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Maine => Ice Fishing Maine => Topic started by: 9huskies on Nov 18, 2022, 07:39 PM

Title: It won't be long.
Post by: 9huskies on Nov 18, 2022, 07:39 PM: Ice is forming on the small high elevation ponds. I'm going to try to start my ice fishing season next Wednesday, Nov. 23. I expect to find 5-6 inches of ice. I want to get out ahead of the snow that's in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Brian VT on Nov 18, 2022, 08:18 PM: I always hope to be able to get out there before January 1.
It doesn't happen often at the latitude I'm at.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Linedogg104 on Nov 19, 2022, 08:26 AM: Good luck out there! Be safe!
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: FishingFredrik on Nov 19, 2022, 10:05 AM: Quote from: 9huskies on Nov 18, 2022, 07:39 PM
Ice is forming on the small high elevation ponds. I'm going to try to start my ice fishing season next Wednesday, Nov. 23. I expect to find 5-6 inches of ice. I want to get out ahead of the snow that's in the forecast for Friday and Saturday.

That's awesome! What area are you going to target? I have a fair amount of driving from where I am to get to anything likely to freeze over the next week. Be safe out there!
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: 9huskies on Nov 19, 2022, 04:28 PM: There are 2 ponds near me that freeze exceptionally early every year. Both are next to the road and the parts I'll be fishing are only 3 feet deep. If I do break through I won't drown and I'll only be about 2 minutes from the truck. I bring the bare minimum for gear when I fish through thin ice, just a hand auger and a cheap jig pole so there's no risk of losing expensive toys.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: FishingFredrik on Nov 20, 2022, 08:11 AM: Quote from: 9huskies on Nov 19, 2022, 04:28 PM
There are 2 ponds near me that freeze exceptionally early every year. Both are next to the road and the parts I'll be fishing are only 3 feet deep. If I do break through I won't drown and I'll only be about 2 minutes from the truck. I bring the bare minimum for gear when I fish through thin ice, just a hand auger and a cheap jig pole so there's no risk of losing expensive toys.

Sounds like a smart approach. I'm assuming you are using tip-ups at 3 feet, not jigging?

I went down to my local pond yesterday for what may have been the last shore fishing session of the year. To my surprise, the pond was covered with thin ice, which made lure casting impossible, obviously. So, I relocated to another small pond close by, and this one hadn't frozen over. I was beyond surprised to trigger topwater blowups from both bass and pickerel on a Heddon Super Spook. I had not expected to catch any bass, certainly not on the topwater, but got a really nice one as well. Be safe!

(https://i.postimg.cc/y34zkxzb/IMG-5972.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/y34zkxzb)
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: 9huskies on Nov 20, 2022, 10:17 AM: Both of those ponds are artificial laws only until the first of December so I'll be jigging. I've never caught anything with artificial lures on tip-ups.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: DowneastPescador on Nov 20, 2022, 01:31 PM: Quote from: 9huskies on Nov 20, 2022, 10:17 AM
Both of those ponds are artificial laws only until the first of December so I'll be jigging. I've never caught anything with artificial lures on tip-ups.

Those little plastic eggs or worms have caught a few on tip ups for me.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Linedogg104 on Nov 20, 2022, 03:23 PM: I've had luck with power bait trout worms and power bait eggs
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Jack978 on Nov 21, 2022, 01:23 PM: Saw the first ice chunks on Pushaw lake today. It will be a while until ice forms, but this is the first day I have seen ice so it's coming.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Sampson on Nov 21, 2022, 02:00 PM: Just need a night or two with no wind
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: DowneastPescador on Nov 22, 2022, 08:37 AM: Quote from: Jack978 on Nov 21, 2022, 01:23 PM
Saw the first ice chunks on Pushaw lake today. It will be a while until ice forms, but this is the first day I have seen ice so it's coming.

Happy to hear that. Thanks for the update.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: PIKE FISHERMAN on Nov 22, 2022, 10:21 AM: I checked a bunch of ponds this weekend. All wide open!! Hoping this week sets up some of the smaller ponds
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: 9huskies on Nov 22, 2022, 03:35 PM: I drove by two ponds yesterday that were iced over but they aren't open to ice fishing. Another one that is open to ice fishing skimmed over last night but I wouldn't trust it to be safe for at least a week if the temperatures stay cold. One good wind could break it up in the next few days. I haven't checked the pond I hope to fish tomorrow but it's usually the first to freeze around here.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Sampson on Nov 22, 2022, 05:31 PM: Warming up for weekend. Probably not gonna happen
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Sampson on Nov 22, 2022, 05:57 PM: Friday morning is the only chance
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: woodchip on Nov 24, 2022, 12:36 PM: Got all my gear out and ready. Flasher batery all charged!!!!!!
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Jack978 on Nov 27, 2022, 10:41 AM: The water is cold enough to make ice now all that has to happen is for the temps to drop and rain to hold off. I am looking out at a skim of ice about half a mile wide and about a mile long which is slowly breaking up. Some guy in a kayak is going along the edge checking it out as I write this. It's going to happen just need a few cold windless nights to help it along.
Title: Re: It won't be long.
Post by: Sampson on Nov 27, 2022, 06:22 PM: More rain and warm weather for Wednesday into thursday