Author Topic: First Ice (Read 11574 times)

upnortfishing · « **on:** Nov 29, 2015, 10:16 PM »

Fished today on 2.5-3 inches busted through about 60 feet of 1" ice in 4-6 inches of water to get onto the solid ice. Caught an 18" walleye jigging with a slender spoon. Few fish on tip-ups as well felt really good to be walking on (hard)water though and the fish were really just a bonus. More pre-cip coming tomorrow night and warm weather this week I can see ice conditions degrading.

If you decide to go on the hunt for ice please be careful. Make sure you go with a friend first ice is no place for loners. Spud hard, make sure you know the lake, plan for the worst bring throw rope, pfd, change of clothes leave cellphone / things you don't want to get wet on land. Even taking precautions it is still very dangerous please be safe.

52isntbigenough · « **Reply #1 on:** Nov 30, 2015, 10:49 AM »

Quote from: upnortfishing on Nov 29, 2015, 10:16 PM

Fished today on 2.5-3 inches busted through about 60 feet of 1" ice in 4-6 inches of water to get onto the solid ice. Caught an 18" walleye jigging with a slender spoon. Few fish on tip-ups as well felt really good to be walking on (hard)water though and the fish were really just a bonus. More pre-cip coming tomorrow night and warm weather this week I can see ice conditions degrading.

If you decide to go on the hunt for ice please be careful. Make sure you go with a friend first ice is no place for loners. Spud hard, make sure you know the lake, plan for the worst bring throw rope, pfd, change of clothes leave cellphone / things you don't want to get wet on land. Even taking precautions it is still very dangerous please be safe.

Where are you up there?

upnortfishing · « **Reply #2 on:** Nov 30, 2015, 01:38 PM »

Was just south-southeast of minocqua on a pretty small lake I'd rather not name.

52isntbigenough · « **Reply #3 on:** Nov 30, 2015, 03:49 PM »

Quote from: upnortfishing on Nov 30, 2015, 01:38 PM

Was just south-southeast of minocqua on a pretty small lake I'd rather not name.

No worries. I'm NE of Minocqua about 45 minutes on a 650 acre, we're just froze over on Friday.

eriksat1 · « **Reply #4 on:** Nov 30, 2015, 07:24 PM »

We got some small lakes frozen over here around Hayward as well, but due to deer hunting and work I have not checked ice thickness yet. One small shallow lake I drive by has been frozen over now for almost a week.

Old Goat · « **Reply #5 on:** Nov 30, 2015, 07:29 PM »

at least someone has ice the squirrels are still water skiing on the lakes down here

upnortfishing · « **Reply #6 on:** Nov 30, 2015, 07:36 PM »

I really feel for you guys down south it was 2 weeks later than I was out last year and I was going as far north as it took to find ice luckily we found it at the 2nd lake we checked.

PRICE COUNTY STRIKE ZONE · « **Reply #7 on:** Nov 30, 2015, 11:07 PM »

By the looks of the forecast, I'm guessing it isn't gonna last long. The post in general chit chat section of the extended forecast didn't look good either. Someone posted this link. http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/an-early-look-at-the-winter-forecast/vi-BBnf8pj?ocid=U147DHP

da man cave shack · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 01, 2015, 12:37 PM »

Lake Mason in Briggsville was iced over Sunday morning. So the water temps are good now we just need some cold nights to thicken it up.

RapidsJigger24 · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 01, 2015, 07:25 PM »

I've been watching the forecast for Phillips, WI like a hawk. I had plans on coming up this weekend but I'm not sure if it's worth the drive anymore. We had some people fishing in the shallow stump bays of the lake the my families cabin is on Sunday on 2-3 inches of good clear ice. Anybody up in that neck of the woods have a report for what this winter storm dumped? I heard there wasn't much snow but quite a bit of rain. Any info would be excellent!

eriksat1 · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 02, 2015, 08:30 PM »

I'm about a hour west of phillips we only got about 2-3 inches of snow and snow rain it pretty much melted on top of the ice on the lakes that were frozen over, kind of like a slush layer on top of the clear ice. It has frozen now so it doesn't look pretty but it did add a couple of inches of ice. I am going to check ice thickness on a couple of lakes tomorrow at lunch time. Hoping to ice fish this Saturday and Sunday.

RapidsJigger24 · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 02, 2015, 09:06 PM »

eriksat1,

Thanks for the news! My old man and I planned on heading up to fish Friday and, conditions allowing, Saturday. I'd love to hear what you find when you check the ice depths in your neck of the woods.

I feel like if I don't get out this weekend it's going to be a LONG wait before I get the chance again.

upnortfishing · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 02, 2015, 09:42 PM »

The snow could have been the end for what little ice we have I am so happy that it didn't dump on us up here. I am pretty sure I will be able to fish this weekend.

RapidsJigger24 · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 02, 2015, 10:01 PM »

Upnort, where are you located? I'm not asking for a honey hole or anything of the sorts, just curious in case the lake I have in mind doesn't work out I have a back-up plan!

upnortfishing · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 09:55 AM »

I am located in Wausau but as I mentioned had to go up near Minocqua to find ice. No idea on current ice conditions it's been pretty warm but I'm hoping there's been some ice made this week.

Where were you planning to go?

smbrickner · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 10:16 AM »

Sorry guys, this warm weather is all my fault.

I bought a new Auger and Shanty so now we won't get decent ice.

upnortfishing · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 10:57 AM »

There is ice you just have to find it, I am lucky to be 1-2 hours from it. I really feel bad for the guys down south though.

smbrickner · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 11:03 AM »

Quote from: upnortfishing on Dec 03, 2015, 10:57 AM

There is ice you just have to find it, I am lucky to be 1-2 hours from it. I really feel bad for the guys down south though.

I won't go on less than 4 inches. I'm way too big to risk it.

upnortfishing · « **Reply #18 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 12:53 PM »

Everyone has their own comfort level as far as safe ice goes, and that is part of the reason I do not like to tell people what lake I was on. At this time of year everyone needs to be using a spud and deciding for themselves if it is safe. First ice isn't for everyone.

eriksat1 · « **Reply #19 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 01:10 PM »

I just went and checked 3 small lakes, NOT GOOD!, one lake 3/4" no good, another maybe 3" but already honeycombed and does not look good at all. I'm not going to risk it this weekend. I just might take my boat out though the big lakes are still wide open. We need cold weather like 0° cold. It would be ok with me if the lakes just completely opened again and start over making good clear ice. I guess that wet snow and rain mix along with mild temps killed it.

RapidsJigger24 · « **Reply #20 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 01:29 PM »

Thanks for all the responses on this and sorry for hijacking the thread.

upnort we have a family cabin on Solberg in Phillips. We usually do pretty well on gills/crappies in a big shallow stump bay at first ice. Looking more and more like it's not going to happen though.

I really want to catch some fish through the ice...but I don't want anybody to have to come fishing for me through the ice.

This weather is killing me!

AST · « **Reply #21 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 05:35 PM »

I am really hoping to fish Carroll lake near Minocqua the 19th/20th. Have to drive almost 5 hours to get there so not going if things are iffy. This really sucks. Just don't have it in me to dig the boat back out and fish open water. Dangit!!

upnortfishing · « **Reply #22 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 06:14 PM »

I am just hoping the snow stays away and the overnight temps trend a bit colder. Pretty confident I will be fishing this weekend and fishing the lake I want to the weekend after.

PRICE COUNTY STRIKE ZONE · « **Reply #23 on:** Dec 03, 2015, 07:24 PM »

Quote from: RapidsJigger24 on Dec 03, 2015, 01:29 PM

Thanks for all the responses on this and sorry for hijacking the thread.

upnort we have a family cabin on Solberg in Phillips. We usually do pretty well on gills/crappies in a big shallow stump bay at first ice. Looking more and more like it's not going to happen though.

I really want to catch some fish through the ice...but I don't want anybody to have to come fishing for me through the ice.

This weather is killing me!

I'm just north of Phillips in Park Falls. There's a little ice around. Enough to get on the edge of the lake, but the next few days are supposed to be in the 40's so probably won't last long. 😢

52isntbigenough · « **Reply #24 on:** Dec 04, 2015, 08:29 AM »

Quote from: PRICE COUNTY STRIKE ZONE on Dec 03, 2015, 07:24 PM

I'm just north of Phillips in Park Falls. There's a little ice around. Enough to get on the edge of the lake, but the next few days are supposed to be in the 40's so probably won't last long. 😢

How often do you wonder over to St. Croix? I'd be there every day at lunch.

Michaelo · « **Reply #25 on:** Dec 04, 2015, 10:09 AM »

Looking like highs in the 40s for the next week. Only good thing about it is it should melt all the crappy ice of the lakes then we can only hope for a cold snap to but some good solid clear ice on the lakes.

52isntbigenough · « **Reply #26 on:** Dec 04, 2015, 11:43 AM »

Quote from: Michaelo on Dec 04, 2015, 10:09 AM

Looking like highs in the 40s for the next week. Only good thing about it is it should melt all the crappy ice of the lakes then we can only hope for a cold snap to but some good solid clear ice on the lakes.

and melt off any slush so when it's freezing at night, it freezes up clean. I can't wait really.

eriksat1 · « **Reply #27 on:** Dec 12, 2015, 04:10 PM »

Well some of the small lakes that were frozen over are wide open again. So here we go again for first ice. Looks like starting Wednesday we will have below freezing temps for the highs and lows around 12°. The lakes are ready just need some darn cold weather. Hopefully we have ice to fish by next weekend.

sturboy · « **Reply #28 on:** Dec 13, 2015, 09:29 AM »

Hello ice-folks,
A bay froze to 3 inches on a small lake near Hayward so I tip-upped several times. Only caught one 17" walleye and was getting a bit discouraged. On Dec 5th had a flag and a long, long fight (6 lb leader) which resulted in a 41" muskie! On a walleye sucker. Back she went, but what fun. Now I'm psyched again, but have to wait for the ice to come back.

Also went shopping for the first time ever on Black Friday. to L and M Fleet in Hayward. My wife drew a 25% off coupon and they had the Clam Nanook Thermal on sale for 419, so with discount it was only $315. Good start to the season!

Good luck and safe fishing to all.

-Sturboy

crazy4crappie · « **Reply #29 on:** Dec 18, 2015, 06:35 AM »

How are the lakes around Minocqua doing? Any ice yet?

News:

Author Topic: First Ice (Read 11574 times)