2017 First Ice in your area?

[IceAddict87]

Someone has to be that guy so it might as well be me. What is everyone’s best guess for first ice in your area? Right now I plan to be on the ice at the IGL’s the weekend of December 16-17 and with any luck the next weekend I will be walking on water somewhere in central Iowa.

[Mchmss]

Hope to be on the iowa great lakes weekend of December 10. Not sure if it will happen. Unless we get another big cool down.

[Bates]

Lots of lakes capping, one lake had close to 2". I think next week before Turkey day. Changing my answer to the 29th or 30th after Thanksgiving. Cold, but too many ups and downs this coming week, following week looks much better now. I'm changing again, when it's time it's time. Can't believe the weather guesser's anymore, they can't predict the next 3 days.

[matzilla]

pool 17 is 39 degrees...my pond surface temp is 35 - my pond freezes very early and quickly but with all this rain lately it might be a while

[New User Name]

December 15 around CR.

[IceAddict87]

I’m starting to doubt my first prediction. I just looked at the 10 day and it is crap. I would guess it’s mostly because I am so anxious to walk on hard water but where is the cold? Water temps are there, been seeing skim ice on ponds and protected areas of lakes. I won’t even be going until the 16-17th of December at the earliest. But on a positive note the 10 day for cast can change on a heart beat, lets hope for that..... Plus deer season is just around the corner so that will help take my mind off fishing for a bit.

[artfish]

Red Rock was 38 degrees surface temp. last week end. Won't be long now. Hopefully by mid December north of highway 20.

[bert29]

Well, not looking real good here in SW Iowa for ice before Xmas. I know it can get cold and get ice quick, but 10 day forecast here is for temps in 50's and 60's--almost 70 a couple of days---through next week.

open water fishing has been good for crappies, bass, and bluegills around Glenwood though. Fishing some ponds and small lakes with slip bobber and ice jigs/plastics and at least enjoying nice weather and catching some fish. Would rather be getting ready to get on hard water, but it is what it is.

I guess I don't have to worry about line icing up during this kind of weather!

Until this weather pattern breaks, late December or even into 2018 might be first safe ice!

[IceAddict87]

I'll take christmas! Haha. I have scoured the internet and every long range forecast i've seen is calling for a real winter this year. That being said they also say this pattern isn't going to break for a week or more. I have a feeling that when it does it will get cold in a hurry! Hopefully thats not wishful thinking. The earliest i've been on the ice is the first weekend of second season shotgun and that was a 1 acre pond with five inches. It will be here before you know it.

[hotrod]

With the current forecast, NE Iowa, I wouldn't be surprised if small bodies of water are fishable by the 15th.  The water temps are there, so is the ground temp...just need a couple good 20-degree days.

[GB 83]

Hot Rod I hope you are rt on that!

[IceAddict87]

The ten day forecast is sure looking better. Those cold nights will help but it would be a lot better if we had some highs in the teens...... glad mother nature is starting to get with the program.

[IceAddict87]

Waiting on ice.......

[New User Name]

It is looking like my December 15 prediction for Cedar Rapids will be pretty close. Maybe just a day or two early.

[Mr.Seaguar]

Looks like it will be here this week in Dickinson county.

[Joe Wayne]

Smaller ponds are starting to cap here in North Liberty today. If only this wind would settle down, we'd be making more progress.

[ecrooked]

Grimes, Iowa- A few retention ponds that hold fish, are frozen over-- Unknown what the thickness is, but I intend on checking tomorrow. I'd imagine its not more than an inch or two, but thats a good start!

[Bbushong]

Ecrooked,
I live in Grimes. I've always wanted to find something decent around town to fish quick after work for a couple hours. Is the fishing any good in those retention ponds? Anyone give you a hard time for being on them?

[New User Name]

Some ponds in Linn County were capped yesterday morning if they were somewhat sheltered from the wind. Other that are more exposed stayed open, as did ponds with aerators or a lot of geese.

Doesn't really matter if any given pond around here has skim ice or not right now, because the forecast for next week just keeps getting warmer. Where is that cold winter we were supposed to get this year?

[IceAddict87]

10 day sucks but things can change in a hurry. Either way we usually don’t get decent ice south of the Iowa Minnesota border til the first of the year. Most forecasters predicted a warmer to average December. With a cooler January to February. Stay positive.

[Bates]

Northern Iowa usually has/gets good ice by now. South of I-80 is different. Next 5 days suck for ice growth let alone 10 day.  The ice up here is not good and will be 2 weeks plus if extended forecast stays. Growing up, Thanksgiving was the start to the ice season up here and went into early April some years. Lakes locked up a few times already,  but this year doesn't look good.
 

[New User Name]

Quite a few years I have been fishing the ice on small ponds in Linn County by December 7. Not this year.

[crappeye]

Thinking 2 weeks yet. Small ponds just capped around here.

[ecrooked]

I tested a few ponds that were capped in Des Moines...definitely not enough ice. Maybe 1 1/2 inches, tops? Few weeks still.

[bert29]

anybody been out on Blackhawk Lake or bodies of water close to there? I'm thinking of road tripping up that way from Glenwood this Saturday if there is enough ice to fish on!

[Bates]

bert29
I drove around a few lakes a lot farther north than Blackhawk this morning. Lots of water on top and lots of open pockets, some of the marshes have open spots too. If the weather doesn't change, it'll be Christmas or after for good ice up here. The wind is really a killer, this weekend might get into the 40's and wind again after that.

[New User Name]

Who is ready for a week of high temps in the mid-forties in east-central Iowa? 

[sitandfish]

The end of next week looks like it might cool down. Highs in the 20's

[ecrooked]

Colder temps on the way in Des Moines...I would assume the cold snap will hit on 12/21- first teens in the overnight low- Then the ice should start churning out. Hope to be fishing ponds a day or so after xmas.

[IceAddict87]

Things are looking up that’s for sure. Going to IGL  New Years weekend so unless something changes drastically I will be fishing that weekend. Hopefully get on some smaller water by the end of the week of Christmas somewhere close to home before I head north.