Watch the forecast

[kcskypilot]

Not to drive up too much hope, but we have some teens appearing in the 10 day. Plus a lot of hours below 32⁰ over the next week.

[wallydiven]

I'm sure a few channels will get good. At this point I'm hoping the launches stay open for boats.

[bigr]

If weather holds out as predicted we could see some safe ice on the smaller bodies of water in early feb. Looking past that first week shows a warmup coming back in. Hopefully we can get another couple trips before putting the stuff back up. I don't care so much about ice fishing that i would put alot of money into a trip but i'm watching and thinking seriously about a trip to the backwater of MS. Be about an 8 hr trip one way.

[Oaktree1215]

I'm burning a personal day on the 6th. That's all there is to it.

[OhhDam]

In Western PA, the 2 weeks away forecast has been looking spectacular since Jan 10th. It always looks like 2 weeks from now I'll be on solid ice. Then as each day approaches, they bump the temp +5... High of 25 has turned to 35 on 3 days this past week. I'm sick of the dogcrap accuracy! Officially I'm now a crazy old man screaming at the rain.

[fishinator]

I'm burning a personal day on the 6th. That's all there is to it.

I'm thinking 6th through ??

[fishinator]

I'm thinking 6th through ??

well, so much for that plan. Forecast not looking good now

[kyron4]

well, so much for that plan. Forecast not looking good now

Yep. 3 day cold front then right back to upper 30's 

[zcm_82]

Not looking great now. Figure small ponds will be fishable a few days end of the week, but shot again pretty quickly after the warmer weather rolls in this weekend.

[fishinator]

This season sucks.

[Oaktree1215]

This season sucks.

Agreed!

[zcm_82]

Definitely not going in the books as a good one.

Almost as bad as that one a few years back... can't remember if it was 18/19 or 19/20, but only had small pond ice for 3 or 4 days around here that winter.

[fishinator]

Definitely not going in the books as a good one.

Almost as bad as that one a few years back... can't remember if it was 18/19 or 19/20, but only had small pond ice for 3 or 4 days around here that winter.

I think that was 18/19. I gave up and went to Cadillac michigan that year.  There was good ice locally the few days I was gone.

[zcm_82]

There was one winter we never did get any fishable ice a long while back. It was when I was working nights in Kentland after I moved back down here, so it had to have been somewhere between 2006-2010-ish

[Oaktree1215]

So, it seems like everytime I look at the forecast for this weekend it keeps getting warmer. Seriously, if I can't get out again this year I'm going to sell everything before I move to Florida.

[fishinator]

I have a trip to sturgeon bay for the 17th through 20th. Pretty much guarantees that indiana will have good ice that weekend.

[zcm_82]

Some small ponds were skinned over good yesterday afternoon here... gonna give it a whirl after work today and see if they're ready to fish.

I wasn't actually expecting them to be solid yesterday, so I didn't have my chisel with me. I did take a few steps out with no popping or cracking on a couple of them, so I think today will be go time.

[ftwwalleye]

Fingers crossed I will attempt to find ice tomorrow. Gotta be back to get kid from school so can't travel too far. If anyone is getting out noble countyish to Angola area hit me up. I'm a buck 45 so my skinny butt can walk out first 🤣

[Indiana Angler]

Checked ice at loomis after work this morning about 10am.

2.5" out from the boat launch,



And 3" out from the beach.



Another day or two of cold weather and it will be good enough for me.

[coopason]

Thanks for the update Indiana angler

[pearcheyes]

No access to small water so with the future forcast for making any headway on bigger lakes for safe ice my gear is being put away😭.be safe if you do find some ice to check

[bigr]

I'll stay away from that Nervous ice as i like to call it, this time around. Good luck to those that cut a hole. I'm still keeping gear out for a possible trip north.

[zcm_82]

Found 3" and some fish... dinkathon, but the bite was a lot better than I expected it to be.

[PoleCat]

Had to put ice gear in the corner and get the boat out first of the year. Now getting ice gear back out. Weather looking promising for hard water fishing again.

[zcm_82]

This round of ice is gonna be short lived... forecast looks lousy next week.

[fishinator]

Had to put ice gear in the corner and get the boat out first of the year. Now getting ice gear back out. Weather looking promising for hard water fishing again.

not sure what forecast you are looking at. I'm showing mid to upper 40's and rain starting this weekend

[bigr]

I think we'll get maybe a week on ice on some waters. Then it's most likely over til next season. Any cold snap that comes in toward the middle to end of feb will be short lived.

[Hexagenia51]

I was on three and a half inches of hard ice this morning. Locator crapped out on me, so I old schooled it for an hour or so and never had a bite. I was walking off and a couple guys with locator’s came out and said they weren’t seeing anything, then they saw some but I didn’t see them catch anything. Three older guys and one overweight in the group came out and started out to the second bay, I asked if they had a spud, they said they forgot it and headed on out, I haven’t heard any rescue reports and hope I don’t, but come on man that’s pushing the envelope, in my opinion. For what that’s worth! Lol Be careful if you venture forth! Hex

[zcm_82]

I fished the same small pond as Wednesday from about 2-4pm yesterday... ice was very soft on top and had lost about half an inch. Ended up catching 11, but it was mostly a dinkfest and they shut off dead cold right about 330. Fish were still there, just went down hugging bottom and wouldn't hit anything.

With the ice the way it is and the forecast looking the way it does, I'm guessing tomorrow will be the last day out for me.

[fishinator]

I took half a day off yesterday and got out for a bit. 1 nice gill and so many dinks it was annoying.  Unfortunately I'm on call again this weekend so that's probably it for me. Good luck guys, be safe.