Praying for Ice

[mt.perchman]

Wife and I went up elk hunting yesterday at about 7700' . Hit a large water hole with the truck and busted through 1 1/2 ice !!!
Its on its way !!!!

Mt.Perchman
oh ps. no elk ...

[JiggerDan]

67* as I type this. You're not the only one praying for ice.

[missoulafish]

I bet there is fishable ice in that picture somewhere!!!!!

[DAPOS]

So here it is.  Built my first prototype of an automatic jigging machine over the past 2 days (JIGALO).  Holy crap!  This thing is awesome.  It's battery powered, fits into an ammo can, and is controlled by a mini computer which means I can dictate any  jig sequence I choose, then repeat it . . . or change as desired.  Can't wait for ice-up.  I can picture four of my lip-ripper tip-ups spread out while the "JIGALO" sits next to me as I jig a traditionally rod.  This aught to be a killer set up for "eyes" on the Montana Highline or for perch at CF.  Let the games begin.  I'm stoked for hardwater.   

Hey SI, was there a photo included here of your jigalo? Missed it if there was

[vicster]

georgetown lake cam shows ice starting to reach out a ways from the shore lines, far from capped but supposed to be -15 tonight and cold throughout the week.  Once it caps it will not take long,  I bet by the weekend....

[slickice]

Hey DAPOS.  No photos of the JIGALO yet.  Been too busy butchering my elk but they'll be available really soon (1 or 2 days). I want to take a video of it but am not very savvy at uploading things onto this forum.  Last year I forwarded my "Lip-Ripper" photos and drawings via email to another member who posted them for me.  Any members reading this post are welcome to help me with getting these onto this site.  I've joined photo bucket last year and still can't get photos or videos posted here. 

[missoulafish]

Slick, put them on photobucket again and we will figure it out:)

[da man cave shack]

I just hope we can all get some good ice soon.

[BloodShotP]

Hell Yea GrizzHack - Need to plan our Peck trip soon.

 That Georgetown shot has got me all jacked up...Is this weekend possible?? 4 more nights of below zero will sure help. 

[missoulafish]

I'd say you could fish Gtown this weekend in a few places.

[mt.redneck]

Lake Josephine here by billings had some ice in spots this morning as did a very slow side channel on the yellowstone.... can't wait for hardwater!

[olslewfoot]

  Got to love the cold front coming trough. I had to organize all of my gear. I mixed new fuel for my auger. My son and I went through all of or jigs.  We put new ice line on. We made sure all of the gear fit into the sleds. I made the kid shovel the sidewalk. I have winterized the boat. There is a small skim of ice on all of the local ponds. I AM READY!! Bring it on!!!

[gso12]

Negative 16 this morning should help build some good ice.. Got my gear already packed

[ClamGuide]

Smith Lake in Kila is frozen over with a half inch of clear hard ice.

[frenchy]

Negative 16 this morning should help build some good ice.. Got my gear already packed

I'm from CT.... just reading around the website, and i see this.. **censored**! its only the beginning of November lol

[albo]

8° now in Helena, -2 tonight followed by the last two days of unseasonably cold and we should have safe ice by the weekend.

[jigging the dream]

Can't wait to get out there! 

[whiptail]

We have safe fish able ice here in Kalispell.
 

[MTangler]

We have safe fish able ice here in Kalispell.

Waaa??? Can i have some down here?!

[NordicJigger]

We have safe fish able ice here in Kalispell.

How thick, Whiptail? Safe is all one's perspective, I guess. I saw guys fishing about 2" - 3" of ice last year. I thought they were crazy, but they were catching fish.

[lundin-loading]

I walked on water tonight...felt good, bittersweet since I won't have time to ice fish till december.