Champlain Valley Ice?

[perch bait]

The ice season is finally upon us it seems. Anyone been on ice in the Champlain Valley? Just checked the Carmi webcam and that is a no go for sure with lots of open water. Anyone been by Monkton Pond or Lake Iroquois yet? Hopefully this cold snap firms everything up nicely. Any information is welcomed. Thanks and be safe! PB

[paddock]

Monkton was frozen over when I drove past Sunday afternoon. Not sure how much snow they got yesterday, but the temps are right for making some good ice. Was hoping to check it out this Sunday or Monday.

[gofish22]

A buddy and I are taking the safety gear out and testing some ice in the area on Saturday morning. Will let you know how it goes.

[perch bait]

Thanks guys! Just make sure you take extra precautions before heading out! First ice is always unpredictable. Good luck. 

[dickbaker]

    perchbait,  Good to hear from your.  Looking to see some fish pictures during your
Holiday break!
Dick

[perch bait]

  perchbait,  Good to hear from your.  Looking to see some fish pictures during your
Holiday break!
Dick

You betcha Dick! So long as there aren't any drastic changes in the future forecast, then Crayfish2 and I should be on ice before we know it, hopefully with some success. Keep your eyes open for a report in the coming weeks.

[Fish Farmer]

I heard Fern Lake skimmed over.

[mudchuck]

The ice season is finally upon us it seems. Anyone been on ice in the Champlain Valley? Just checked the Carmi webcam and that is a no go for sure with lots of open water. Anyone been by Monkton Pond or Lake Iroquois yet? Hopefully this cold snap firms everything up nicely. Any information is welcomed. Thanks and be safe! PB

Jacob Arrowhead just locked up last night all the way to the rapids just above the highbridge, only 1-1/2" thick but building.

[perch bait]

That's good to hear! I don't seem to catch many fish through the ice there, but some of the perch are monsters. Wormy, but BIG!

[Rockin_n_Vermont]

Hoping to hit up Monkton this Sunday as well, if conditions stay cold.

[Rockin_n_Vermont]

Just got off the phone with Big River bait and tackle. He got word there's 3"-5" of ice on Monkton. Fish on!

[Fish Farmer]

South of the Champlain Bridge was locked up yesterday as was Dead Creek when we drove over it in Panton. The lake is still open at Converse/Basin Harbor/Arnold Bay if anyone want's to troll for salmon.

[flagfishon]

Colchester only had 2-3 today once you get more than 20 feet from shore.  I think I'll wait till next week. 

[Honest_John]

I walked out on Monkton this afternoon. There were holes drilled and they were fresh. I found about 4" of good lookin ice in all of them.

[perch bait]

Thanks for the updates guys! Sounds like we are getting close to having fishable ice on most of the inland ponds. Hopefully the rain in the forecast doesn't change that!       Tight lines.

[woodyvt]

Checked northern islands yesterday......cary bay 1.5"-2" dillenbeck 2.5"-3" guys out on missisquoi by church rd and by isle lamotte bridge area. Hope it helps....be safe!

[carmi-icefisher]

Carmi had 3 guys fishing off state park boat launch and couple guys off dewing shore yesterday afternoon. They all were aways out there.

[spot]

Shelburne Bay has ice near the South end but it doesn't go very far out and isn't solid yet.

[VTMatt]

Kelly bay had a group of guys on it. End of maquam had people on it in the shallow end. Lake is trying to freeze near popasquatch today, not sure how it will hold but it skimmed over last night.

[vtcountrychamp]

I have a duck blind on Shelburne Bay and hunted it the last two days. The ice on shore is over 9" thick, but its also a foot of water. I think with the wind and incoming rain, that bay will be open water for a while.

I fished dillionback for a few hours today. Had 5" in 6 feet of water, and there was guys all the way out in 20 feet of water. Very slow bite.

[flagfishon]

I heard someone lost an auger through the ice at Colchester Pond.  Glad they are ok.  Careful out there everyone.  The ice may be thick enough under you, but you never know where there is a bubble that didn't freeze or a spring that is keeping the ice thin in one spot.

[DirtyDan23]

I heard someone lost an auger through the ice at Colchester Pond.  Glad they are ok.  Careful out there everyone.  The ice may be thick enough under you, but you never know where there is a bubble that didn't freeze or a spring that is keeping the ice thin in one spot.

Thats crazy! I was thinking about heading out there tomorrow morning. Thought there would be at least 4" by now :/  Any idea where this happened??  Thanks for the heads up!

[dbldnii]

How is the ice on Colchester?

[spot]

There's ice near the Mallets Bay access, but it does not go out very far.

[flagfishon]

Thats crazy! I was thinking about heading out there tomorrow morning. Thought there would be at least 4" by now :/  Any idea where this happened??  Thanks for the heads up!

I don't know much more. I heard this second hand. 

[spot]

Might be out in the boat on Champlain next week, as long as the shore ice isn't too heavy. I don't trust any of the ice I've seen just yet.

[WVBoy]

We are locked up here on Northern Champlain, but not enough to give me warm fuzzies about. Theres been a few brave souls out there but not this guy, especially after the rain and wind we got yesterday. Cold weather from here on out should help as along as we dont get alot of snow to insulate the ice, should be good by the weekend. I'll take a drive around tomorrow and do some measurments.

[vtcountrychamp]

There was a guy on one of the Facebook forums fishing on 5-6" of black ice today, on St. Albans Bay.

[spot]

There was a guy on one of the Facebook forums fishing on 5-6" of black ice today, on St. Albans Bay.

5-6 in facebook inches is like 2-3 in regular inches. 

[bootstrap]

fished mccuens/10 acres area a couple times with very little to show for it. 4-5 inches good ice. should have gone farther south.