How cold is too cold?

[flukehit]

I like to fish early in the morning, but its been single digits or sub zero lately.
Its been so cold at night that the alley cat behind my garage was a frozen
Popsicle on Sun. morning. Poor thing.

Problem waiting till it warms up a bit to venture out is that by the time
I get to the spot I want to fish its taken.

For me, I will fish with little or no wind in 10 degrees F plus.
I have a portable shanty, but rarely bring it along because I like to move around.

So how cold is too cold for you?

[willbilly]

Too cold is when it isn't fun!!!

[RLWagner]

I like to fish early in the morning, but its been single digits or sub zero lately.
Its been so cold at night that the alley cat behind my garage was a frozen
Popsicle on Sun. morning. Poor thing.

Problem waiting till it warms up a bit to venture out is that by the time
I get to the spot I want to fish its taken.

For me, I will fish with little or no wind in 10 degrees F plus.
I have a portable shanty, but rarely bring it along because I like to move around.

So how cold is too cold for you?

I have been out in -11 not including wind chill, and did not have to even put the jacket on but for twice while working traps. The wife even handled it for about 8 hours. We had a 5600 to step into and that certainly helped. The holes freeze up quick, infact in less than a minute. Requires a shanty with a small heater sometimes. I do not think I would cancel a fishing trip on ice ever due to temperature.

[LoneWolf]

The coldest I can remember was - 18 F on Schroon. It was so cold I could only fish out of the hole in the FishTrap with my heater on. Any outside holes for tip-ups were froze over in minutes.



 

[littleoldlady]

I've fished in -30C...no wind, clear day..no shanty or tent, just moving quickly from hole to hole...we fished for 3 hours and ended up with a bucket full of perch.  Again, there was no wind...warmed up our hands every once in awhile in the truck...but that would be about my limit!

[coldbum]

No Such things as Too Cold, Too Wet or Too Windy when it comes to icefishing in my book!

[marcus]

cold and wet i can deal with    but if my tip-ups are popping out of holes from the wind I will usually quit

[pike-perch01]

it doesn't get cold if you catching

[RLWagner]

I like to fish early in the morning, but its been single digits or sub zero lately.
Its been so cold at night that the alley cat behind my garage was a frozen
Popsicle on Sun. morning. Poor thing.

Problem waiting till it warms up a bit to venture out is that by the time
I get to the spot I want to fish its taken.

For me, I will fish with little or no wind in 10 degrees F plus.
I have a portable shanty, but rarely bring it along because I like to move around.

So how cold is too cold for you?

Flukehit,

Do you have the idea yet?

GIT ER DONE!

[woodyvt]

For me it would depend greatly on the wind. 

No wind- it can be -25F and it is all good.

Wind where it takes the warm right out of you- Not good at all

Other than that cold doesn't really bother me......so long as I have plenty of layers on.

[pipes18079]

Its not the cold that get to me its the wind especially if its snow covered and filling the holes

[Fishnhard]

Fished a derby a few years back, thermometer outside of registration tent read -40, no shanty, wasnt sure if i could fire up the wheeler or not but it ran ,got out to my spot, drilled some holes and some fine gentlemen with a luxury shack invited me over for coffee, breakfast then later on poker, and several cold ones...so with the comradeship of other ice nuts I stayed toasty and warm even at 40 below. So How Cold Is Too Cold?...LOL

[crappie78]

There is no such thing as to cold to fish.  You might have to change your strategy but it is still better than not fishing at all.

[iceman1603]

-16 was the coldest that I can remeber.  Lewis point.  I ws actually the first one there5:45am.  no one else out till 7 or so.  Tried keeping the tips thawed but that was futile.  What would ice fishin be with out stupid cold temps and wind??  All the more adventure if ya ask me.

[wildlifecaretaker]

I've been out in slightly sub-zero temps with a little wind. I've never been inside of a shanty portable or otherwise. Staying warm isn't generally my problem, although after about 7+ hours on my coldest day, I did finally have to call it because I WAS cold. I agree with some of the other posts though, keeping the holes clear sucks when it's that cold. Generally where i fish, if it's that cold, the fishing shuts down some. From my experience on the ice, right after each cold front drops in, it just seems to stall the activity some, just like it would in the open water. If the cold bothers you, this may not be the recreational activity for ya! 

[Pasquatch]

I've been out in -17 degree temps on Lake George with consistent 10mph winds. It was too cold to be in without a shanty, but we did fish. If it is ever that cold again, and I don't have shelter, I kinda doubt I would fish it again. I suppose you guys can stand out there until you die of hypothermia, but there is a point when you can't really icefish the way you normally do.

[MACK_USCG]

2 Years ago (February cold spell) I was on Paradox with a few guys and it was -20 below. So cold that I walked outside my shanty with a beer to check a tip up it would be slush by time I got back! Now thats cold! lol

[Fire~n~Ice]

Fished last Friday in Wind chill of -20. Cold is NOT a problem! Just makes keeping the holes open a real pain. When you start with a 6" hole in a matter of an hour its a 3-4" hole! LoL Bring on the cold! 

[sodussut]

since I sit on a bucket in the open air I don't fish at wind chills below -5. But if the winds are calm I can fish at 10. Dressing smart is the key to stayihg warm in all kinds of weather. My first time ice fishing was a disaster! Not dressed right and a complete novice in balmy New Jersey no less. After learning to ice fish in Rochester from a seasoned vetran I came to love the sport and I don't get cold anymore.PS There was a 20 year span from the fisrt trip in NJ and the first trip here in Rochester!

[bshirtd]

it doesn't matter how cold but that wind is a different story if the wind becomes to much out comes the shelter

[mistertwister]

I dont think it could get too cold, just flip over the shelter and crank up the lantern and i'll be fishing in a sweatshirt in no time

[Mainehazmt]

-26.7 straight temp here last night in Limestone Maine

[RLWagner]

-26.7 straight temp here last night in Limestone Maine

But did you FISH?

[MACK_USCG]

-26.7 straight temp here last night in Limestone Maine

Nice avatar! Thats the coolest pic ive seen in a while! 

[thehunter696]

We were out once earlier this season with the temp dipping to -35c with a really light breeze. Had the fire going good that day. Took just under 10min for a fish to freez solid. Brrrr....  I heard at minus forty. You get a coffee mug full of boiling water right out of the mic or kettle, and toss it in the air at -40 and it'll freeze before it hits the ground? Something intresting. Any input?

[Fishnhard]

Fishn at -40 was me and that was cold...but imagine being able to compete with the cold of The Great Yukon, and we wonder why other people are wondering if we take anything for our condition...lol

[percheyes42]

Fished last year out on Sodus -35 with 35 mph wind and no shanties. That's right, bucket dwelling. It didn't seem to bother the fish to bad though. Kept my hole clean by pulling those 12 inch perch out left and right. 4 of us limited in about 4 hours. Next step, charge for the vehicle.

[willbilly]

. Next step, charge for the vehicle.

Huh?

[ChenBassHead]

I fished a derby at my college last winter on a day when it was -40.  I actually set my tipups, and watched from my window.  Got one flag, and it ended up being a 27 inch pike, which won the tourny.  Of course, only 3 people entered it! 

[percheyes42]

Huh?

There's heat in the vehicle. And no it wasn't on the ice with me. Not at Sodus.