Tackle Shack/ Tioga County Ice 2016/17!

[tackleshack]

Good Morning Ice Shanty,

Well things are really shaping up here around Tioga County.  The ponds have skimmed over a few times now and patches of ice formed on some of the smaller lakes too.  The current forecast sure looks like we will be fishing soon.  We will continue to post reports again this year.  I might try to take a look at some of the lakes tomorrow, but I don't expect any significant ice for another 10 days or so.  Ice around Christmas is probably a fair guess. 

Today, we awoke to a light blanket of snow.  It sure feels good to see Old Man Qinter making his appearance in December again .




Good luck, stay safe, and for all your gear and live bait, stop by and see us before hitting the ice.

Don

[tackleshack]

Hills Creek was starting to look good yesterday.  We've got some great ice building weather in the forecast. About 3/4 of the lake had a nice skim on it.  Granted, much of that probably melted off too, but the lakes are primed and ready for the next burst of cold air.

12/6/17 Beaver Huts launch (stumps end)

[tackleshack]

Here's a little piece from our Ice Fishing Open House, showcasing some of the great new products from Eskimo Ice Fishing Gear and Striker Ice. We have so many great products in store this year. Stop down and check them out!

Looking really good to be fishing on some of the smaller waters next weekend.  We're going to take a look at the lakes on Tuesday and update conditions probably Friday night for the weekend.  If not next weekend, it will be very soon after that we're fishing!  Be safe out there.

Don

[NEZ]

Don, can't wait to get up there.  How's your bait?  Nez

[tackleshack]

Don, can't wait to get up there.  How's your bait?  Nez

Nez,

light on bait at the moment.  We will be fully stocked Wednesday and will have plenty the rest of the year.  I expect fishable ice by next weekend.

Don

[tackleshack]

 Hamilton and Beechwood were almost completely wide open today. Both are likely unfishable this weekend, but we'll see. More updates later this week!  Hills Creek looks like it could be fishable as long as we avoid a lot of snow and we get the subzero temps that are forecasted for this week. 

We are doing more with videos this year.  I hope you will find these useful.

Don

[tackleshack]

It's pretty nasty out here this morning!  I'd guess 4-5 inches of snow are on the ground here at the shop. With thin ice on all the lakes, I strongly suggest staying off all of them until this passes and everything cools down again.  Hopefully it warms up enough to melt some of this snow down.  At the moment, theres 2.5 to just over 3 on Hills Creek and this snow is not helping any.  The other lakes have mostly, even less ice.  We will update again in a few days, probably Tuesday. 

We will be open every day till Christmas.  Stop by and check out some of the new gear! 

Have a good day,
Don

[tackleshack]

In talking with customers these last few days, it sounds like most everything is capped with ice.  These bitter cold nights the last few days have been a big help. We walked on about 4-4 1/4" on Hills Creek this morning and we should continue to make ice through tonight.  We checked out Beechwood too and found it capped, but I didn't get a good measurement.  Guys have been fishing on Hills these past few days and on some of the local ponds.  Hopefully the weather shifts to a little bit colder and we make some more ice before the new year.

We will plan on being open every day but Christmas these next few weeks.  After January 3rd, we'll resume our 6 day schedule and take Tuesdays off.  I need a day to fish too .  See you all on the ice!  We'll update conditions after Christmas again.  Until then, good luck and be safe. 

Have a great holiday.

Don

[tackleshack]

Conditions updated in the reports section. 

Hills Creek is fishable and in good shape.  Hamilton and the Corps lakes are unfishable.  I haven't had a report from Beechwood and haven't been up there, but judging by the shape Hamilton is in, I would assume that it is also unfishable.

(EDIT)- talked to a couple people today that found decent ice at the boat launch on Beechwood.  Will try to get up there and update later this week.

Update video here-

Good luck and be safe out there.

Finish out 2016 and bring in the new year with some ice fishing this weekend!

Don

[tackleshack]

12/30  Guys, we got a bunch of snow last night and it is still coming down.  I would say there is 3-4 inches out there now.  If you're fishing this weekend, Hills Creek and Beechwood are both in good shape.

Hamilton was not fishable these last few days and with snow on top its going to look a lot more inviting than it is.  Much of the ice around the boat launch melted away and towards the dam, the ice was junk. We haven't had good temps to build much more ice this week. Customers yesterday noted that it looked like someone broke through testing the ice down from the parking lot by the dam.  It needs some time yet.

Hills Creek has about 5-5.5" on it.  Fished there last night and the ice is in good shape.

Good luck and be safe out there.  We will be open all weekend

Today (Friday) 6AM-6PM
Saturday- 6AM-6PM
Sunday (New Years Day)- 6AM-3PM
Monday-8AM-6PM
Tuesday-8AM-2PM
Don

[tackleshack]

We will be updating conditions for the area lakes tomorrow night.  We got a decent amount of rain yesterday and into the night.  Temps will hit the low 40's today, then its back to below freezing for the next week.  As of last night, Hills Creek was still in good shape and after tonight, it will start making ice again through the weekend.  Judging by the amount of water in some of the creeks, I'm pretty confident water levels came up on Hamilton, which likely means the edges are shot.  Again, after today things should improve.

We will update conditions tomorrow night.  I will do my best to have everything posted before 11 or so.  We will check Beechwood, Hamilton, and Hills Creek.  Sunday, I will shoot for Cowanesque and Hammond.  Both were not ready before the rain, and likely are in worse shape now, so we'll check them out a few days later.

Good luck and be safe out there.

Don

[deer george]

Thanks Don it really helps guys like us that don't live close by or know some one to call. Thanks Geo.....

[tackleshack]

Thanks Don it really helps guys like us that don't live close by or know some one to call. Thanks Geo.....

No problem.  Glad to help

Don

[tackleshack]

Love it when the delivery truck shows up! 2 pallets of ice gear! Ions, 2 man shanties, sleds, and more are back in stock!




Reports updated for Hamilton, Hills Creek, and Beechwood in the reports section.  I will try to take a look at Cowanesque and Hammond on Sunday.  With this forecast, I believe both should be fishable by then. 

Good luck and be safe out there.

Don

[NEZ]

Was up today.  Lots of ice fishing gear and jigs.  Can't wait to get the new widow maker out.  Seems to be much more sensitive than the quick tips I got.  Thanks for all the new gear.  See you soon.  Nez

[tackleshack]

Was up today.  Lots of ice fishing gear and jigs.  Can't wait to get the new widow maker out.  Seems to be much more sensitive than the quick tips I got.  Thanks for all the new gear.  See you soon.  Nez

Enjoy the new gear!  You'll love that widowmaker.  Paired with the Black Betty, its hard to beat.

Thanks for stopping in.

Don

[Pennell07]

Just wanted to vouch for all the quality ice gear and knowledge available at the tackle shack. Don's got a great shop!

[tackleshack]

Just wanted to vouch for all the quality ice gear and knowledge available at the tackle shack. Don's got a great shop!

Thanks! We appreciate your business!  Hope to see you again soon.

Don

[tackleshack]

Sick of line tangling on your spinning reels? Grab an inline reel and spend more time fishing. We've got them to match any budget. 

Best of all?  You can demo them here and find the one that fits you, instead of guessing and ordering online.

[NEZ]

Are you trying to make me buy another one…I already have 5 inlines (3bettys, one #8 and one eagle claw) ::)new betty's are nice

[tackleshack]

Are you trying to make me buy another one…I already have 5 inlines (3bettys, one #8 and one eagle claw) ::)new betty's are nice

The only thing better than 5 inlines, is 6 ... 

Lovin these free falls!

[tackleshack]

Getting some rain today in Tioga County, and most of PA from the looks of the radar.  With 8+ inches of good ice, at least the smaller lakes should hold up well.  Hamilton will depend on how much rain we get.  The edges will be lost if the lake rises.  The same is true for the Corps lakes. It is cooling down to below freezing again tonight and the next few days look good with below freezing highs. We will head out and check out the lakes tomorrow night.  Expect to see lots of water on the ice today if you go out.  Watch out for old holes that open up too!

Good luck and be safe out there.
Don
 

[tackleshack]

Attention Tackle Shack Customers...

We will be CLOSED on Wednesday 1/25, Thursday 1/26, and will reopen on or before noon on Friday 1/27.

We will be attending a 3 day dealer show to buy product for the rest of the year.  If all goes well, we'll come back with some cool stuff too .

Sorry for the inconvenience.  We will do our best to be here as early as possible on Friday, but it is roughly a 4 hour drive. 


Also,

We will open early at  5AM this Saturday, January 21st for the Ice Fishing Across Pennsylvania derby on Hills Creek Lake.

Tourney details here- http://www.pahardwater.com/

We will also open early at 5AM on Saturday, January 28th for the Mansfield University Fisheries & Aquaculture Club ice fishing tournament on Hamilton Lake.

Tourney details here- https://www.facebook.com/337908726363482/photos/pcb.790862031068147/790861871068163/?type=3&theater


Thank you!
Don

[tackleshack]

Just a reminder....

We will be closed Tuesday through Thursday this week and we will reopen by Noon on Friday.  We are closed most every Tuesday in the winter.  With the way the weather is, the ice could be in rough shape till next weekend anyway.  We will try to get some updates before leaving, and again before reopening on Friday.

For live bait during this time,  please see our friends at Cooper's Sporting Goods in Mansfield.  570-662-3429



Also,

Thank you to everyone that stopped in before or after yesterday's derby on Hills Creek!  We met lots of awesome people and lots of newcomers to the sport.  Glad to hear everyone had a good time.  Great job by the derby organizers.

Thanks!
Don

[tackleshack]

Rain, rain go away.
Melt the ice another day
Bring on the snow! Bring on the cold!
This warm weather is getting old
The other three seasons are all very nice
But now it is winter, so let there be ICE!


Be careful out there folks. The ice has been beat up these last few days. After Wednesday it should start healing up and building again. We should be fishing again next weekend on better ice if this forecast holds true Think lots of cold thoughts and let's invite Old Man Winter back to stay for another month or so.