Tested the ice today

[Jack978]

On Pushaw.  About 3.5 inches so not ready yet but soon.  I drilled the hole very near shore as I don't have a death wish. 

[DowneastPescador]

Thanks Jack. Pretty soon.

[Bottle_O_Moxie]

Have enjoyed fishing Pushaw.   Those big humpback white perch....very tasty. 
Hope this high wind today doesn't break up the ice that has formed there.
 

[woodchip]

Ice must have made up more last night in Cumberland at 3am it was 13 deg, Anxious to start putting in some Perch filllets in freezer and stomach

[Anomaly]

Ice must have made up more last night in Cumberland at 3am it was 13 deg, Anxious to start putting in some Perch filllets in freezer and stomach

I'm gonna be over some crappies tomorrow!

[grub662]

7 inches on a pond in my area.

[nbourque]

On Pushaw.  About 3.5 inches so not ready yet but soon.  I drilled the hole very near shore as I don't have a death wish.

More than enough for me to fish lol

[woodchip]

I can catch a lot of crappies in spring but ive tried all around on same pond and just cant find them tru ice!!!!

[eiderz]

I can catch a lot of crappies in spring but ive tried all around on same pond and just cant find them tru ice!!!!

One way to catch them is at sunrise and sunset. If the pond has any zooplankton in it the crappies may suspend in mid depth water (15-30' typically) and move with the zooplankton as it emerges around sunset and settles back down before sunrise. Otherwise they can be anywhere in the water column. We typically swiss cheese an area we suspect has crappie, 100 holes 10 paces apart is not a lot. Walk from hole to hole and check for marks. Once you find them, they usually hang around a small area.

[Coach]

I checked several places yesterday, Halls Pond, Canton Lake, & Worthley and all had less than 2" of ice, but hopefully all made more ice last night. Now lets hope the Snow coming does not ruin it as I am ready to go fish

[woodchip]

Just heard from a neighbor on Caribou lake and he Measured 4" of ice today. Getting closer

[Jack978]

Pushaw had ice skaters on it today January 6th. The ice is from shore to shore and looks solid.  I am going to check ice depth again Monday and hopefully Tuesday give it a try.  Wednesday doesn't look good, but I think I can sneak in before the storm sets us back again.  Tomorrow is dedicated to assembling my Smitty sled kit that finally got here and doing a few mods to the sled.   I won't actually need it to fish Tuesday, but we are using Tuesday to test all the new equipment my friends bought and get the kinks out close to home.

[Jack978]

Bored 5 holes starting near shore and working out to about 250 feet offshore.  Had consistent black ice of 4 to 5 inches.  Ran by the bait shop and picked up 3 dozen shiners and tomorrow we hit the ice.  There was a sketchy looking spot about half a mile from where I stopped but I think we are in business.   For some reason that spot always looks bad but there are no springs or current or inlets anywhere near it.  The water there is knee deep and then drops off to around 10 feet slowly going to a max of 15.  We will just stick with the cove I'm in and call it good.

[Brian VT]

Upper Range. 1/11/24 @ noon.
2" of water on the 2-3" of ice near shore. Water level will be dropping as the storm water goes over the dam.
More warm and snow and rain on the way before the cold comes back. Not looking good. :-(

[Seamonkey84]

So probably good for shore fishing or launching a boat on Sunday  ?

[Brian VT]

Yup. I might have to drag the kayaks back out of storage. lol

[woodchip]

Here in Cumberland and Gray id have to use my Canoe to test the ice right now temp is 37 deg.

[Brian VT]

They're fishing at the boat ramp on Upper Range again today. The path through the swamp across from the cell tower road has open water.
Middle Range is still mostly open water. I didn't check Lower Range but the outflow going into Poland Village has open water.
Tripp is frozen over but I didn't see anyone out there.

[woodchip]

Looking at weather map for the next week or so ,a few nights will be in single digets , so next week ill probaly be able to start to stock up my freezer with Crappie and perch fillets. Because of this last rain  around inlets  and spring holes  will be a lot of thin ice. if we get a snow cover it will be bad for fishermen with no local awareness. ( please all be very careful)   Carry a rope with a float on one end

[darby74]

Went to Cabelas today.  Wife got her float bibs, and ordered a jacket.  The float suit is the first step, certainly an investment,  but the right call given the past few years.  I was always taught that all accidents are a "chain of events" the key is breaking the chain.  Ive said it many times, but have a plan and gear for the "Oh fu.."  Send the biggest guy (me in my group) out on a rope to drill or spud, and be prepared for the worse.  Headed North in 2 weeks, and will give an ice report.  Big lake and I fish sketchy area.  Be safe everyone

[Anomaly]

Checked a medium pond today that had good ice before this last storm. I'd say the ice was still fine but the pond was up at least 1.5'. Once the water level drops, it'll be good! Crappies... Where I fished Friday, there was solid black ice 7 -9".

[Brian VT]

Walked down to Upper Range at lunch time. There were people fishing near the west shore and near the south swamp.

[woodchip]

I cut a hole in my farm pond a few min. ago and 5" of solid ice, its been a little colder up there so probaly 6" of ice , My ice was 2" clear and 3" FROM SLUSH  but i was able to walk around with no cracking at all . The spring holes are clear all the way tru, looks like a couple of more days small ponds  and lakes will be safe ,But we all need to stay away from inlets.

[Anomaly]

Weather and Temps looking like the right direction the next few days!!! With water levels dropping, we should  be able to get there!!!  I'd really like to get on these ones!!! maybe next week!!!

[woodchip]

Boy thats the biggest Yellow ive ever seen new state record, Some good fillets there. 24 deg. here this morn,  it just started snowing driveway now white,

[Anomaly]

Boy thats the biggest Yellow ive ever seen new state record, Some good fillets there. 24 deg. here this morn,  it just started snowing driveway now white,

Yeah, I caught a coupe a little bigger. The State record came fro the same pond. The bio said one of mine would have been in the running... But we're talking measures of a 1/4 inch and an ounce, more or less...

[woodchip]

Yellow  perch Record for yellow perch  was By Martina Drugovich  16" 2.12 lbs ---- Lake Erie was 2.98 lbs  16 7/8" girth

[Anomaly]

Yellow  perch Record for yellow perch  was By Martina Drugovich  16" 2.12 lbs ---- Lake Erie was 2.98 lbs  16 7/8" girth

New York as of this year...
3 lb. 8 oz.
Current State Records
Current State Record Fish as of January 1, 2024
Species   Weight   Date
Perch, Yellow   3 lb. 8 oz.   4/28/1982

[woodchip]

I read that in order to get big Yellow perch size they need Fresh water shrimp. The state has stocked them in some Lakes??

[gola yona]

That 16 incher would have been good seed for future generations.