the Chain?

[Lac Suel Freak]

Chain o lakes Ice thickness anyone??

[180 Pro]

Most areas on the chain look like black ice...have seen others on the lakes but it's probably travel at your own risk.

[John_BZ]

i checked out a few lakes this afternoon. pistakees shore was crappy but people were out there. same with petite and channel. i will be on petite tomorrow morning. seems to be around 4-5" of ice. be ready to walk the plank ye skurvey dogs.

[GWK]

there are reports of someone going through pistakee. they have search crews and divers out there. be careful

[eyestroker]

there are reports of someone going through pistakee. they have search crews and divers out there. be careful

search is called off.   Anybody who even thinks about it is totally nuts.   We barely had 6 inches of ice this year with @ least 2 inches of crap ice.  Stuff is gonna be honeycombing like a son of a gun.   If your getting on iffy ice don't let it be deep water, Don't be alone,  don't not have rope, throwable,picks, spud,  actually just don't go.  You are not only endangering yourself but the folks that will try to save you.........

[Hardwaterhunter]

 So let's be dumb and not be safe, so are families can feel the pain of us dieing. I'm telling you there is going to be one more snap yet, be patient. 

[John_BZ]

i hit the chain today. still 6" of ice. shoreline required a plank but once on everything was good and firm. toward noon it softened on top but underneath was still hard. that said i wasnt adventurous and stayed away from suspect areas. from 7-12 we caught about 100 or so mixed bag. was non stop action. between two of us we had about 40 keepers. mostly white bass with crappie mixed in. got a nice channel cat on 3lb test. here is my half of the booty. nothing special but im happy.

[180 Pro]

Hey eyestroker, did they call it off, due to it being a hoax or did someone go in?

[180 Pro]

Update........please be careful guys....

Staff report

3:06 p.m. CST, February 4, 2012

The body of a 29-year-old fisherman was recovered this morning from a lake near northwest suburban Johnsburg after he reportedly fell into the water Friday night.

Justin Ribar of Wonder Lake was pronounced dead at 11:12 a.m., soon after the body was recovered, according to the McHenry County Coronor's office. While an autopsy is scheduled for Monday, officials suspect that he drowned.

Emergency crews were called to 3320 N. Rocky Beach Lane in Johnsburg after a fisherman was reported “yelling for help’’ after possibly falling into Pistakee Lake, according to a McHenry County Sheriff’s police sergeant. The first call came in about 6 p.m. Friday.

The search Friday night centered around Coon Island in the lake, the sergeant said. It was called off about 10 p.m., according to officials with the McHenry Township Fire Protection District.

Divers, crews with sonar and others from several area emergency agencies resumed the search about 8 a.m. today.

[eyestroker]

Hey eyestroker, did they call it off, due to it being a hoax or did someone go in?

i guess I phrased it wrong.  Shoulda said called off for the night,  Sorry if it was misconstrued.........   Anyways,  my thoughts go to the family.  I also want to say i'm sorry for being a bit too real in other posts, but I still think this "accident"  was totally preventable.  As much as we want to rationalize that "it could happen to any of us"  thats a  excuse.   Use your noodle and take precautions,  and if you do go in you most likely will survive survive,  but most likely if you don't chance it you won't go in..........   

[Lac Suel Freak]

Thanks for the replies guys. Iam thinking about this coming saturday. I know we are supposed to get cold freezing nights and barley get over 32 daytime hi's for a 5 day stretch with a few teens and a single digit night too. I hope it brings enough back for another weekend of fun. Just to let you know I inquired about the chain because the spot I go is 3 to 4 feet max and wanted  to know if it was even worth the trip. I never go alone and would not chance it even in shallow water. I have a family and want to assume as little risk as possible. Be safe everyone. I had 10" last weekend in northern Illinois(not the Chain) the same place has 4" to 5" now. Hoping to re-up on 2" or so this week and get 3 days in over the weekend and early the following week.

[John_BZ]

it should be okay. im looking to get out again on saturday myself. my best fishing has been at 16-18ft so im hoping the forecast doesnt change. i didnt see any single digits in the forecast but a couple nights around 15 sure aint gonna hurt. i dont see a temp above freezing until sunday. the shorelines will still probably be on the thin side