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Author Topic: When Will We Walk on Water?  (Read 6786 times)

Offline IceAddict87

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When Will We Walk on Water?
« on: Oct 22, 2018, 07:32 AM »
What is everyone’s best guess? I’m hoping it’s around Christmas for me. Winter forecasts have been favorable and this fall has been one of the coolest I can remember for quite awhile. Soil temps are already below 50 for a good portion of the state.

Offline Bryfish84

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #1 on: Oct 22, 2018, 07:54 AM »
I’m going to guess right around the first of the year here in central Iowa. Right around Christmas for the northern part of the state. 

Offline matzilla

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #2 on: Oct 22, 2018, 08:51 AM »
I could care less how soon we get good ice, i just hope it sticks around for quite a while.

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Offline Unclegillhunter

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #3 on: Oct 22, 2018, 10:28 AM »
Hope for early that stays. Too often you get good ice then warm weather and then you have junk ice for the season!
Keep it safe! JDL

Offline Crappyfishrman

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #4 on: Nov 09, 2018, 08:45 AM »
Here in dubuque. I’m thinking first or second week in December I’ll be on a couple of inches! That’s my prediction!!

Offline matzilla

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #5 on: Nov 09, 2018, 11:29 AM »
I'm hoping I can make it up that way at least once this year

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Offline hotrod

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #6 on: Nov 14, 2018, 11:24 AM »
I would think any day now...be careful out there!
"I never go ice fishing without my Vexilar" ~Dave Genz
www.fishingwithtoddree d.com

Offline New User Name

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #7 on: Nov 15, 2018, 09:52 AM »
This weather is quite the tease.  ;D

The warm-up/return to normal temps for mid-November keeps getting pushed back another day or two, and the ice gets just a little thicker on the small ponds around Linn County each day.

No ice around here is remotely safe to walk on, unless you are a duck, but the cold temps keep sticking around and I start thinking that just maybe we will have safe ice sooner than I expect.

Not gonna happen down here, but I have to wonder if some small waters in the north part of the state might not be ice-fishable by the first part of next week.
The user formerly known as Midnight Rambler.

Offline New User Name

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #8 on: Nov 18, 2018, 01:19 PM »
If the snow would have missed northern Iowa I probably would have made a drive north today and started checking ponds before I got to Waterloo. I bet I would have found good ice by the time I got to New Hampton.

As is, based on the current forecasts I am going to have to wait at least two weeks before making that drive.
The user formerly known as Midnight Rambler.

Offline IceAddict87

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #9 on: Nov 28, 2018, 10:14 PM »
Definitely going to be fishing soon. Deer hunting is gonna be a bit on the chilly side this year!

Offline Shack man Shoney

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #10 on: Nov 29, 2018, 05:13 PM »
I saw a very thin skim on some backwater on Red Rock this morning.... Put the deer to rest and its gonna be GAME ON SOON!!!

Offline IceAddict87

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #11 on: Nov 29, 2018, 09:28 PM »
I just hope we could get some safe ice on red rock this year. Fished it a couple times last year and when it’s on, it on down there!

Offline Huntindave

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #12 on: Dec 01, 2018, 07:34 PM »
Now!!

Thursday Nov. 29th fished Clear Lake,,, 4-6 inches ice thickness but some thinner spots could be seen, even a bit of open water.


Friday Nov. 30th fished Lake Hendericks,,, 6 inches solid ice,,, open water (as expected all season) over by the areator and flock of geese.


Don't know what effect this rain and predicted snow will affect things.
take care,
Dave  :>)

Offline IceAddict87

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #13 on: Dec 02, 2018, 06:45 AM »
Now!!

Thursday Nov. 29th fished Clear Lake,,, 4-6 inches ice thickness but some thinner spots could be seen, even a bit of open water.


Friday Nov. 30th fished Lake Hendericks,,, 6 inches solid ice,,, open water (as expected all season) over by the areator and flock of geese.


Don't know what effect this rain and predicted snow will affect things.

This week looks like we are headed in the right direction in central Iowa. Headed up near okoboji the 14-15th for some family Christmas’. Hopefully get to go fishing then!

Offline Unclegillhunter

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #14 on: Dec 02, 2018, 03:06 PM »
Looking at the forecast for the week hopefully Sunday!
Keep it safe! JDL

Offline Mr.Seaguar

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #15 on: Dec 02, 2018, 05:37 PM »
The forecast is pretty cold, followed by really cold and then some more pretty cold.
Every plastics manufacturer claims plastics outfish livebait. So now I use livebait just for the increased challenge.

Offline Agronomist_at_IA

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #16 on: Dec 02, 2018, 09:48 PM »
I just ordered some bait from vados......Hope to be dropping a line in Mill creek this coming weekend.

Offline bert29

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #17 on: Dec 03, 2018, 09:49 AM »
I too, just ordered some maggots from Vados--shipped today, and I'll get them Tuesday (tomorrow). Not sure if we'll have fishable ice down here in SW Iowa around Glenwood, but with these really cold temps (highs in teens and low 20's, it might be possible by weekend.


Offline New User Name

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #18 on: Dec 04, 2018, 12:11 PM »
The northern half or so of the state should be in pretty good shape by this weekend, barring a bunch of snow.

Down here by I-80 and points south things will be a little sketchier. Pretty big difference in the low temps coming later this week between say, Mason City and Cedar Rapids.
The user formerly known as Midnight Rambler.

Offline Agronomist_at_IA

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #19 on: Dec 04, 2018, 07:09 PM »
Bait came today and is in great shape. Very happy.

Offline yakker13

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #20 on: Dec 05, 2018, 11:47 AM »
Bait came today and is in great shape. Very happy.

Never had a bad batch from Vados. Some usually survive in my fridge into the summer.

Offline New User Name

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #21 on: Dec 05, 2018, 11:48 AM »
Forecast lows for Cedar Rapids the next five days: 20, 8, 13, 15, 16. Highs in the mid-thirties today, then nothing above freezing through Sunday.

Forecast lows for Clear Lake, IA the next five days: 12, 1, 3, 9, 8. Nothing above freezing.

It is a two-hour drive from the north side of CR to CL if you don't stop for anything. It is of course normally a little cooler in Clear Lake on any given day, but the difference between the forecast temps for the two cities right now is a bit more than normal for whatever reason. That is why I am not sure about safe ice down here for this weekend.
The user formerly known as Midnight Rambler.

Offline Huntindave

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #22 on: Dec 05, 2018, 03:05 PM »
I've been fishing the last several days (retired)  ;D   I live in Shell Rock.  North of here has 6 inches of fishable ice most areas but not all.  South of here gets sketchy fast.  Cedar Falls, again depends on exactly where you are,  I was on 3 inches today.
take care,
Dave  :>)

Offline New User Name

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #23 on: Dec 07, 2018, 01:52 PM »
I checked a couple of decent ponds in Cedar Rapids yesterday and this morning.

Yesterday they had maybe .5 of ice at the shoreline.

After the lows of about 10 last night, those same ponds had maybe 2" of ice at shore. No more than 2".

2" might be enough for some guys, but I am neither skinny enough nor brave enough to try it myself.  ;D
The user formerly known as Midnight Rambler.

Offline matzilla

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #24 on: Dec 12, 2018, 07:55 AM »
Fished 4" on my pond yesterday in SE Iowa - I wouldn't go on it at all after tomorrow

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Offline New User Name

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #25 on: Dec 12, 2018, 11:56 AM »
I checked a couple other small ponds by Iowa City on Saturday afternoon. I didn't think it had gotten quite cold enough to make things safe for fishing on them, and I was right.

These ponds had a fair bit of runoff going in to them, and I found less than 2" of ice at the shore.

I haven't had a chance to check anything since. The ice on those ponds probably thickened up for a bit after Saturday, but I am not going to bother looking at them now after temps warmed up yesterday.

Looking at the forecasts for the rest of December I have a hunch we will not be ice-fishing down here until New Year's. Might be a ways in to January before bigger waters around here like Macbride are safe.
The user formerly known as Midnight Rambler.

Offline lebruce

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #26 on: Dec 13, 2018, 07:54 AM »
 Saturday I fished at robin's lake off from Ellis in CR about 2 1/2" there.   Sunday I found 3" on MacBride on the East face bank just before exiting the main park just down hill from the 2nd to last parking spot. I drill 15 holes with the furthest being about 30 yards out. Monday fished MacBride off sailboat ramp and to the East with a steady 2 1/2" . Tuesday went off the cottage ramp at MacBride  to the South found 3" there. Started heading towards the power lines but the ice wasn't to stable there do to the sun and rock shore line's.  A co worker said he had 4" Sat. on his pond by interstate 80.  I wear a flotation suit so I'm willing to fish skinny ice.  ;D

Offline Mr.Seaguar

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #27 on: Dec 13, 2018, 10:10 AM »
All for some slimy little fish
Every plastics manufacturer claims plastics outfish livebait. So now I use livebait just for the increased challenge.

Offline New User Name

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #28 on: Dec 13, 2018, 02:47 PM »
I might try 2.5" of very good new ice, but am less likely to do so the older I get.

I'm glad people got out and back safe around here, but with the temps around here over the last few days that 2.5" or 3" of ice was probably not the strongest stuff. Not sorry I passed on it.

The user formerly known as Midnight Rambler.

Offline yakker13

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Re: When Will We Walk on Water?
« Reply #29 on: Dec 13, 2018, 06:15 PM »
40+* for the next 5 or 6 days here in the Grinnell area so we're probably done for a bit. Had 4-5" on most places I fished this week but those could get sketchy by the weekend. Hopefully will get some cold temps as I'm off from the 22nd to the 2nd! May have to head north sometime.

 



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