Author Topic: Ice Levels near Muscatine or Quad Cities? (Read 2502 times)

bwachtel · « **on:** Dec 26, 2017, 03:54 PM »

Any word? Got the itch!

matzilla · « **Reply #1 on:** Dec 26, 2017, 10:31 PM »

extremely variable as of about noon today...several common locations around Muscatine/QC's should be fine by this weekend. If you're fishing local keep an eye on conditions as there will several very thin spots if you don't wait a couple of days. My pond has at least 4.5", however lol

bwachtel · « **Reply #2 on:** Dec 27, 2017, 08:40 AM »

Think the breaks would be good by the weekend?

New User Name · « **Reply #3 on:** Dec 27, 2017, 10:10 AM »

Quote from: bwachtel on Dec 27, 2017, 08:40 AM

Think the breaks would be good by the weekend?

Too many variables for anyone to say all the ice in any given area on the Mississippi will be good this weekend: current, geese, etc.

Take a spud bar with you and check as you go.

matzilla · « **Reply #4 on:** Dec 27, 2017, 02:09 PM »

Quote from: bwachtel on Dec 27, 2017, 08:40 AM

Think the breaks would be good by the weekend?

That place is always hit or miss on early ice and if it snows its even harder to trust...the river dropped a bit between ice up and now, so there is an incline at the shoreline

bwachtel · « **Reply #5 on:** Dec 27, 2017, 03:25 PM »

Do you use the "Ice Report" app? Im going to try and start using it so people in the area know approximate ice levels.

Qceskimo · « **Reply #6 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 07:16 AM »

I’m heading out on the Wapsi in the quad cities this weekend so I will post what the ice thickness is

river rat 58 · « **Reply #7 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 08:51 AM »

we fished yesterday on the backwaters found 4 inches of ice. did well on the crappie and bass

Qceskimo · « **Reply #8 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 10:07 AM »

Great to hear

bwachtel · « **Reply #9 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 02:50 PM »

how deep were you fishing and if you dont mind me asking, what were they biting on?

river rat 58 · « **Reply #10 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 03:50 PM »

we were fishing in 16 feet of water with jig and minnow any where from 6 feet to 13 feet down

matzilla · « **Reply #11 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 06:38 PM »

All this snow isnt going to help...another 2-5” tomorrow. Its gonna be a cold, cold weekend on the ice for me

Qceskimo · « **Reply #12 on:** Dec 28, 2017, 06:43 PM »

I was going to give it a go tomorrow but with 4” of snow I’ll wait for Saturday

Qceskimo · « **Reply #13 on:** Dec 29, 2017, 11:27 AM »

Anyone have a ice depth check for clinton/camanche area?

boomdigs · « **Reply #14 on:** Dec 29, 2017, 07:17 PM »

I was on about 3" Tuesday at camanche harbor. Was rewarded with a 4" perch for my 2 hours of sitting in -15 wind chill.

Qceskimo · « **Reply #15 on:** Dec 29, 2017, 09:01 PM »

At least you got out. Thanks man

harpenter · « **Reply #16 on:** Dec 30, 2017, 05:09 PM »

I got out yesterday and fished a couple different backwater spots, one on the IA side and another on the IL side. Both had a solid 5" of ice.

matzilla · « **Reply #17 on:** Dec 30, 2017, 07:26 PM »

A positive to all this snow is being able to bank it up and keep the wind out of the shack! Got a few nice crappie today but defenetely a slow bite

Qceskimo · « **Reply #18 on:** Jan 07, 2018, 03:56 PM »

6” of ice on the Wapsi today before the rain. Lots of people out. 10 crappies and a couple bluegills but it was really hard to find some fish that wanted to bite/chase. Hope everyone in the area had better luck.

matzilla · « **Reply #19 on:** Jan 08, 2018, 12:55 PM »

watch for any surface seeps, inlet creeks, or runoff areas the next few days...the ice should be fine for the most part, but the snow is melting fairly quickly. Ice should be even thicker after the next cold front blows in. I've been fishing 3" in some places and as much as 13" in others around Muscatine.

RGR175 · « **Reply #20 on:** Jan 08, 2018, 04:24 PM »

About 6" at Lake of the Hills in Davenport on the 7th. Fish bite was pretty good around 10:30am-1pm.

Kevin23 · « **Reply #21 on:** Jan 08, 2018, 07:30 PM »

The ice is very spotty. Just because you drill a test hole and hit 12" doesn't mean its safe. The last three days have really put that point home for me. Seeing everything from 2" to 12"+ on the same body of water not 20 yards apart. Looks like some places were very insulated with the snow. You can drill two holes to fish and have one be 10" and the other 6". I don't think I've ever seen ice like this. We need a good hard cold snap after this snow melts.

RGR175 · « **Reply #22 on:** Jan 09, 2018, 04:34 PM »

What do you think the impact of the 40's and almost 50 degree weather we're going to have in the next few days will be? With the snow on the surface melting, I assume this is going to be like getting rain. I imagine there will be a lot of melted surface water impacting the ice. Heck, there already was a fair amount of surface water under the snow on Sunday. Anyone recall what happened in similar conditions in the past?

Kevin23 · « **Reply #23 on:** Jan 10, 2018, 03:21 PM »

The snow will melt causing water (weight) on the ice and the ice will crack and float up. The cracks and holes where the water drains through the ice will widen and be hazards, but the main sheet of ice will not be affected. Areas where water enters and exits the lake/slough will thin up a little from the warmer water going under the ice. These two and half warm days won't do anything to most bodies of water. By friday morning it will be an ice rink out there so be careful.

cyclones30 · « **Reply #24 on:** Jan 10, 2018, 11:00 PM »

Forecast looks cold again starting tomorrow for at least the next 7 days. I hope the water on top disappears before all the wind coming behind the front tomorrow. Wind and water eat ice quickly...

matzilla · « **Reply #25 on:** Jan 11, 2018, 09:10 AM »

my pond at 4pm yesterday had 2-3" of slush with a hardish bottom, 1" of water under that, and 4-6" of clear ice on the bottom. I also had an 18" drain hole and another 12" drain hole. Keep an eye out for those holes even as things freeze back up the next two days

hnd · « **Reply #26 on:** Jan 11, 2018, 02:47 PM »

farm pond had 7-8" where he'd plowed off the snow, 4-5 where he had left the snow on it.

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Author Topic: Ice Levels near Muscatine or Quad Cities? (Read 2502 times)