Ice conditions 2019/2020

[I Fish NB]

Any one have any ice condition reports. Mild weather making Jan 1 look grim for safe ice.

[jacksmelt71]

im in n. Maine and our smaller lakes and ponds have 12in. of good ice but the big lakes only have small coves locked up going to be limited where you can go jan. 1 but you should be able to find some place if you head north.

[fish_finder]

Some lakes are froze ovef but not quite safe. Cold nights this week will put some more on. I got out last week on tidal water before the rain. 3 inches of clear ice then.

[I Fish NB]

Regs say Tidal water lakes aren't open till Jan 1.

[fish_finder]

I fish tidal waters are open year around. After jan 1st tidal water lakes becone designated tidal water and u follow the icefishing regs, up until then you follow open water regs.  Straight from DFO 2 years ago

[I Fish NB]

Tidal waters and designated tidal lakes are not the same. you cannot keep any sportfish ice fishing in tidal waters while you can in designated tidal lakes and the ice fishing season  applys to them. you can fish regular tidal waters 24/7 year round.i wouldn't take a chance of trying to prove otherwise in court.

[jabers69]

It only  designated  for ice season then it turns tidal  that's from dfo officer

[fish_finder]

Ifish tidal and designated tidal are a tuely the same under law until Jan1st, thats when the term designated tidal comes into play. You are right in the fact you cant target or retain sportfish, but non sportfish such as pickerel ect Is in fact open 365 days of year. I have emails fro. DFO  office as well as both DNR and DFO officers, if you like ill pm them to you for reassurance. Theres a ton of people thay believe otherwise simply because of the vague wording and contradictions btween DNR nad DFO regs and other tid bits that are NB law.  Get fishin brother, your aloud to dont wait til Jan if ya dont hafta!

[fish_finder]

As for ice condtions,  6 inches on one of thr most  the popular spots on Grand, the keyhole. Maquapit has 4 to 5 inches of clear ice on shelteres parts of the lake. French is froze over but havnt heard anyone been on it. Indian is likely same as Maquapit, they tend to freeze at same rate. Main grand lake is pretty much wide open and parts that are froze i wouldnt trust
Tight lines

[I Fish NB]

you are correct ,i just got confirmation that you can fish prior to jan 1 on tidal lakes ,you just cant retain any sportfish and after jan1 you need a license to retain sportfish on tidal lakes and you  cant retain any sportfish at all in plain tidal waters.

[fish_finder]

Report from this weeknd. Most of the lakes in the Grand lake chain are building ice.  Grand lake itself is froze over but thr main lake is still moatly unsafe. Keyhole portion of the lake has a solid 8 inches of clear ice, same as Maquapit and Indian with 8 to 10 inches. French lake at the narrows in the channel has 4 to 5 inches. Tight lines Happy New Year!

[jabers69]

20 plus inches in grand lake