign of hope with how large it is. Will have a bunch of friends up this weekend to hit some of our lakes in Pike County. Stay safe!

I’m curious, what lakes are still safe?  Anything public?

[Gfetch3914]

Maybe RuttNutt checked Promised Land?

[RuttNutt]

I’m not gonna get over there until early Saturday morning............... .

[onlyhrdwtr]

Hey guys
 Just checked some ponds in CT, its all done here. Heading back home, Wayne County, on the 9th for my annual 9 day fishing trip. Just hoping it will still be ok. Last year only got 4 days out of it. Got word earlier in the week that Upper Woods was getting shaky but they did good on bluegills.  Just got a call that Fiddle Lake is 5 inches but really only a good 4, really slow bite, that was today. Really want to hear any info on Prompton. Try to fish it every year on the 14th, (birthday celebration.) I have no news on Lake Alden/ Long Pond hoping to hear on it tomorrow. Whatever I hear I'll let you know. Any info on Belmont or White Oak?  Whatever info you guys have would be greatly appreciated. 
Thanks.

[jjp625]

Was at long pond and duck harbor Wednesday . Both solid six inches . It is a different world up there . Still very much mid winter .
Belmont always first to freeze and last to go . Again …. Different world .

[onlyhrdwtr]

Sorry guys,
My contact for Lake Alden/ Long Pond is under the weather and couldn't make to check the ice. I'm still going to give it a try on the 9th.

[onlyhrdwtr]

Somehow I missed jjp625 report about Duck Harbor and Long pond (Feb 4). That sounded promising. Heading in tomorrow, should be at Long Pond around 3:00. Hoping to fish at least 9 days. Wherever there is ice on any pond. Checked the long range weather forecast seems really iffy. But I'm going to give it my best shot.  If there is any input on any ice conditions would be really appreciated.  Thanks

[onlyhrdwtr]

Hi Guys,

Just got back to R.I. after a 9 day planned trip back to Ne.Pa., got 3 days out of it. Got in early Friday.  Stopped by Prompton on the way thru.  Guy was by the dam said really slow bite, on 2 1/2 inches. Dropped by the boat launch A guy was there only about 50 foot out, got 2 nice bass right off the bat but nothing else. I made it to Lake Alden, on the pond around 1:00, 4 inches and really slow 5 small perch. Saturday hit Prompton boat launch, really only about 3 inches, 2 small perch. Shot Up to Fiddle Lake rough getting on but good 5 out farther. But again a slow bite. Sunday was back at Prompton, ice was getting really not good, ropes and life jacket, about 2 1/2 inches, 2 perch. Calling it quits and filled my boots, went up to my thighs. All reports I got was a slow bite everywhere. Forecast said a bunch of snow coming in so I figure I'd call it. I packed up this morning, and headed east. But I have to say it was great standing on Ne.Pa water even if was only for a short time. And on top of I caught fish, so it was better than great.

[IceSpartan]

Hi Guys,

Just got back to R.I. after a 9 day planned trip back to Ne.Pa., got 3 days out of it. Got in early Friday.  Stopped by Prompton on the way thru.  Guy was by the dam said really slow bite, on 2 1/2 inches. Dropped by the boat launch A guy was there only about 50 foot out, got 2 nice bass right off the bat but nothing else. I made it to Lake Alden, on the pond around 1:00, 4 inches and really slow 5 small perch. Saturday hit Prompton boat launch, really only about 3 inches, 2 small perch. Shot Up to Fiddle Lake rough getting on but good 5 out farther. But again a slow bite. Sunday was back at Prompton, ice was getting really not good, ropes and life jacket, about 2 1/2 inches, 2 perch. Calling it quits and filled my boots, went up to my thighs. All reports I got was a slow bite everywhere. Forecast said a bunch of snow coming in so I figure I'd call it. I packed up this morning, and headed east. But I have to say it was great standing on Ne.Pa water even if was only for a short time. And on top of I caught fish, so it was better than great.

Glad you enjoyed it.  Sorry we couldn’t provide more ice.  We’ll try harder next time! 

[onlyhrdwtr]

Thanks,
Looking at the long range forecast back there. If it works out I'll give another shot in a week or two.

Everyone stay safe!

[RuttNutt]

Glad you enjoyed it.  Sorry we couldn’t provide more ice.  We’ll try harder next time! 

🤣🤣🤣

[RuttNutt]

Thanks,
Looking at the long range forecast back there. If it works out I'll give another shot in a week or two.

Everyone stay safe!

Glad you got a few days in at least! Sorry I never made it to Alden! I was leery of driving over an hour and then having to turn around and go home. Promised Land is only 30 min from me, so I went there this weekend instead.

Hopefully we will get some colder weather and will be back on the ice soon. I would like to get up to Alden and Duck if possible this year............

[onlyhrdwtr]

See if it stiffens up. Maybe we can meet  to put faces to names. If you head out be safe

[onlyhrdwtr]

 Sorry, forgot to ask. How did you make out at Promised Land?

[RuttNutt]

See if it stiffens up. Maybe we can meet  to put faces to names. If you head out be safe

Thanks- yes that would be cool! Always nice to put some faces to names........😁

[RuttNutt]

Sorry, forgot to ask. How did you make out at Promised Land?

It was slow like you said, but we did ok. I got this big pickerel on a JawJacker and he put up a good fight! Ran several times when he got close to the hole. That made it worthwhile! 

[onlyhrdwtr]

Nice fish. Probably longer than the total length of the perch I caught last weekend. I'll let you know on Alden.

[RuttNutt]

OK- thanks- appreciate it! 

[JMZ]

It was slow like you said, but we did ok. I got this big pickerel on a JawJacker and he put up a good fight! Ran several times when he got close to the hole. That made it worthwhile! 

That pickerel would win a contest! Did you throw him back?

[RuttNutt]

Yes- I don’t keep pickerel. That’s actually not the biggest one I’ve caught there. Several of us have caught bigger ones there................. all went back in.

[Spider1]

well, not all 

[RuttNutt]

Oh, that’s right- a couple have paid the price for their brothers/sisters stealing Spider’s jigs! 😜

They got a couple of my buddy’s jigs today and I must have had a BIG one that bit right thru my snell! I was dropping the smelled hook baited with a minnow down the hole to set my JawJacker and it hit before I even got it down to depth. I thought it either dropped it or stripped the minnow when the line went slack...............bu t I reeled up and the hook and 1/2 the snell was gone! 

[icehound67]

There’s a pickerel at snow shanty with some new piercings, 🤬

[Mouth912]

  Couple private lakes up Northern wayne county had about 6 inches of ice. Hopefully we get more cold temperatures to get more ice to get out!

[onlyhrdwtr]

Got a text from a friend around noon. He was heading to Uniondale, drove past Stillwater, said there was a ton of people on the ice. But he didn't know the conditions, just driving by.