Author Topic: The start of something great??? (Read 1949 times)

funtwohunt · « **on:** Nov 10, 2014, 07:29 AM »

This morning we have light rain then a little snow on the way in western NE, below freezing pretty much the rest of the week with some lows below zero. Is it a good sign for things to come or is Mother Nature just playing with us?

grizzlyhackle · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 10, 2014, 08:03 AM »

I'm planning on chasing some pike on the Refuge Thanksgiving weekend and then heading to South Dakota the week after. Should be fishing soon

jordy1380 · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 10, 2014, 08:51 AM »

I think that we're still going to have open water on a lot of lakes in Southeast, NE. The water temps at Branched Oak were still hanging around 50* yesterday. It'll take a little bit for that lake to cool of and I'm guessing that the smaller lakes are around 43-45* so they have a bit of cooling before we start making ice around here. Western and Northwest NE could be on ice by Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to be on some private ponds or some coves with 3-4" of ice by then.

hardh2ofish · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 11, 2014, 02:38 PM »

Buddy called me this morning. Ballards Marsh south of Valentine here was all froze over except a few small holes where the ducks were able to keep open. With the temps we will have this week, we will be on this weekend

grizzlyhackle · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 11, 2014, 03:17 PM »

Quote from: hardh2ofish on Nov 11, 2014, 02:38 PM

Buddy called me this morning. Ballards Marsh south of Valentine here was all froze over except a few small holes where the ducks were able to keep open. With the temps we will have this week, we will be on this weekend

Thanks for posting man, appreciate the update

funtwohunt · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 11, 2014, 08:31 PM »

Going to get around 0 tonite and -16 below without wind Wednesday night.

hankthecrank · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 11, 2014, 09:18 PM »

Quote from: funtwohunt on Nov 11, 2014, 08:31 PM

Going to get around 0 tonite and -16 below without wind Wednesday night.

WOOHOO, ice fish baby!

jordy1380 · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 11, 2014, 09:57 PM »

And they keep lowering the temps for the extended forecast!

sandhillguy · « **Reply #8 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 02:20 AM »

Im sittin here chompin at the bit just beggin for Merritt to freeze over, would like to know the water temp before the last couple days there, im guessing 40 ish? Cannot wait to get on the ice anywhere for the matter, and the ole lady cant wait to get my hardwater OCD out the damn door so ill shut up a bit.

hardh2ofish · « **Reply #9 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 02:43 PM »

Went down to the Mill Pond here in Valentine. Iced over right about 2" thick. Took four steps out on it. A little creeky yet so I didn't push my luck. Planning to fish this weekend.

grizzlyhackle · « **Reply #10 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 03:14 PM »

Quote from: hardh2ofish on Nov 12, 2014, 02:43 PM

Went down to the Mill Pond here in Valentine. Iced over right about 2" thick. Took four steps out on it. A little creeky yet so I didn't push my luck. Planning to fish this weekend.

spikes · « **Reply #11 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 05:13 PM »

Sounds like deer season to ice season. Could be a great year!!!

hankthecrank · « **Reply #12 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 07:43 PM »

Sunday, sunday, Sunday, will be fishing Sunday.

JKL · « **Reply #13 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 07:53 PM »

Quote from: hankthecrank on Nov 12, 2014, 07:43 PM

Sunday, sunday, Sunday, will be fishing Sunday.

If I didn't have to work this weekend, I would be at your place bright and early Sunday!

fishngolf · « **Reply #14 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 08:37 PM »

Quote from: hankthecrank on Nov 12, 2014, 07:43 PM

Sunday, sunday, Sunday, will be fishing Sunday.

Hank, are you hitting the pike this weekend?

I am deer hunting Saturday and may also go fishing Sunday if we fill our tags. Crazy to believe we could go this early but we will all have to be extremely careful checking out the early ice.

GrabLifeByTheGills · « **Reply #15 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 09:05 PM »

I'm ad I picked up a spud bar a few weeks ago

nate95366 · « **Reply #16 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 09:34 PM »

I'm headed west to deer hunt this weekend, so perhaps I should bring the ice gear along and fish a sandhill lake or two. If I pick the right body of water, I might just be able to bring my rifle on the ice and hunt from the shack!

hardh2ofish · « **Reply #17 on:** Nov 12, 2014, 09:36 PM »

Hank, you gonna meet me at the house? Or you gonna whoa up n fish then refuge?

hankthecrank · « **Reply #18 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 05:49 AM »

Well have to see.

grizzlyhackle · « **Reply #19 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 06:23 AM »

Records are made to be broken- just when I thought last year was going to be the earliest ever on the ice (Thanksgiving), we are about to be on the ice 2 weeks before that! Next year....Halloween?

Cheers to a good hardwater season ice brothers!

Mr Merritt · « **Reply #20 on:** Nov 13, 2014, 10:00 AM »

Quote from: hardh2ofish on Nov 12, 2014, 02:43 PM

Went down to the Mill Pond here in Valentine. Iced over right about 2" thick. Took four steps out on it. A little creeky yet so I didn't push my luck. Planning to fish this weekend.

A warmer than average October and early November had Merritt's surface temps around 51-52 before the cold snap. Low temps near zero and wind chills far below that will quickly cool the lake, but IMO safe ice is still a ways off on the reservoir. There could be some ice on the Refuge Lakes and other sandhills ponds pretty soon though....
It should go without saying but be darned careful on early ice!

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Author Topic: The start of something great??? (Read 1949 times)