How cold have you tolerated ice fishing?

[Whopper Stopper]

Though I probably will never make it that far up north to fish I enjoy reading the posts about ice fishing in Alaska. The last couple of years have been temperature wise “wimpy”. However there were times a few years ago that going fishing was almost a survival of the fittest ordeal. Out of curiosity what were some of the worst conditions some of you faced temperature and snow wise?

I remember about ten years ago fishing off oak island on Lake of the Woods when we were faced with 40 mph winds and an actual temp of –30. I am sure some of you wouldn’t even bother with long johns at this point.

Anyway looking forward to hearing some horror stories. By the way, Happy New Year!

                                  WS

[akdube]

I fished at -54 for a few days outta the hardside. Wasnt too bad until you had to ride the snowmachine 13 miles back to the truck..

[Drifter_016]

-40 for me in a portable.
There was almost 1/4" of ice buildup on the roof by the end of the day.

[alcanron]

It was -33 yesterday. We were fishing in the portable. The bite was as cold as the temps. One hook up and then lost near the top

[PikeSticker]

-20 F in the darkhouse is my limit. Portables maybe -10F if the trip was planned a long time. Otherwise I can wait to above zero. Worked outside on the North Slope for 17 years so my dance card is pretty well punched out for my cold temp quota. 

[DIRTBALL2]

-45 is the coldest I've ever fished without any shelter. This was on the NW Arm of Pipestone Lake in Ontario. The only saving grace was that there was no wind at all and the sun was shining brighly. One of my buddy's got a hook buried in his thumb! We had him stick his thumb in the water for 5 minute's, after which he could not feel a thing! Exit said hook! :woot:DIRTBALL2

[AKrookie]

-45 is the coldest I've ever fished without any shelter. This was on the NW Arm of Pipestone Lake in Ontario. The only saving grace was that there was no wind at all and the sun was shining brighly. One of my buddy's got a hook buried in his thumb! We had him stick his thumb in the water for 5 minute's, after which he could not feel a thing! Exit said hook! :woot:DIRTBALL2

That is some MacGyver medicine!

[kasilofchrisn]

-40 for me but that was with a hardside.
Without a shack it was probably around -30 or so. That was after spending my 2 weeks on the slope spent mostly outside at -30 to -45 . I had rented a forest service cabin in the mountains for a few days and when I left it was -15 in the parking lot and it felt down right balmy.

[macmmj]

My cutoff is -20, but if I have the kids with me I try to keep above 0. They have been out in -10 in a portable, wasn't bad until time to head back to the truck. Gloves and boot choices for ages between 3 and 9 aren't the best. They still ask to go fishing every other day of the winter, the remaining days they ask to go hunting.

[akdube]

[quote They still ask to go fishing every other day of the winter, the remaining days they ask to go hunting.
[/quote]
And this is a problem why?

[Barleydog]

Too cold!  Wet fingers stuck to my zippers tearing the skin off the tips.  Nipped my toes on that day too.  We need a chinook wind FAST!!!!!  -29 as I type...

[groundsluice_pete]

My son-in-law and I took out 4 pre-teen boys for ice fishing on Island Lake yesterday. It was -23 on the lake. Three of us fished in a QuickFish 3 with a heater, while the other 3 boys stood around a big fire on the ice. Unfortunately, no fish were caught in the usually productive area and with the usual offerings, even after 1.5 hours of fishing. No complaining from the boys.

[Akhardwater]

Camping and fishing in really cold weather can be allot of fun if you are prepared for it.  Knowing your limits is also important.  I found that when I'm out for extended periods of time in sub 20 below weather it pays to have two of everything.  If something important like a heater breaks on the ride in you need to have a second one to back it up or the whole trip could be ruined.  Some people call me crazy for spending close to a week at a time in a soft side.  Its not crazy if you know what you are doing in fact its quite fun.  I also know how to set up my shack for an extended stay.  Trust me the setup is the difference between a comfortable trip and a wet miserable one.  When it comes to standing out in the cold to fish I try not to when it gets down past -35.  I catch and release pretty much every fish I catch and at that temp it becomes very difficult to remove a fish for a pic when your by yourself.  At those temps it only takes seconds for a fish's fins and eyes to freeze and if they touch the ice there slime will be frozen off literally.  Now when it comes to fishing in a softside I don't think I really have a cold limit as long as its setup right.  I haven't been out when it was down past 50 below yet but I am confident that with my setup it is manageable.  I guess there is only one way to find out.

[catchumall]

any problems with condensate?

[jkw]

any problems with condensate?

haha one of the pics akhardwater sent me of his latest was pretty funny......REMEMBER KIDS DO NOT EAT THE ICE OFF THE SIDE OF THE SHANTY! we were fishin a few weeks back in about -15 weather and where the heater was not blowing there was 1/8" thick sheets of ice in some places....pretty near really....trick: place a tarp over your softside to create dead air space, and comdensation is pretty well controlled.....i seen it work~

coldest ive ever fished/ camped out in was between -40 and -50....no one really knows how cold it was that night but Kirk Wilson told us it dipped into the mid -40s...... with two buddy heaters in a QF6, one of which barely worked, it was not very pleasant, and the fishing sucked to make matters worse....we were very unprepared though....like akhardwater says, it all about being prepared for the wweather and having the right setup...hes got it down to a T. he even built a floor for his QF6....a guy could live in that pretty comfortably for along time if he had too.......

[AKwalleye]

My father and I spent a day on Lake Winnipeg fishing for monster walleyes in -35 ambient temp with a steady 20 mph wind last January...by the last day of fishing it was +38 and raining. 

[floyd1616]

-30 with wind chill here in indiana

[JigginH2Oat40BLO]

So far this season -28 F with no shelter.... spent a bit of time out,  but iced quite a few stockers (most let go). All in all a good venture; then the winds started up and time to be conservative and careful. 

My coldest is in that -40 to -45 range.  Not much fun with no shelter... more or less going through the motions and a couple frozen fish within seconds.

The Polar kind of cold with winds and low light is by far the more difficult scenario vs. just cold.

[wild4ak]

I dont really pay too much attention to the temp I go by....
down right nice, balmy, its just butt cold    I fish them all and it depends if I'm getting a bite how long I stay out.