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Vermont => Ice Fishing Vermont => Topic started by: perch bait on Dec 13, 2017, 12:56 PM

Title: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: perch bait on Dec 13, 2017, 12:56 PM
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
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: paddock on Dec 13, 2017, 01:21 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: gofish22 on Dec 13, 2017, 03:19 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: perch bait on Dec 13, 2017, 04:27 PM
Thanks guys! Just make sure you take extra precautions before heading out! First ice is always unpredictable. Good luck. 
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: dickbaker on Dec 13, 2017, 05:55 PM
 ;D :tipup:  perchbait,  Good to hear from your.  Looking to see some fish pictures during your
Holiday break!
Dick
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: perch bait on Dec 13, 2017, 07:31 PM
;D :tipup:  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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: Fish Farmer on Dec 14, 2017, 11:53 AM
I heard Fern Lake skimmed over.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: mudchuck on Dec 14, 2017, 12:50 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: perch bait on Dec 14, 2017, 04:19 PM
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!
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: Rockin_n_Vermont on Dec 15, 2017, 04:25 PM
Hoping to hit up Monkton this Sunday as well, if conditions stay cold.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: Rockin_n_Vermont on Dec 15, 2017, 04:30 PM
Just got off the phone with Big River bait and tackle. He got word there's 3"-5" of ice on Monkton. Fish on!
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: Fish Farmer on Dec 16, 2017, 01:01 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: flagfishon on Dec 16, 2017, 05:10 PM
Colchester only had 2-3 today once you get more than 20 feet from shore.  I think I'll wait till next week. 
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: Honest_John on Dec 16, 2017, 06:43 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: perch bait on Dec 16, 2017, 08:35 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: woodyvt on Dec 17, 2017, 07:39 AM
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!
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: carmi-icefisher on Dec 17, 2017, 07:50 AM
Carmi had 3 guys fishing off state park boat launch and couple guys off dewing shore yesterday afternoon. They all were aways out there.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: spot on Dec 17, 2017, 07:58 AM
Shelburne Bay has ice near the South end but it doesn't go very far out and isn't solid yet.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: VTMatt on Dec 17, 2017, 08:04 AM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: vtcountrychamp on Dec 17, 2017, 07:17 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: flagfishon on Dec 17, 2017, 07:28 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: DirtyDan23 on Dec 17, 2017, 08:01 PM
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!
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: dbldnii on Dec 18, 2017, 12:24 PM
How is the ice on Colchester?
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: spot on Dec 18, 2017, 03:07 PM
There's ice near the Mallets Bay access, but it does not go out very far.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: flagfishon on Dec 18, 2017, 06:18 PM
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. 
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: spot on Dec 20, 2017, 09:42 AM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: WVBoy on Dec 20, 2017, 12:14 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: vtcountrychamp on Dec 20, 2017, 05:16 PM
There was a guy on one of the Facebook forums fishing on 5-6" of black ice today, on St. Albans Bay.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: spot on Dec 21, 2017, 08:01 AM
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.  ;)
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: bootstrap on Dec 21, 2017, 07:40 PM
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.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: vtcountrychamp on Dec 22, 2017, 04:06 PM
5-6 in facebook inches is like 2-3 in regular inches.  ;)

Went out there and was actually 6" of solid black ice. Today there was easily 8". That's by the beach though, not Hathaway point.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: ieatanimals128 on Dec 22, 2017, 06:13 PM
Fished Monkton Pond today- had about 7 inches of good ice with a decent amount of snow on top. Fishing was slow, mostly small perch.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: dbldnii on Dec 23, 2017, 07:35 PM
Ice report on Colchester pond?
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: Tom Leitz on Dec 24, 2017, 02:07 PM
Went out there and was actually 6" of solid black ice. Today there was easily 8". That's by the beach though, not Hathaway point.

Same.  Had 6-7 inches today off the town park.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: spot on Dec 24, 2017, 07:13 PM
Went out there and was actually 6" of solid black ice. Today there was easily 8". That's by the beach though, not Hathaway point.

I was mostly picking on facebook with my post :)
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: perch bait on Dec 25, 2017, 01:58 PM
Plenty of ice on Carry. My Dad and I got out yesterday and were pleasantly surprised to find a solid 10 inches of black ice! Only managed a couple bluegill and pumpkin seeds. We were plagued by LMB all day long. Caught more bass than panfish. Too bad we couldn't keep a couple of them. Looks like the rest of vacation is pretty much a bust with the temperatures in the single digits for the next week! Maybe I'll be able to convince my Dad to brave the cold, but as of right now it's not looking good. Tight lines and Merry Christmas! PB
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: spot on Dec 25, 2017, 08:59 PM
Might try getting out Wednesday. My son can't make it out until after the first of the year, but I might get out to Monkton or Iroquois or Shelburne for a few hours. The pop up is insulated.
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: keithm87 on Dec 26, 2017, 06:57 AM
Good to hear that there is that much ice... with the forecast we will be needing our auger extensions before long
Title: Re: Champlain Valley Ice?
Post by: spot on Dec 26, 2017, 08:42 PM
Currently planning to go tomorrow- probably just jigging for perch with jigs, nightcrawlers and whatever else comes to mind.