Beginning of the end ????>

[snow snake]

Is it over?
Weather forecast here  40-50 rest of this week
40 and raining now , sunshine coming this week
as the ice hasn't been that good at times 
be safe ,near shore line and old holes 

[kpd145]

I'm hoping to make a trip this sat.

I'll be watching weather and the forums.

[Doppler2]

At this point im just hoping the ice leaves as fast as possible so i can at least do some open water fishing. Haven't been ice fishing for that long but I can't remember a year worse than this. I think 2019 was the 2nd warmest year on record behind 2016. Lets hope next year is better. Almost one year ago today I was fishing with my dad 3 miles out on lake Erie.

[hot tuna]

While I know others are having a great season and still more to come.  I agree,  I just can't wait until the mud season takes a break.  This was my worst on ice since 2008. Didn't Ice a lake trout because after 3 outings of a bust i got bored. Only able to access our local perch lake in December and late February.
Traveling miles to walk on water is fun but without our local hangouts it also became a chore, so I took the lazy route this season.
On the bright side.  The mighty muddy Hudson has been ice free and the boat is one step closer . Way ahead of the game this season.

My shanties,  traps and jig rods are put to rest until 2020 -2021 season

[62&done]

I've not nearly had enough  I could ice fish 10 months a year  Got a decent comfortable boat , but there's something magical about pulling a good fish thru the ice. Please God, another cold snap

[trapper2000]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXqPNlng6uI

[filetandrelease]

  We shall see how long it last 2 previous year made it till the first week of April
  I and my fishing partner are multi species fishermen and have had been lucky , week before x-mas and still poking holes , well the old spud will be accompanying me for the rest of my trips , it tells me when it’s time to pack it in

[trapper2000]

i think we'llbe fishing awhile just use your head

[Raquettedacker]

I'm ready.  Still have a lot of ice but im ready to drift perch in a boat.....

[trapper2000]

i don't know nothing about catching perch in open water

[mdm25549]

Went out in the rain last night for a couple hours to see if it turned the crappies on(which it did not). Water running down holes an inch of water on top. Sure felt like spring out there. At this point I want it to hold on for two more weeks or just be gone immediately. Either way I don’t see the ice holding til April unless there’s a big change in our weather pattern

[trapper2000]

holeswill be getting bigger now  and a light snow  could make for a broken leg ar a kid getting a bath   use your head

[joefish]

holeswill be getting bigger now  and a light snow  could make for a broken leg ar a kid getting a bath   use your head

  Trapper as we both know, Number one rule is " Mother Nature always wins " and number two rule is " You can't teach common sense " the more you say it maybe someone will listen.

[trapper2000]

well joe when i first got on this site only a few guys carried spuds as we started preaching it more and more have ,i would like to think more senior icefisherman have at least passed down some safty knowledge....... and mother nature isn't out to win she just changes our play ground ..... bet we have a great  open water season 

[joefish]

well joe when i first got on this site only a few guys carried spuds as we started preaching it more and more have ,i would like to think more senior icefisherman have at least passed down some safty knowledge....... and mother nature isn't out to win she just changes our play ground ..... bet we have a great  open water season 

  Well said Trapper

[62&done]

Went out in the rain last night for a couple hours to see if it turned the crappies on(which it did not). Water running down holes an inch of water on top. Sure felt like spring out there. At this point I want it to hold on for two more weeks or just be gone immediately. Either way I don’t see the ice holding til April unless there’s a big change in our weather pattern

     MDM,  I spend more  time after crappie than anything else  (Gills a close second)  I have always done best just prior to a storm when the barometer is falling like rock.   With that said, I have had a few excellent catches this winter rite in the middle of the day.  Those particular days there were few morning bites and they were done by 3 pm.  Wish I could explain that but I can't.  I also spent some time after dark which has produced in the past, but this year was just a waste of time. I just enjoy a good catch when ever they cooperate.    There still are a few more days if your fishing small water which froze early .    good luck   stay safe everyone

[mdm25549]

Thank you for the info. Usually this time of year they really fire up last ice. Especially evening to last light where I fish. Just weren’t quite there yet the other day. I’ve gotta work and gone all weekend I’ll be back out Monday if the ice is holding on(with all the safety equipment and what not) I sure would imagine they should be on the move with this warmer weather now but could be wrong. Hoping for the best