Ready for open water fishing

[Drifter_016]

The only open water I'm gonna see for the next 2 months is maybe puddles on top of the solid ice.
Keep it solid Drifter....I'm coming soon

No problem, we're still making lots of ice.
Supposed to be in the -30's the next few nights. 
Currently -19C.

[Corporal Punishment]

River ice gone,and no real close lakes or ponds to fish,my season might be over!!!So yep waiting for the warm-up now..... 8)

[MR WOZ]

Still got a good foot here!

[jaysun23]

WHAT??? people actually fish in the summer?? How do you keep your tip-ups from floating away?

[Kevin23]

I'm ready to try out my large selection of booyah lures  8)

[Drifter_016]

WHAT??? people actually fish in the summer?? How do you keep your tip-ups from floating away?

You need to use Polar tipups with decoy weights to anchor them.  

[wesson4]

We should have atleast another month or so of ice here in PA.

[SNAGGER]

   I hope it stays cold into APRIL..........

[VTtrophychaser]

hard to choose between open water and ice...but open water means it is warm! chase the gators in the winter and them big ol bass in the summer, both are great if ya ask me

[LastCast69]

not gonna lie, i could icefish 10 months a year. ill pack and haul a sled over boat anyday!

[Lobes]

I really love getting out in the deep-V for summer action but I'm among those that would'nt mind seeing a twelve month stretch of gills & crappie through the ice!

                                       
NBG

[crazy man]

NO WAY

[NatefishNY]

not gonna lie, i could icefish 10 months a year. ill pack and haul a sled over boat anyday!

ill second that

[USMarine2001]

Those who wish for summer should get banned

[edfalc]

this ice fishing season had its ups and downs, but its almost over. i live in chicago and the ice is starting to melt. bought my first shanty, power auger, and vexilar this year. we caught so many fish this winter im all ice fished out....im just ready for open water!

those are dirty words ...............im telling Mom...............

[Madpuppy]

Those who wish for summer should get banned

How old are you?

[Corporal Punishment]

How old are you?

Prolly 10!!!!And his favorite movie is "Ice Age"....

[SebagoSlayer]

I don't want the ice to leave just yet. There is still some good fishing yet to come. I to get the itch for the open water when the weather starts to warm up, but I love sitting on the ice when the sun gets warmer, you don't have to layer the clothing so heavy, and you can leave the heater at home. I love last ice!

Could'nt agree more.

[chadroc]

i would ice fish all year long if i could.  i like open water fishing, but i love ice fishing.  for me, its alot to do with the overall effort it takes.  i am drawn to the long hours, the hard work, the need for an outdoor fire, the elements, and above all the simplicity of the flag up.  i like that you need to prepare well and 'do it right'.  i love leaving home at 4am and i always feel like a thief pulling out.  the solitude of ice is unreal.  the sunrise.

it can make you laugh sometimes....just the improbability of it all.  taking a fish from that side of the ice to this side.  and a huge benefit for me is just getting the sun on my face.  that is big in the winter time.  i love the way my face feels dried out and tight afterwards.  i love the shower and the nap.

we're limited here in ct since you can't ice fish alot of lakes after 2/28.  you can fish what they call trophy trout lakes through march but we have gotten a decent amount of melting going on down here of late.  hit 50 degrees today.  in a way, i like that you can't go fish my home water in march.  it puts a finite bookend to the season.  it also gives the pike time to get ready, find a cozy bed, and do the nasty....and it gives the state a month and 3 weeks to stock the waters.

[IcemanZ]

No way! Love ice fishing! Love to live somewhere you could all year long. And that's if I could get my wife to follow me there....  I'm with Chadroc!!!

[stevekreis]

were i live here in the finger lakes i can ice fish or open water fish heck i can do both at one spot and do well that being said i love them both but i have started to dream alittle bit about open water and i love the feel of the cast and being in a gently bobbing boat. think ill go open water pike fishing today. and crappie and perch fishoing tomorrow. decisions, decisions

[CHICKENFOOT]

Don't push it. You will be missing it in July when the the sweat is pouring down your brow,and the fish are post spawn and real hard to come by... ps looks like a major cold front is coming your way and should stay cold till mid March.... Chickenfoot

[BaitWrangler]

I don't want the ice to leave yet either but I want to do some open water fishing as well.

Here in RI we have places that don't freeze due to shallow water, current, street run off and wind - so if your hardcore you can do both at once.  We have bad weather comming up and maybe a week or 2 left of the ice. Better get it in now but I can already hear a Carp ripping off my drag and alarms going off. Beep beep beep beeeeeeeep.