Blackstrap 2014-2015

[jigapoolza]

Fished yesterday out from the park entrance got 4 walleye 2 small ones 1 21 inch and 1 23 inch I fshed from 2:30 till 5

[coldazice]

12 to 14 in  do think a guy can drive on it  this Saturday I like to bring the shack out   

plenty of ice for a small SUV, however I'd be cautious when adding a 500+ lb shack behind it. Last couple of years along with banks of the north end there was a lot of thin ice.

[gman51]

 do you mean where that truck went through coming off the rocks..? lol that was a classic.plenty of ice in some areas, but not everywhere. to each his own this time of year. i just don't like telling people it,s good to go. nor should anybody. that would their decision.

[coldazice]

do you mean where that truck went through coming off the rocks..? lol that was a classic.plenty of ice in some areas, but not everywhere. to each his own this time of year. i just don't like telling people it,s good to go. nor should anybody. that would their decision.

That is definitely a good example. Most importantly the "to each his own" can get you in trouble. People are way too confident when the ice is 2' thick seemingly everywhere and they forget about creek entrances and exits, Iroquois lake where I've fished for nearly 30 years has had many fall victim to this, as has constance lake, I've drilled late January in these lakes to find spots just 6" thick for a considerable distance.

When in doubt, drill holes, lots of them, stay away from shoreline drifts as they've been inhibiting ice development.

[AngusMacHuge]

Because I'm a total information geek, here's a copy of the Highways Ministry "Winter Roads Handbook".

http://www.saskmining.ca/uploads/news_files/79/winter-roads-handbook-for-safe-operations.pdf

Pages 17 and 18 have tables that give a very detailed specs on the load bearing capacity of clear/black/blue ice (metric & imperial units). Other pages detail how to account for variance in strength due to ice composition, defects, and temperature swings. I was surprised at how strong ice really is, and anyone who's seen Ice Road Truckers knows that you can load ice up quite a bit before it gives.

As discussed above though, it's the unpredictable nature of freeze up that mandates caution. According to the handbook, 12 inches of good ice can sustain a 12,000lb+ load, but the handbook doesn't tell you how thick the ice is 100 feet away or whether there's a big pressure crack under that next drift. My rule of thumb is never be the first truck/shack out at freeze up, and never be the last one off at melt.

[gman51]

 like you said 12-14" is plenty of ice for some people to drive on. just not for me.

[engineman]

12 to 14 in  do think a guy can drive on it  this Saturday I like to bring the shack out   

Probably if you take your time

[gman51]

wow that,s alot of informative reading Angus. good job.

[coldazice]

Because I'm a total information geek, here's a copy of the Highways Ministry "Winter Roads Handbook".

http://www.saskmining.ca/uploads/news_files/79/winter-roads-handbook-for-safe-operations.pdf

Pages 17 and 18 have tables that give a very detailed specs on the load bearing capacity of clear/black/blue ice (metric & imperial units). Other pages detail how to account for variance in strength due to ice composition, defects, and temperature swings. I was surprised at how strong ice really is, and anyone who's seen Ice Road Truckers knows that you can load ice up quite a bit before it gives.

As discussed above though, it's the unpredictable nature of freeze up that mandates caution. According to the handbook, 12 inches of good ice can sustain a 12,000lb+ load, but the handbook doesn't tell you how thick the ice is 100 feet away or whether there's a big pressure crack under that next drift. My rule of thumb is never be the first truck/shack out at freeze up, and never be the last one off at melt.

This is very good info, the key at this time of year is obviously inconsistent ice thickness due to drifts and other factors, also... People need to slow the heck down. Way too many people hit the ice and take off down the lake at 50km/h, this causes waves than can spell big trouble for the people in that vehicle or others.

[ToonFisher]

How about parking several trucks within 5 yards to the next to start a party?

[gman51]

going to head out today try an afternoon, evening fish. see what the boat launch is like it was drifted in the other day i know they do plow but of course not til the ice can hold the loader or back hoe. i will post tonight.

[BigJumb]

I would drive on if it's that thick. But I always drill first and take my own measurements. I had my diesel truck on 10-12" measured with tape measure and drove for a km or two.

[ran7ger]

 think of the commercial guys back in the day that used to run horse drawn sleighs out on 4", planes have landed on 6".   ice is incredibly strong, and elastic...that being said i still wait for 2ft before driving on simply due to lack of consistency and the fact that it's fishing.. not life or death.

 and despite what most guys think, walking won't kill you!  a doctor told me so.

[gman51]

not alot of action tonight did some hole hoping. beautiful evening moon was bright. did manage a couple 1.5lb eyes.some came in on the graph that looked but that's it. lost one right at dark  think i hooked the bottom of the ice with my blade bait. no perch. seen a huge whitie maybe 7-9 lbs. slowed down from the last 2 weeks that's for sure.

[goldenrod]

Anyone driving on the lake today? Hoping to drop the shack off at the north end tomorrow.

[corney]

There was one vehicle out on the North end of the lake yesterday. Smaller SUV.

Some shacks out at North End by the dam.

I would take the above advise and check it out as you go and make you own decisions.

[darrenf442]

i dont even think of driving on tell Christmas. Rather have my truck in the driveway then sticking halfway out of the ice.

[BigJumb]

You might need an extension by Christmas. Lol. Joking. Most ice on the reservoirs is a foot thick. Bradwell is even thicker.

[goldenrod]

15" everywhere we drilled- Evans road and the north end today. A few trucks and shacks out there; Not much biting what we had today.

[ToonFisher]

I saw some whitefish in the morning but got skunked at the south end of Blackstrap. Then I drove to Brightwater at noon and got non-stop action there until I left at ~4:00 pm. Ice was slightly over 1' and trucks were on. I iced 8 pikes in the 17-29" range, 2 small 4" perch, and lost over 5 pikes that either spit the lure or cut the fluorocarbon leader. I also saw buckets full of pikes nearby.

[dbdusty]

Fished from 1:30-5:00 at Evans Road, no sightings on the sonar....really slow.

[jigapoolza]

Fished from 3till5:30. Out from the park entrance caught 4small walleye

[gman51]

out on the south end last night, 2 pike on the flag, 4 small walleyes.couple bigger marks rolled in but just lookers.

[Tguns]

right on, any thing to worry about as far as ice conditions with this warm front coming? was hoping to try this weekend

[gman51]

a few people driving on from the boat launch. mostly 15-18" everywhere Ive been fishing. I'm still walking on.warm weather will soften it up   

[BigJumb]

I drilled in the middle of the lake through a large drift and still measured 13" so should be good. Everywhere else I drilled 16-17 in the north end. Caught 2 eyes and 6 perch from 3:45- 5:00. Caught nothing through the day but a Sun burn. 😊

[arron]

So do think a guy should drive a truck on the Ice  at the north end  with this weather being the way it is   
       

[gman51]

I'm gonna wait it out. for me its just not worth the risk. I'm doing fine right now walking on and catching. i like being mobile anyway don't have a permy to haul out.

[BlueDevil]

If I do make it down  there this weekend I will probably just park on the road and walk in.  I just wanna fire up my brand new auger! Lol!

[engineman]

have we lost much ice with this weather?