How many cold days to make safe ice?

[quad700]

Just like the title says. Just started ice fishing last year,now I'm getting real impatient to go again.I fish on Auther,khale,Wilhelm,shenango,and pymatuming occasionally.I have to find out who some of you guys out on the Ice,rather than just this site.

[IrishIce99]

Unfortuately, there is no clear-cut answer to this. In a shallow, protected bay or lake, it might only take a week of consistent cold weather (lows in the 20's, high's in the low 30's), with little to no wind or snow/rain. Deeper lakes and bays, could be up to 3 weeks depending on wind and precipitation.

[vermonner]

I always heard 1" per 24hrs. at zero deg F if no snow on ice, less with snow.
If you're talking freeze up, the water has to turn over first until it's all at 32 and I have never heard about the rate from freezing to zero.

[Icenutter]

It all depends on the wind and temp.  On a clear calm night and temps in the single digits I have seen lakes put on an inch over night.  If the lake is not locked up and the wind is blowing you can pretty much forget about the lake getting ice no matter the temp.  I only seen a lake freeze over when it was windy once and it was below zero at night.  The lake had really rough ice and it looked like it had waves in it.  Pretty much if the wind blows around here nothing will lock up unless there is a protected cove.    

[jayswimmer09]

it shouldnt be to long quad70 we need cold and no rain or wind. Im guessing someone will be on this weekend, (probably highpoint)