Anybody getting ice yet?

[darkhousefisher]

Billings has to be the San Diego of Montana, I swear it's always 15 degrees warmer here than the rest of the state .  At this rate we aren't ever going to get ice.

[ratkilr]

 Been cold here near Miles City. Local lake looks thick enough. Course I did not have spud bar or drill to see thickness.
 South Sandstone should be safe. It is always colder there than here.
 Gotta go check the freezer to see how much smelt I have left in my reserve freezer.
 Haven't seen smelt sold locally for awhile. Any stores in SE montana selling it?
 Dickenson ND food stores always seem to have it but not here.
 Ratkilr

[Whatpole]

The local lake (Spotted Eagle) has about 6 inches of very clear ice on it. I had to make sure the auger would start yesterday, and take the kiddo sledding. Let us know how Sandstone is when you get back. 

[Icejigs]

South of Bozeman and can you drive to the lake or do you need a sled?

[Seedtree]

Weatherman is hinting that we might, just might, get some colder weather by the upcoming weekend.  Also hinting that this could be the start of maybe a pattern change to a cooler than normal stretch.  That's just what the doctor ordered.

Tight lines.

[Walltrout]

Sounds great to me!!!  I have been watching the thermometer every day and it is killing me. 

[Earl_Gray]

Even though weather has been warm we still have ice on the Hi-line.
Lower Beaver creek is a little iffy. I noticed that ice is thined out or melted away at the shore lines so be very careful when you step out. Last Tues. I found seven inches to be the average once you were away from the shallows.
Dry Fork a good eight inches seems solid. I bored 15 holes looking for Pearch and Northern on Thur (yesterday) Pretty uniform no matter where I drilled. The ice is melting up close to the stumps and brush that sticks up thorugh the ice. Again this warm weather has had it's effect on the ice.
I hear Fresno has eight to ten inches but again I haven't been out on it to check. I do hear that there are a number of spear fishing  shantys in place in some of the bays.
Above all be careful. Have fun!!

[Walltrout]

I got out today 12/16 at the Causeway on Hauser for a few hours.  There was 4-5 inches still and it was making more.  I didn't catch any but some guys that got there before me had some nice trout.  I took my 2 year old daughter so I wasn't on a serious trip. We still had fun although playing hide and seek in a portable shelter just isn't the same.

[icefich]

I was up on Lake Francis 12/4/06 and there was 6-7 inches of good hard ice. I don't know how it is now though with all the warm weather.

Stay on the dry side guys, and live to fish another day!