First Ice

[matfalk]

Bout ready to stand on some hard water and forget all my problems.  How bout everyone else?  Something cleansing about cutting that first hole of the year and pulling a fish...

[Fishking83]

At 9:15 at my house right now its 53 degrees.  If you are bout ready to stand on ice in that weather you may have another problem

[matfalk]

Lol, didn't mean right now.  Hopefully soon.

[Gills-only]

Hoping by Christmas here!!

[panfisherman]

Looks like my prediction of Dec. 18 was just wishfull thinking. Or maybe just a dream. Fish On!!

[Zktaylor]

I was really hoping for an early season like last year but I dont see that happening. With temps just hanging around the freezing point I think we'll be lucky to have safe ice on any of the bigger lakes by christmas/new years. Maybe I'll find a channel with ice before then if I get too antsy lol.

[bigr]

I'm off work from the 18th to the 5th of jan. Hoping for ice by then. 

[bramabull]

I'm off work from the 18th to the 5th of jan. Hoping for ice by then.

Same here. I took off from 12/22 - 1/5 hoping for some ice but I may have to rescind my vacation and wait for more favorable temps.

[rico]

Patience "grasshoppers"!

[matfalk]

Patience "grasshoppers"!

Lol you seen my post this time last year about giving up on ice coming and selling all my gear.  I'm ready but I'll be patient.  It's hard though.  As a young buck I'm ready to get out there but be safe.  I've read your stories the last three years Rico... I know what happens.  You ever get your auger back?

[rico]

Lol you seen my post this time last year about giving up on ice coming and selling all my gear.  I'm ready but I'll be patient.  It's hard though.  As a young buck I'm ready to get out there but be safe.  I've read your stories the last three years Rico... I know what happens.  You ever get your auger back?

LOL......I understand.  I chomp at the bit every year myself.  No she is still at the bottom of the drink just like the Titantic.......luckily I aint down there with her!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crappieslayer37]

Yes count your blessings Rico you didn't even have a suit!!

[rico]

Yes count your blessings Rico you didn't even have a suit!!

LOL.......I do now!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tightliner812]

First ice ??  You already missed it I fish the 20th of November this year .

[taxi1]

Patience "grasshoppers"!

For sure. We are actually below average to average in temps for this time of year according to something I read.

[panfisherman]

Looks like my employer changed the Vacation Policy. I've got 40 hours that has to be used by end of March. Looks like I'll be spending it on the ice after the first of the year. Bring on the Ice. Fish On!

[taxi1]

First ice ??  You already missed it I fish the 20th of November this year .

Yeah we saw that! Were you puckered on the way out? 

[Joe2727]

I was sitting having my morning cup of coffee seeing a thin skim of ice on the channel it is driving me crazy. I'm going to loose it if I can't get out there soon.

[tightliner812]

Yeah we saw that! Were you puckered on the way out? 

Nope I have a spud and know how to use it . Not to mention I was with a buddy that I know I can trust if something would have gone wrong .

[taxi1]

Nope I have a spud and know how to use it . Not to mention I was with a buddy that I know I can trust if something would have gone wrong .

I was just kidding you. That's the way to do it!

[tightliner812]

I was just kidding you. That's the way to do it!

Your cool all good here .

[Fishslayer81]

I was on 4" already this year...first ice is over. Looking forward to second ice.

[bigr]

A few guys got on the sally and missinawa for those couple days but i wasn't one of them. I did walk on a pond while deer hunting but that doesn't count. First ice is still coming for me.

[Joe2727]

Not liking temps for this weekend and next week. We will loose what little ice we have.

[AyrshireBoy]

Not liking temps for this weekend and next week. We will loose what little ice we have.

Temps and forecasts aren't good, sure is different than last year.  I'm glad extended forecasts tend to be wrong cause if my 30 day forecast was accurate I wouldn't be on ice until maybe mid-late January.  I hope it changes soon, I'm ready for first ice!
good luck guys.

[Stinkybaits]

ROAD TRIP!!!

[blueultra2]

ROAD TRIP!!!

That's what I'm thinking!!

[taxi1]

Having four ponds on the property I get to see ice conditions every day when I walk the dog. This year is a weird one. Usually when it's a mild winter the ice freezes and thaws back and forth on the biggest pond and wind is a big factor. This year it's been plate glass thick (after the thaw in late November) and just in limbo. Not getting any thicker and not melting. Clear with no snow. The dog goes for a drink and can't figure out why it's hard.

[wax_worm]

The lakes are ready to go...we just need some cold to cap them off and start building ice.  Nothing between now and Christmas is going to do it though.  It will be after the new year before we get ice around here unless the forecast makes a major shift that no one is predicting and last year I was fishing on the 13th of Dec which is one week away.  Indiana weather sucks.

[crappie66]

Head north my friends.  We have been ice fishing for the last two weeks in northern IL -- not more than 2 hours from most of you all --- there is ice in IL. MI, WI --- 2 hours is an easy drive for those that want to get on the ice.