Hello all - new poster here. Just a dad trying to impart some outdoors knowledge and appreciation on two young kids growing up in an urban environment. Was vacationing with the family on school vacation week last week and wanted to try some ice fishing in the area. Was advised at a local bait shop to try Stiles Pond, so got geared up (thanks, Ted!) and off we went! Found the turnoff on the NE side of the road and hopped over the guardrail to get down to the water. This was 2/23. Had rained a bunch the day before, so there were about two inches of standing water on top of the ice. And no sooner had we gotten on the ice when the weather turned - sun disappeared and a front moved in. Temperature dropped about fifteen degrees, and the wind picked up big time. Was having trouble keeping the tipups from rolling out of their holes! Kids soon bailed for the car. I decided to call it not long after that. Not the best outing.
Undeterred, we got some fresh bait the next morning and had a second go. Parked further down the road this time where the guardrail ended and woods began - southern end of pond. Everything had refrozen, sky was blue, wind was low - banner weather. Spent the next three hours drilling 14 holes through 15” of ice (shoulders were sore the next day), progressively moving our three tipups and jigging whenever we had opportunity. Could not find any water deeper than five or six feet. Only had one flag the entire time - took a lot of line, but ended up losing the fish when the leader (mono) broke right above the hook after the hookset. So ended up with two skunks for our time in the NEK. Was just hoping to get some flags for the kids, but they seemed to have a good enough time just playing on the ice. Didn’t see another soul out there, I’m guessing because it was midweek. Learned some and hoping for a better result next time.