A-Jay's 2nd Annual Ice Out / Open Water Countdown Thread ~ 2024
A-Jay reply :
Since the Fat Lady has been singing for a while now - signaling a early end to this fishing season for us in the north woods, the time has come to spool this thread up again.
This time I'm selecting 22 April 2020 as my "I hope the ice is gone" date.
This date is a exactly the same day the Ice went out on Lake Menderchuck this past 2019 season.
(why fight it)
What are the chances ?
As of today, I'm looking at 161 days or 5 months & 9 days or 23 weeks (which makes it seem even longer).
Either way, it is what it is and I'm hunkering down again (and I'm still not quite certain what that actually means, but I'm doing it).
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20200415T12&p0=2455&msg=A-Jay's+2nd+Annual+Ice+Out+%2F+Open+Water+Countdown+Thread+~&ud=1&font=sanserif&csz=1
Please feel free to add your comments, support, and yes, even the jabs; as I know they're inevitable & usually quite entertaining.
At least they were last time round.
And while you're at it, don't forget to add a few pics of recent catches.
All of which may help to pass the time . . . .
A-Jay
btw- this is what Lake Menderchuck looked like on last years 'projected' ice out date of 15 Apr 2019 - hoping for something a little earlier.
MN Fisher reply :
I'll jump in.
Average ice-out for Minnetonka - April 14
Last year ice-out for Minnetonka - April 20
My predicted ice-out for Minnetonka - April 17 (ya, splitting the difference).
If the ice is gone from either of my two regular launch points earlier - I'm going...panfish beware (evil laugh).
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
I'm still in denial that this is already happening, but I don't think I'll be on a boat Thanksgiving weekend this year.
I usually cross my fingers to be on the water for March 21 (my birthday).
Crestliner2008 reply :
Looks like ice up is almost here already! I just went out yesterday and took a snapshot of an oxbow lake just off the Ct. River system. Skim ice is everywhere today. Night temps from the single numbers up to a max of about 30 degrees. Not conducive to open water! Way too early for this. We are usually still fishing up to Thanksgiving, but that's not looking promising this year.
Mid April looks like a good bet, but up here in New England, no one can predict Mother Nature. Some years I've launched in early March. Other years it's been late April. What is it is, we shall persevere, as the old Indian once said. 
Hook2Jaw reply :
hey guys I think something is wrong with your water
But seriously, sorry you're all kicked off the lake because of the cold. I'm currently staring out the window because I wanted to crawl a swimbait today but it is 100% chance of rain, all day long.
12poundbass reply :
I’m pathetically optimistic ice out will get here earlier this year since winter came about a month early. I’m predicting March 25 will be open water around me.
On the bright side we are closer every day to the new season of Zona, hopefully that will help pass the time.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/15/2019 at 9:09 PM, 12poundbass said:I’m pathetically optimistic ice out will get here earlier this year since winter came about a month early. I’m predicting March 25 will be open water around me.
On the bright side we are closer every day to the new season of Zona, hopefully that will help pass the time.
Good Morning my friend ~ That one made be laugh.
I'll admit that I too, am guilty of that sentiment most all the time.
Especially as it relates to hunting & chasing down Big Brown Bass.
But these northern Michigan winters have a way of suppressing that and replacing it with Realism.
#frozennads
A-Jay
FryDog62 reply :
The last 2 years here in the Minneapolis area have been ice out the first week of May... yes May not a typo... So I will predict our ice-off date at May 3, 2020. Which is 172 days. Argh..
I do try to sneak over to South Dakota in April most years as their ice goes off a little earlier and they don’t have a closed season like we do here in MinneSiberia. Here’s a couple pics from SoDak last April 25:
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/15/2019 at 9:57 PM, FryDog62 said:The last 2 years here in the Minneapolis area have been ice out the first week of May
Where? As I posted from DNR report - Tonka was ice-free April 20 this year.
BassNJake reply :
We got 3 inches of snow Monday night, but I'm headed out Saturday we're supposed to be in the mid 50's.
Saw some guys getting gas this morning and they are pre-fishing for a 100+ boat tourney Sat.
Looks like TN fishing is still going strong
TnRiver46 reply :
On 11/15/2019 at 10:23 PM, BassNJake said:We got 3 inches of snow Monday night, but I'm headed out Saturday we're supposed to be in the mid 50's.
Saw some guys getting gas this morning and they are pre-fishing for a 100+ boat tourney Sat.
Looks like TN fishing is still going strong
Just getting started!!!
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/15/2019 at 9:57 PM, FryDog62 said:The last 2 years here in the Minneapolis area have been ice out the first week of May... yes May not a typo... So I will predict our ice-off date at May 3, 2020. Which is 172 days.
Okay - went to the DNR site and here's a map of ice-out dates for 2019
Yellow pins - April 1-7
Green pins - April 8-14
Blue pins - April 15-21
Where's the May ice-out lakes in the Metro?
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/index.html
TriStateBassin106 reply :
Oh man, this is gonna be a long winter, here in NJ we have the temps reaching down into the 20s and 10s this upcoming week, all my spots are already frozen, honestly though A-jay I would start Fishing moving current, anyway you can fish some streams for trout or other panfish species if that's up your alley?
I plan on going for some native brookies this weekend at a local river. Good fighters on ultralight gear.
JS Patterson reply :
This makes feel for you. I consider the end of my season the beginning of July when air temp gets to 98 and sunny with 90+ water temperatures. At least I get to go out and make a few casts into liquid water even though it is difficult to catch until October. I will most likely catch my biggest of the year before your ice out. Hopefully a trip down south is in the works for you.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 12:47 AM, JS Patterson said:This makes feel for you. I consider the end of my season the beginning of July when air temp gets to 98 and sunny with 90+ water temperatures. At least I get to go out and make a few casts into liquid water even though it is difficult to catch until October. I will most likely catch my biggest of the year before your ice out. Hopefully a trip down south is in the works for you.
Thanks but it's all good.
I'll bide my time and when the lakes open up I'll have an opportunity to get back at it.
Incidentally, IMO, the fact that these fish go unmolested for almost half the year - contributes greatly to the quality of the fishery.
Finally a trip south was made in Oct this year - worked out well.
A-Jay
Log Catcher reply :
You picked ice out to be 22 April 2019? I hate to tell you this but you have just missed out on 7 months of fishing. Maybe you medication is causing some strange side effects with you. Hope you get checked out and get well soon.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 1:00 AM, Log Catcher said:You picked ice out to be 22 April 2019? I hate to tell you this but you have just missed out on 7 months of fishing. Maybe you medication is causing some strange side effects with you. Hope you get checked out and get well soon.
LOL ~
Thanks, just goes to show how distressing this whole deal can be . . .
Appreciate the heads up.
A-Jay
FryDog62 reply :
On 11/15/2019 at 10:14 PM, MN Fisher said:Where? As I posted from DNR report - Tonka was ice-free April 20 this year.
I stand corrected MNFisher - it was late April this year, May 5 in 2018 and I think May 2 a couple years back. Either way, with Winter starting early again this year, I’m sticking with my May 2, 2020 prediction. I honestly hope that I’m wrong and it happens in April again (or even March)!
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 2:29 AM, FryDog62 said:I think May 2 a couple years back.
More like half a decade before - here's the last 10 years of Tonka ice-out dates taken from
https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/ice_out_by_lake.html?downum=27013300
2010-04-02,MNDNR-SCO,
2011-04-14,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater Foundation 5:14 AM Hennepin County Sheriff 6:00 AM
2012-03-21,MNDNR-SCO,
2013-05-02,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater Society
2014-04-24,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater Society
2015-04-05,MNDNR-SCO,freshwater
2016-03-17,MNDNR-SCO,Freshwater
2017-03-27,MNDNR-SCO,at 5:06pm via Henn Co Water patrol and Freshwater foundation
2018-05-05,MNDNR-SCO,just after noon via Henn Co Water patrol and Freshwater foundation
2019-04-20,MNDNR-SCO,at 1:46pm via Henn Co Water patrol and Freshwater foundation
Given 2016 and 2017 - a March ice-out isn't out of the realm of possibility.
BassNJake reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 1:14 AM, A-Jay said:LOL ~
Thanks, just goes to show how distressing this whole deal can be . . .
Appreciate the heads up.
A-Jay
Or that Lake Menderchuck is stuck in the twilight zone
Judging by all those monster smallie pics, I'll keep my belief that Lake Menderchuck is not in this dimension
I'm pulling for an early spring for our Northern Bassers
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 2:53 AM, BassNJake said:I'm pulling for an early spring for our Northern Bassers
Doesn't matter too much really - in MN, bass season is closed from the end of February to the middle of May. So early open-water just means panfish.
Raul reply :
Ok, let me get this straight, how come you fellas up North are talking bout ice out/open water ? ain't the stuff has just begun ? 
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 3:14 AM, Raul said:Ok, let me get this straight, how come you fellas up North are talking bout ice out/open water ? ain't the stuff has just begun ?
Blame @A-Jay- he started this last year once ice-in occurs. Gives us a countdown and everything.
I think he does it just to torment us. 
12poundbass reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 3:14 AM, Raul said:Ok, let me get this straight, how come you fellas up North are talking bout ice out/open water ? ain't the stuff has just begun ?
This thread is kinda like group therapy for us northern guys.
My thread may look like it’s us complaining about the winter, but in reality it’s our way to keep you warm weather people away from our fish! ????
Raul reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 3:18 AM, MN Fisher said:Blame @A-Jay- he started this last year once ice-in occurs. Gives us a countdown and everything.
I think he does it just to torment us.
Something like scratching a skeeter bite ?
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 3:40 AM, Raul said:Something like scratching a skeeter bite ?
More like a bad rash...but ya.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 3:22 AM, 12poundbass said:This thread is kinda like group therapy for us northern guys.
My thread may look like it’s us complaining about the winter, but in reality it’s our way to keep you warm weather people away from our fish! ????
A-Jay
detroit1 reply :
I don't mind ( for now ,anyways) not being able to fish. This was an off - year for me. Putting in the new floors on my boat many weekends this spring (many rained out) delayed my season by about 6 wks. That sucked. Had o/b issues that always crept into my mind while fishing, wondering if it would start or not. You have to keep in mind that you might have to t/m back to the ramp which in turn does not always allow you to fish a certain lake, or even the spots you want to fish on a lake you can fish. (!) I am not complaining, just not satisfied. I caught a couple of goods ones, and as always- had fun, but I am ready to start the 2020 season...
A-Jay reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 7:31 AM, detroit1 said:I don't mind ( for now ,anyways) not being able to fish. This was an off - year for me. Putting in the new floors on my boat many weekends this spring (many rained out) delayed my season by about 6 wks. That sucked. Had o/b issues that always crept into my mind while fishing, wondering if it would start or not. You have to keep in mind that you might have to t/m back to the ramp which in turn does not always allow you to fish a certain lake, or even the spots you want to fish on a lake you can fish. (!) I am not complaining, just not satisfied. I caught a couple of goods ones, and as always- had fun, but I am ready to start the 2020 season...
I hear that ~
Life's short and getting shorter.
Unreliable gear of any kind is a PIA
Perhaps consider a re-power for your rig.
A-Jay
WRB reply :
2020 it will be April 1st no other date is appropriate.
Tom
Do1982 reply :
Made it in on the second page. Finished winterizing the boat today so that's always sad. My goal is always first weekend in march but living in unpredictable midwest weather and Mississippi river flooding it's hard to tell. I am going to go with first saturday in april on April 4th. Until then I'll keep lurking bassresourse. Maybe post more often.
NHBull reply :
I have it on good authority that 4/1 will be the official ice out on Squam.
I plan on picking up my boat on 3/25 and will be throwing a silver buddy on 4/2.
soflabasser reply :
On 11/15/2019 at 12:25 PM, A-Jay said:As of today, I'm looking at 161 days or 5 months & 9 days or 23 weeks (which makes it seem even longer).
You are not going to fish for 5 months? Ice fishing sounds like a good choice compared to no fishing for almost half a year.
On 11/16/2019 at 3:22 AM, 12poundbass said:This thread is kinda like group therapy for us northern guys.
My thread may look like it’s us complaining about the winter, but in reality it’s our way to keep you warm weather people away from our fish! ????
LOL! I already caught muskie, smallies, walleye, trout and other northern fish on previous vacations. I fished during the Fall or Spring so I did not ice fish or see hard water. Will leave the ice fishing for a future vacation.
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 8:52 AM, soflabasser said:Will leave the ice fishing for a future vacation.
Make sure to bring your warm undies. 
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 8:52 AM, soflabasser said:You are not going to fish for 5 months? Ice fishing sounds like a good choice compared to no fishing for almost half a year.
I've been posting on the BR forums since 2008, how is this a surprise ?
Thanks for your concern though, but as always, I'll be just fine.
A-Jay
soflabasser reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 9:48 AM, A-Jay said:I've been posting on the BR forums since 2008, how is this a surprise ?
I do not read old post much and focus more on the newer post. I am very fond of fishing so I do not see myself giving up fishing for 5 months every year but that is just me. Maybe 1 month of no fishing but no more than that. Nice huskies you have, I am sure they love the cold weather.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 10:32 AM, soflabasser said:I do not read old post much and focus more on the newer post. I am very fond of fishing so I do not see myself giving up fishing for 5 months but that is just me. Nice huskies you have.
I hear ya ~ Thanks.
A-Jay
JediAmoeba reply :
On 11/16/2019 at 12:57 AM, A-Jay said:Incidentally, IMO, the fact that these fish go unmolested for almost half the year - contributes greatly to the quality of the fishery.
There has to be a lot of people out hammering them on the ice, no?
soflabasser reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 9:00 AM, MN Fisher said:Make sure to bring your warm undies.
That is one thing that I am not looking towards to when it comes to ice fishing, wearing all that cold weather clothes. I rather dress in athletic clothes which is what I usually do. Weather is very nice in South Florida at this moment so I will go fishing tomorrow.
MN Fisher reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 10:35 AM, JediAmoeba said:There has to be a lot of people out hammering them on the ice, no?
Not the bass so much as the panfish, walleye and northern - at least here. Whole 'villages' get set up over the productive areas.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 10:35 AM, JediAmoeba said:There has to be a lot of people out hammering them on the ice, no?
Hammering Smallmouth through the ice ?
Perhaps.
I'll never really know for sure because I'm not out there.
But if my traditional early season brown bass results are any indication . . .
I seriously doubt it.
A-Jay
JediAmoeba reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 10:38 AM, MN Fisher said:Not the bass so much as the panfish, walleye and northern - at least here. Whole 'villages' get set up over the productive areas.
I went up to Minnesota as a youth with my dad and grandad a few times. Driving into the villages on the ice was pretty neat - Drilling through 3 feet of ice, not so much.
We used to catch some really nice smallies mixed in with the walleye, northerns and muskies.
A-Jay reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 10:50 AM, JediAmoeba said:I went up to Minnesota as a youth with my dad and grandad a few times. Driving into the villages on the ice was pretty neat - Drilling through 3 feet of ice, not so much.
We used to catch some really nice smallies mixed in with the walleye, northerns and muskies.
We average 11 + feet of snow - some gets blown off the ice some doesn't.
Ice should be pretty thick this year with the cold starting so early.
Below zero this morning without the wind chill.
A-Jay
GReb reply :
We had a rough year here. Due to an invasive plant the water in our reservoir was drawn down several feet and made the fishing extremely difficult. They thought it was exterminated and raised the levels back up to realize it came back immediately and now they are going to draw it down even further. Worst part is my most productive bay is where the plant is and has been shut off from boats for a year now and counting. So I spent all year finding new water and basically failed. Biggest bass I caught all year was 3 pounds. My catches in general were few and far between. Tried fishing off shore more than ever but just never could locate consistent schools. Luckily for my mental health I live on a 4 acre pond full of dinks lol
MIbassyaker reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 10:35 AM, JediAmoeba said:There has to be a lot of people out hammering them on the ice, no?
On 11/17/2019 at 10:38 AM, MN Fisher said:Not the bass so much as the panfish, walleye and northern - at least here. Whole 'villages' get set up over the productive areas.
Yeah, I don't know anybody who ice-fishes for bass, although bass are not uncommon as a by-catch for those out for perch, crappie, pike, walleye, and such.
However, the Michigan master angler database lists qualifying bass entries (22" largemouth, 21" smallmouth) occasionally caught through the ice in winter on live bait. So maybe bass anglers should be out there on the ice?
I dunno...I've always felt the discomfort and crushing boredom of ice fishing entirely defeats the purpose of fishing as recreation...
gimruis reply :
On 11/17/2019 at 10:38 AM, MN Fisher said:Not the bass so much as the panfish, walleye and northern - at least here. Whole 'villages' get set up over the productive areas.
With the explosive popularity of wheel houses in recent years and all the gizmos, gadgets, and other distractions they come with, some fish populations are seriously way too pressured now. Crappies and sunfish get smoked for weeks on end when there’s a good bite. Bass, muskies, not so much...they pretty much hibernate in the winter here. I don’t really consider drinking, socializing, watching satellite tv, and playing cards to be “fishing” but if that’s what some people need to do in the winter, that’s up to them. Frankly, I think a lot of people completely forego the safety factor too, especially when it comes to early ice. Just last week a large group of people on upper red lake had to be rescued because the ice sheet they were on drifted away from the rest of it.
I’ll go April 15, 2020 for ice out on Tonka next spring.
A-Jay reply :
This strange "Flinter" season continues.
Much of the early snow we got has melted leaving all the mostly oak tree leafs that fell after and on top of the snow, to make a nice mess.
Took advantage of some sun the other day to get out & about with our malamutes.
More snow in the forecast for this week.
149 Days to go . . . .
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 11/25/2019 at 9:49 PM, A-Jay said:This strange "Flinter" season continues.
Much of the early snow we got has melted leaving all the mostly oak tree leafs that fell after and on top of the snow, to make a nice mess.
Took advantage of some sun the other day to get out & about with our malamutes.
More snow in the forecast for this week.
149 Days to go . . . .
A-Jay
“Flinter” I like it, I might have to steal that.
Rocking the Stormy Kromer!
A-Jay reply :
~ 137 Days ~
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 12/7/2019 at 10:41 PM, A-Jay said:
~ 137 Days ~
A-Jay
The lake froze over last night and as you’ve posted we’re in for some frigid temps next week so 137 days (a little sooner for me) can’t come soon enough. As fast as the days and weeks are going by 137 days doesn’t seem so far away.
MN Fisher reply :
On 12/7/2019 at 11:06 PM, 12poundbass said:The lake froze over last night and as you’ve posted we’re in for some frigid temps next week so 137 days (a little sooner for me) can’t come soon enough. As fast as the days and weeks are going by 137 days doesn’t seem so far away.
Was out yesterday taking the wife to her Doc appt - there was still open water on Minnetonka with coots, ducks and snow geese paddling about.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/7/2019 at 11:06 PM, 12poundbass said:The lake froze over last night and as you’ve posted we’re in for some frigid temps next week so 137 days (a little sooner for me) can’t come soon enough. As fast as the days and weeks are going by 137 days doesn’t seem so far away.
Yes Sir ~
Days and night can be a little long,
(especially heading into the winter solstice)
but the weeks seem to go by pretty fast.
A-Jay
I'm posting the link to the Official Countdown ~
https://www.timeanddate.com/countdown/generic?iso=20200415T12&p0=2455&msg=A-Jay's+2nd+Annual+Ice+Out+%2F+Open+Water+Countdown+Thread+~&ud=1&font=sanserif&csz=1
A-Jay
A-Jay reply :
Been enjoying single digit air temps past few days with sub zero numbers over night.
The start of winter is still more than a week away . . .
Awesome.
~124 Days to go ~
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
And barely a week after I still saw open water on a couple of bays...the morons are out on the ice.
Glaucus reply :
On 12/13/2019 at 6:23 AM, MN Fisher said:And barely a week after I still saw open water on a couple of bays...the morons are out on the ice.
Going for the Darwin Award.
papajoe222 reply :
I just checked my 2020 calendar and I'm shooting for March 9. That's the first full moon of the month and the day after we change our clocks. I'm cheating a little because it's a power plant lake that doesn't freeze over and opening week-end is 7th-8th. I don't want to know the days, but fishing season closes for waterfowl hunting on Nov.1. It's more than three days off the water and anytime more than that is torture. If I had a garage, the boat would be inside and I could sit on that pedestal and do some dry fire practice.
You, my friend and all who deal with anything longer, have my sympathies.
TnRiver46 reply :
I think it hit 70 here today but supposed to be 24 tomorrow night
A-Jay reply :
120 Days to go ~
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
And we're going to have highs around the freezing mark this weekend
JediAmoeba reply :
On 12/13/2019 at 6:23 AM, MN Fisher said:And barely a week after I still saw open water on a couple of bays...the morons are out on the ice.
As long as you have 4 inches of ice, it's good. In a week you can easily get there.
rtwvumtneer6 reply :
Does anyone remember grade school, learning about cause and effect?
Well, friends... It finally makes sense to me.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/19/2019 at 5:10 AM, rtwvumtneer6 said:Does anyone remember grade school, learning about cause and effect?
Well, friends... It finally makes sense to me.
I can certainly relate ~
A-Jay
A-Jay reply :
Always a some what significant day in the life us frozen in Bassheads ~ 
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
Happy Yule!
12poundbass reply :
On 12/21/2019 at 9:50 PM, A-Jay said:Always a some what significant day in the life us frozen in Bassheads ~
A-Jay
Is that picture this year? We have zero snow here.
First day of winter and it’s going to feel like early spring for the next week. Ice out will be probably Tuesday. ????
FishinBuck07 reply :
On 12/13/2019 at 6:23 AM, MN Fisher said:And barely a week after I still saw open water on a couple of bays...the morons are out on the ice.
Just let it happen! It is just natural selection!
A-Jay reply :
On 12/21/2019 at 11:08 PM, 12poundbass said:Is that picture this year? We have zero snow here.
First day of winter and it’s going to feel like early spring for the next week. Ice out will be probably Tuesday. ????
As we've discussed, The Snow Belt is real.
Warm(er) up here too.
~ 116 Days to go.
A-Jay
GreenPig reply :
On 12/21/2019 at 9:50 PM, A-Jay said:Always a some what significant day in the life us frozen in Bassheads ~
A-Jay
Happy pup.
Ksam1234 reply :
I’ll add mine! It’s been awhile
since I have been on here. This year ice out was around April 9th .. next year I’m hoping to be getting fish by April 5th ! Let’s shoot for about a week closer. It’s still be decently warm here in western Ny, been in the low 40s last couple days .. hoping it doesn’t get crazy in January and February.
Dirtyeggroll reply :
J Francho reply :
We had some ice, not safe to walk on. It'll be gone by X_mas. gonna be in the 50s.
A-Jay reply :
113 Days ~
A-Jay
slonezp reply :
It's 60* today and the local ponds that had skim ice a couple days ago are wide open. 7 days from now highs will be in the low 20's. Unless we get a polar vortex again this year, and providing Jan and Feb temps are "normal" I don't envision the lakes getting more than 4-8" of ice which makes for open water in early to mid March.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/30/2019 at 3:48 AM, slonezp said:It's 60* today and the local ponds that had skim ice a couple days ago are wide open. 7 days from now highs will be in the low 20's. Unless we get a polar vortex again this year, and providing Jan and Feb temps are "normal" I don't envision the lakes getting more than 4-8" of ice which makes for open water in early to mid March.
Interesting ~
Cooler version of the same theme here too.
Be very interesting to have open water in March . . . . . .
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
With all these warm sunny days, and this rain I can not believe there is still ice all over. There must’ve been a lot more ice than I thought.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/30/2019 at 4:40 AM, 12poundbass said:With all these warm sunny days, and this rain I can not believe there is still ice all over. There must’ve been a lot more ice than I thought.
Perhaps ~
But up here, without much or any snow on the lake ice, there's far less isulating going on.
I'd expect some type of an early ice out.
Oh My.
A-Jay
Dirtyeggroll reply :
Got some rain last night and wind today and the ice is gone! How many “ice outs” will we get this year? Haha
12poundbass reply :
Just got home, looked out the back window, and...... ICE OUT! I’m going fishing. Actually the wind is blowing 25-30 and we had a 20* temperature swing in the wrong direction so I’ll just look out the window from the warmth of my house.
P.S. it’ll be froze again by this time tomorrow.
JediAmoeba reply :
On 12/30/2019 at 4:44 AM, A-Jay said:I'd expect some type of an early ice out.
Oh My.
A-Jay
This is the equivalent of the groundhog calling for 6 weeks until spring or 6 more weeks of winter.
A-Jay reply :
On 12/31/2019 at 6:40 AM, JediAmoeba said:This is the equivalent of the groundhog calling for 6 weeks until spring or 6 more weeks of winter.
Punxsutawney Phil is a Hack !
A-Jay
On 12/31/2019 at 5:58 AM, 12poundbass said:Just got home, looked out the back window, and...... ICE OUT! I’m going fishing. Actually the wind is blowing 25-30 and we had a 20* temperature swing in the wrong direction so I’ll just look out the window from the warmth of my house.
P.S. it’ll be froze again by this time tomorrow.
Good Luck
Currently getting Wet Snow, and Big Cold Wind.
Trees coming down all over - losing power intermittently as well.
PC's on a battery power
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 12/31/2019 at 6:50 AM, A-Jay said:
Punxsutawney Phil is a Hack !
A-Jay
Good Luck
Currently getting Wet Snow, and Big Cold Wind.
Trees coming down all over - losing power intermittently as well.
PC's on a battery power
A-Jay
Yikes! You guys stay safe up there!
A-Jay reply :
Seems more like March than January ~
Not complaining . . .
~ 102 Days ~
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/4/2020 at 2:47 AM, A-Jay said:Seems more like March than January ~
Ya...we're currently at 37
12poundbass reply :
I’ll take it! The ice is gone on our lake around here. I’ve thought about getting the boat out, I won’t, but I think about it.
Oregon Native reply :
You all are a rugged bunch.....wow...
dgkasper58 reply :
I got to head out in Chicago yesterday. Wind made it COLD but lake was open!
slonezp reply :
On 1/4/2020 at 4:31 AM, 12poundbass said:I’ll take it! The ice is gone on our lake around here. I’ve thought about getting the boat out, I won’t, but I think about it.
My son closed on his house Friday. Went to go see it today. The lake he is on is wide open.
12poundbass reply :
On 1/6/2020 at 5:21 AM, slonezp said:My son closed on his house Friday. Went to go see it today. The lake he is on is wide open.
Congrats to him, he’s going to love lake living. I’m sure his dad will too!
slonezp reply :
On 1/6/2020 at 5:59 AM, 12poundbass said:Congrats to him, he’s going to love lake living. I’m sure his dad will too!
There is a water view from every room in the house. Dad will probably be there every weekend the rest of the year. There's a good amount of work to do. Starting next weekend, dad is an electrician then plumber. Once it gets warm, landscaper, pier repairman and who knows what else.
His better half and her mother are doing the painting.
He has about 40ft of frontage, a small pier, and a cement seawall. Borders a home on one side and the public beach on the other side. I'm giving him the 14ft Lund as a housewarming gift.
I brought the little guy with me today along with wifey and momma and the first thing he wanted to do is go see the water. I've created a monster.
12poundbass reply :
On 1/6/2020 at 6:28 AM, slonezp said:There is a water view from every room in the house. Dad will probably be there every weekend the rest of the year. There's a good amount of work to do. Starting next weekend, dad is an electrician then plumber. Once it gets warm, landscaper, pier repairman and who knows what else.
His better half and her mother are doing the painting.
He has about 40ft of frontage, a small pier, and a cement seawall. Borders a home on one side and the public beach on the other side. I'm giving him the 14ft Lund as a housewarming gift.
I brought the little guy with me today along with wifey and momma and the first thing he wanted to do is go see the water. I've created a monster.
Start loading up on ice fishing gear. If you’ve created a monster like you think you’ll be ice fishing in a couple years whether you want to or not. Ask me how I know.
flyfisher reply :
Still waiting on the ice here
A-Jay reply :
On 1/6/2020 at 6:43 AM, flyfisher said:Still waiting on the ice here
Nice Bass ~
Hope you keep waiting & Keep Catching.
Nicely Done.
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 1/6/2020 at 6:43 AM, flyfisher said:Still waiting on the ice here
Nicely done! In front of our house there’s ice but the main part of the lake is wide open. The other lakes around are open too. The weather is miserable though.
slonezp reply :
On 1/6/2020 at 6:47 AM, 12poundbass said:Nicely done! In front of our house there’s ice but the main part of the lake is wide open. The other lakes around are open too. The weather is miserable though.
We have 40mph winds today. Such is life. I'm gonna give it another 6 weeks. No ice and the boat is coming out of hibernation.
On 1/6/2020 at 4:54 AM, dgkasper58 said:I got to head out in Chicago yesterday. Wind made it COLD but lake was open!
Did you hit the lakefront? I took my grandson to the Shedd Aquarium on Sunday and the harbors were wide open. Perch reports are hit or miss. The smallies, I'm sure, are out in deeper water.
dgkasper58 reply :
On 1/6/2020 at 6:58 AM, slonezp said:We have 40mph winds today. Such is life. I'm gonna give it another 6 weeks. No ice and the boat is coming out of hibernation.
Did you hit the lakefront? I took my grandson to the Shedd Aquarium on Sunday and the harbors were wide open. Perch reports are hit or miss. The smallies, I'm sure, are out in deeper water.
I did not- Best perch reports I have heard are in the slips but the jumbos are coming in- I do not fish them much since the lakefront is a bit of a drive for me and 3 kids (newest is 1 week old) keep me and my wife plenty busy while they cannot go outside too often.
A-Jay reply :
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Clearly Tucker & Fenway are enjoying this
and might not be in any hurry to see it end.
But I'm looking at 96 Days and a wake up ~
Finally a double digit midget.
A-Jay
Oregon Native reply :
On 1/10/2020 at 11:46 AM, A-Jay said:
Clearly Tucker & Fenway are enjoying this
and might not be in any hurry to see it end.
But I'm looking at 96 Days and a wake up ~
Finally a double digit midget.
A-Jay
Nice shot...
12poundbass reply :
It never gets old seeming those pups in the snow.
A-Jay reply :
89 Days & a Wake up
(Maybe)
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/17/2020 at 12:07 PM, A-Jay said:
89 Days & a Wake up
(Maybe)
A-Jay
If Minnetonka has ice-out on it's average day - that's how long I have to wait too.
(crosses his fingers, toes...darn it, can't do the eyes anymore)
12poundbass reply :
The lake has officially been iced in for two days now. There are a couple bigger ones still open. At 16 degrees the rest will be closing pretty soon.
A-Jay reply :
85 Days ~
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
There were two guys ice fishing on our lake yesterday the wife said. I wouldn’t trust it for nothing at this point. With the 8” blanket of snow we got last weekend I’d say the ice is here to stay and continue to thicken.
I’m really not in the mood for winter this year.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/21/2020 at 8:04 PM, 12poundbass said:There were two guys ice fishing on our lake yesterday the wife said. I wouldn’t trust it for nothing at this point. With the 8” blanket of snow we got last weekend I’d say the ice is here to stay and continue to thicken.
I’m really not in the mood for winter this year.
Heard two folks wet through the ice on Houghton Lake over the weekend.
Another human took a cold dip while straddling a snow machine.
I think all were recovered OK except the snow machine.
Alcohol may have been a factor.
Either way, seems pretty risky at this point.
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 1/21/2020 at 10:22 PM, A-Jay said:Heard two folks wet through the ice on Houghton Lake over the weekend.
Another human took a cold dip while straddling a snow machine.
I think all were recovered OK except the snow machine.
Alcohol may have been a factor.
Either way, seems pretty risky at this point.
A-Jay
My wife mentioned that Sunday. Pretty dumb at this point even up by you. There were a couple ice anglers Friday on a lake down the road from us. Tuesday it was 70% open.
After going through up to my neck on a swamp as a kid, I’m extremely cautious about going on the ice. When it shifts or cracks even when there’s thick ice, it takes a couple years off from my life.
A-Jay reply :
It's been cold recently but seasonal air temps have been all over the place.
Looks like that's going to continue.
If this zany trend continues into open water season, might make the early open water conditions and getting on the water for more than a day at a time very challenging.
Of course at this point, I'll take whatever I can get
A-Jay
Birdman2136 reply :
Living here in Wisconsin I decided to hang up and sell all my ice fishing gear this season and commit to the gym with the family, its been refreshing and at 33 I've managed to get myself feeling great. Ice fishing was never my favorite anyways...
12poundbass reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 4:56 AM, Birdman2136 said:Living here in Wisconsin I decided to hang up and sell all my ice fishing gear this season and commit to the gym with the family, its been refreshing and at 33 I've managed to get myself feeling great. Ice fishing was never my favorite anyways...
I’m not a fan of ice fishing either. My son got a portable shanty for Christmas. He’s 9 and the few times we’ve gone he thinks it’s fun. I’m not going to discourage him from liking it. I guess I’ll just have a sore tongue until spring.
Birdman2136 reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 5:03 AM, 12poundbass said:I’m not a fan of ice fishing either. My son got a portable shanty for Christmas. He’s 9 and the few times we’ve gone he thinks it’s fun. I’m not going to discourage him from liking it. I guess I’ll just have a sore tongue until spring.
Right. I felt comfortable selling my stuff since I have multiple buddies who put out permanent shacks.. the kids enjoy chasing flags so we've joined them a couple times for some action.
Best to encourage the kids to get outside!
DogBone_384 reply :
I’m just getting ice in the Boston area. Ponkapog Pond in Canton, was 80% frozen over when I drove by it yesterday.
Ponkie is a shallow, weedy pond, so I hope the deep kettles in Plymouth & Cape Cod stay open. It’s forecasted to be in the mid 40’s later this week.
I landed a 4.82 LMB in my kayak on 14 Jan.
I hope we’re in for a short countdown.
TnRiver46 reply :
I really like the idea of ice fishing but don’t know if I would have the cajoles to walk out there
12poundbass reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 6:42 AM, TnRiver46 said:I really like the idea of ice fishing but don’t really know if I would have the cajoles
Is it the thought of being on ice?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 6:44 AM, 12poundbass said:Is it the thought of being on ice?
Well the thought of crashing through it haha
12poundbass reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 8:30 PM, TnRiver46 said:Well the thought of crashing through it haha
Sometimes it freaks me out when the ice shifts or cracks and pops when new ice is forming. I was around 8 or so and we were ice fishing at night in my stepdads shanty and the ice decided to shift and water shot up about six inches through the hole. I needed new underwear after that.
Google Tip Up Town. It’s a festival on the ice in northern Michigan, it’s actually this weekend so take a road trip.
A-Jay reply :
This doesn't happen very often:
8 AM temperatures (January 22):
Traverse City, MI : 32°
Sault Ste. Marie, MI: 33°
Ocala, FL (~60 mi NW of Orlando): 30°
84 Days to go.
That sounds pretty Close
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 1/22/2020 at 9:57 PM, A-Jay said:This doesn't happen very often:
8 AM temperatures (January 22):
Traverse City, MI : 32°
Sault Ste. Marie, MI: 33°Ocala, FL (~60 mi NW of Orlando): 30°
84 Days to go.
That sounds pretty Close
A-Jay
84 days doesn’t sound all that bad.
slonezp reply :
A buddy texted me some ice fishing crappie pics yesterday. 4" of ice on my home water. Should be 18" this time of year
On 1/22/2020 at 8:30 PM, TnRiver46 said:Well the thought of crashing through it haha
Similar to the saying "It's not the fall that kills you, it's the landing"
There are very few things I am not willing to do. Ice fishing is one of them. I took a DNR ice fishing course almost 30 years ago because my son wanted to learn how to ice fish. It was the first and last time I was ever on the ice. Fast forward 10 years, my son was in high school and would ice fish with a friend of his. He got too confident. Was coming home from a friends house alone and took a short cut across the lake. He went thru the ice. Fortunately he was only in 4 or 5 foot of water and was able to save himself. He hasn't been on the ice since.
12poundbass reply :
On 1/23/2020 at 8:50 AM, slonezp said:A buddy texted me some ice fishing crappie pics yesterday. 4" of ice on my home water. Should be 18" this time of year
Similar to the saying "It's not the fall that kills you, it's the landing"
There are very few things I am not willing to do. Ice fishing is one of them. I took a DNR ice fishing course almost 30 years ago because my son wanted to learn how to ice fish. It was the first and last time I was ever on the ice. Fast forward 10 years, my son was in high school and would ice fish with a friend of his. He got too confident. Was coming home from a friends house alone and took a short cut across the lake. He went thru the ice. Fortunately he was only in 4 or 5 foot of water and was able to save himself. He hasn't been on the ice since.
So no ice road trucking in your future then?
MN Fisher reply :
Guy across the street has had his ATV on the ice here...one of the fishermen told him that it was 16" on Spring Park Bay. I'm still not going out there.
Ksam1234 reply :
On 1/21/2020 at 5:11 PM, A-Jay said:
85 Days ~
A-Jay
Can’t wait to do this!! We barely have any ice here .. didn’t even get any until this week and it’s supposed to hit mid 40s again and melt.. hoping an eerly spring
12poundbass reply :
The forecast for the next ten days includes rain, snow, and upper 30’s during the day. It won’t get rid of the ice but will certainly slow down the production.
gimruis reply :
Wouldn’t bother me if I never went ice fishing again. There is the largest ice fishing event in the world on Saturday on Gull Lake near Brainerd here. More than 12,000 participants are expected. I won’t be one of them.
A-Jay reply :
I might not be concerning myself so much with what happens this week,
or next week or even next month, weather wise.
But come the beginning of March and then straight on through it,
I'll be doing The Best No Snow and Plenty of RAIN Dance, I can come up with !
A-Jay
slonezp reply :
On 1/23/2020 at 10:14 AM, A-Jay said:I might not be concerning myself so much with what happens this week,
or next week or even next month, weather wise.
But come the beginning of March and then straight on through it,
I'll be doing The Best No Snow and Plenty of RAIN Dance, I can come up with !
A-Jay
OK Mary Poppins
A-Jay reply :
On 1/23/2020 at 10:15 AM, slonezp said:OK Mary Poppins
See that, being 50 came in real handy right there.
Nicely Done.
A-Jay
slonezp reply :
On 1/23/2020 at 10:19 AM, A-Jay said:See that, being 50 came in real handy right there.
Nicely Done.
A-Jay
I could have called you the Morton Salt lady
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/23/2020 at 10:15 AM, slonezp said:OK Mary Poppins
Could have sworn that was Gene Kelly...
A-Jay reply :
On 1/23/2020 at 10:22 AM, slonezp said:I could have called you the Morton Salt lady
Probably wouldn't help if I said I was more of a Himalayan Salt Guy. 
A-Jay
J Francho reply :
Pink IS your signature color.
Boomstick reply :
Last year I believe half of one of our local lakes thawed out before my oldest's birthday, 4/14. I forget the exact date. Unfortunately it's the shallow half and the majority of the fish were still deep, but we still tried anyway.
I would be happy for the same thing this year, as long as the rest of the year isn't so tough to catch them
A-Jay reply :
79 Days ~
Who's with me ? !
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 1/27/2020 at 12:08 PM, A-Jay said:
79 Days ~
Who's with me ? !
A-Jay
Oh I’m with ya A-Jay! The long range forecast looks promising for keeping ice on the lakes to a minimum. I’m liking this, I hope it continues this past.
Dangerfield reply :
I'd kill for 79 more days.. as of today 152 days to go.
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 12:45 AM, Dangerfield said:I'd kill for 79 more days.. as of today 152 days to go.
Dude, how can it be that much longer than either @A-Jayor myself as you're south of both of us. Unless your legal season starts later.
78 Days and counting.
Dangerfield reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 12:54 AM, MN Fisher said:Dude, how can it be that much longer than either @A-Jayor myself as you're south of both of us. Unless your legal season starts later.
78 Days and counting.
It's painful. Thankfully we target other species starting in April. Legal season starts 4th started in June. Esox is a month earlier.
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 12:57 AM, Dangerfield said:It's painful. Thankfully we target other species starting in April. Legal season starts 4th started in June. Esox is a month earlier.
Well, we're actually talking open water...I can't target Bass until 10 May - so 104 days for that. So from open-water until then, target crappie and test/tweak the canoe mods.
Dangerfield reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 1:00 AM, MN Fisher said:Well, we're actually talking open water...I can't target Bass until 10 May - so 104 days for that. So from open-water until then, target crappie and test/tweak the canoe mods.
Ohhh, ice out up here could be late March beginning of April. Crappie would be a good species to target, we've accidentally caught them on 2.8s on jighead.
12poundbass reply :
Thankfully they changed our bass season to catch and release all year long. This was a few years ago they changed it, until then catch and release was I believe the third Saturday in April and catch and keep (which I don’t do) is the third Saturday in May.
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 1:27 AM, 12poundbass said:Thankfully they changed our bass season to catch and release all year long. This was a few years ago they changed it, until then catch and release was I believe the third Saturday in April and catch and keep (which I don’t do) is the third Saturday in May.
We still have a closed season. LMB closes 23 Feb, opens for C&R on 10 May, opens for keepers 24 May. SMB closed for keepers on 8 Sept, open for C&R until 23 Feb, opens again same as LMB.
A-Jay reply :
The MI walleye opener is still well after usual open water. Still, I will always catch (and immediately release) more and bigger walleye as by-catch fishing for smb during those 3 weeks or so, than the rest of the entire season combined.
And these fish are always in super shallow.
A-Jay
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MN Fisher reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 2:12 AM, A-Jay said:The MI walleye opener is still well after usual open water. Still, I will always catch (and immediately release) more and bigger walleye as by-catch fishing for smb during those 3 weeks or so, than the rest of the entire season combined.
And these fish are always in super shallow.
A-Jay
Can't even target Walleye or Pike until 10 May once the season closes on 23 Feb...yep, everything except panfish closes then and doesn't open until Mother's Day Weekend.
12poundbass reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 2:12 AM, A-Jay said:The MI walleye opener is still well after usual open water. Still, I will always catch (and immediately release) more and bigger walleye as by-catch fishing for smb during those 3 weeks or so, than the rest of the entire season combined.
And these fish are always in super shallow.
A-Jay
That’s a mighty fine walleye! Did you get that on Menderchuck? PB? You get a weight on that big girl?
A-Jay reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 3:25 AM, 12poundbass said:That’s a mighty fine walleye! Did you get that on Menderchuck? PB? You get a weight on that big girl?
Thanks -
Didn't measure or weigh this one.
Might have gone 5lb and some change I'd guess ?
PB came from Lake Eire and was also by catch interestingly enough.
9 lbs
A-Jay
Vilas15 reply :
This weekend the lakes had1.5' of snow on top of 6" of slush on top of 1' of ice. Lets just say the tipups werent set too far from the boat launch since travel was difficult.
A-Jay reply :
I think these guys are just messing with me !
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 4:10 AM, A-Jay said:
I think these guys are just messing with me !
A-Jay
Is there a way to go back and see what their 3 month outlook was say, 3 months ago, or do they delete it if they’re off never to be seen again?
A-Jay reply :
On 1/28/2020 at 4:23 AM, 12poundbass said:Is there a way to go back and see what their 3 month outlook was say, 3 months ago, or do they delete it if they’re off never to be seen again?
I am of the opinion that most every entity that includes NWS as part of their deal,
after their 'prediction' there seems less concern with the actual out come.
I'd like to submit exhibit A ~
"Latest indications suggest the possibility of below normal temperatures and above normal precipitation for the Great Lakes region for January through March of 2020. This pattern would mean cold and snowy conditions for Northern Michigan."
Is there another Michigan some where - One we're not aware of ?
A-Jay
A-Jay reply :
73 Days ~
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 2/2/2020 at 11:28 AM, A-Jay said:
73 Days ~
A-Jay
Now that’s a breath of fresh air! 73 days doesn’t seem that bad. It’s inevitable that this mild weather we’re experiencing will last forever, but it’ll be easier to deal with when winter actually shows up knowing open water isn’t too far away.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/2/2020 at 11:33 AM, 12poundbass said:Now that’s a breath of fresh air! 73 days doesn’t seem that bad. It’s inevitable that this mild weather we’re experiencing will last forever, but it’ll be easier to deal with when winter actually shows up knowing open water isn’t too far away.
Agreed ~
And of course February had to be doing the leap year.
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
Interesting tid bit I saw this morning while watching the weather. Last year at this time the Great Lakes were 56% covered with ice. This year they are 9% covered.
The Great Lakes and our inland lakes are apples and oranges but goes to show you how mild our winter has been. I still don’t trust the ice we have on our local lakes here because it’s been so mild and today and tomorrow are sunny warm and windy so that won’t help the ice building.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/2/2020 at 10:39 PM, 12poundbass said:Interesting tid bit I saw this morning while watching the weather. Last year at this time the Great Lakes were 56% covered with ice. This year they are 9% covered.
The Great Lakes and our inland lakes are apples and oranges but goes to show you how mild our winter has been. I still don’t trust the ice we have on our local lakes here because it’s been so mild and today and tomorrow are sunny warm and windy so that won’t help the ice building.
High 30's with Rain up here today -
Sort of a mess but we still have a foot of snow on the ground and on the ice.
So it may be a while before we get to Mud Season; which 'should' be early and perhaps last a little longer this year.
Be wiping a lot of dog feet off soon.
A-Jay
Way north bass guy reply :
On 2/2/2020 at 10:43 PM, A-Jay said:High 30's with Rain up here today -
Sort of a mess but we still have a foot of snow on the ground and on the ice.
So it may be a while before we get to Mud Season; which 'should' be early and perhaps last a little longer this year.
Be wiping a lot of dog feet off soon.
A-Jay
I know that game well, especially when you have two dogs that love to run around the yard and wrestle with each other, and your back yard is mostly clay based. Some times it’s a 5 minute job in the screen porch wiping down feet and bellies before anyone goes inside, and you still have to mop the floor almost every day.
12poundbass reply :
On 2/2/2020 at 11:03 PM, Way north bass guy said:I know that game well, especially when you have two dogs that love to run around the yard and wrestle with each other, and your back yard is mostly clay based. Some times it’s a 5 minute job in the screen porch wiping down feet and bellies before anyone goes inside, and you still have to mop the floor almost every day.
On 2/2/2020 at 10:43 PM, A-Jay said:High 30's with Rain up here today -
Sort of a mess but we still have a foot of snow on the ground and on the ice.
So it may be a while before we get to Mud Season; which 'should' be early and perhaps last a little longer this year.
Be wiping a lot of dog feet off soon.
A-Jay
I don’t miss mud season and walking Hank down out dirt road every night. Our yard isn’t terrible in the spring, just throw a towel down and wipe the paws when they come in and they’re good to go.
Way north bass guy reply :
I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I’ll take muddy dogs over snowy dogs any day, at least that means the boat is parked in the yard instead of the winter storage shed.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/3/2020 at 1:00 AM, Way north bass guy said:I’m not saying it’s a bad thing, I’ll take muddy dogs over snowy dogs any day, at least that means the boat is parked in the yard instead of the winter storage shed.
Not me - Snowy dogs eventually dry - but are Very Clean . . . . .
Cleaning muddy Malamute feet is like shoeing a horse !
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 2/3/2020 at 2:13 AM, A-Jay said:Not me - Snowy dogs eventually dry - but are Very Clean . . . . .
Cleaning muddy Malamute feet is like shoeing a horse !
A-Jay
That’s how it was with Hank. He’s as big as a horse, so naturally I’d act like I was a farrier.
gimruis reply :
It’s balmy here today!
MN Fisher reply :
On 2/3/2020 at 2:29 AM, gimruis said:It’s balmy here today!
I know - had to run to Menards for some stuff for the further-mods on the canoe. Heat off, window half open...very nice.
Too bad it's just a short-spurt warmup.
DogBone_384 reply :
All the waters (fresh) near the Boston area are locked up and unsafe. Plymouth and Cape Cod are open. So far there's been no countdown this winter.
I'll be out Tuesday looking for my February fish.
slonezp reply :
On 2/2/2020 at 10:39 PM, 12poundbass said:Interesting tid bit I saw this morning while watching the weather. Last year at this time the Great Lakes were 56% covered with ice. This year they are 9% covered.
The Great Lakes and our inland lakes are apples and oranges but goes to show you how mild our winter has been. I still don’t trust the ice we have on our local lakes here because it’s been so mild and today and tomorrow are sunny warm and windy so that won’t help the ice building.
Some pics of Lake Michigan (Door County) this weekend. The lake side is soft and the bay side is hard. Water is soft in Chicago
DitchPanda reply :
Up here in Iowa I've seen ice out the first week in March and the third week of April in the past few years...my guess this year is March 23rd..just splitting the difference
Zangof reply :
On 2/5/2020 at 11:14 AM, DitchPanda said:Up here in Iowa I've seen ice out the first week in March and the third week of April in the past few years...my guess this year is March 23rd..just splitting the difference
I'm in the Des Moines area and my guess is mid to late March as well. While there is enough ice down here for people ice fishing the facebook groups are constantly talking about places that are not safe with really thin ice. There is no snow on the ice and my yard is already mud so we are having to wipe the dog's feet right now.
A-Jay reply :
68 Days ~
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
On 2/7/2020 at 12:08 PM, A-Jay said:
68 Days ~
A-Jay
One can only hope that it's sooner.
Of course here it's 93 days to bass opener...
12poundbass reply :
On 2/7/2020 at 12:08 PM, A-Jay said:
68 Days ~
A-Jay
Impatiently waiting here.
A-Jay reply :
64 Days ~ Maybe . . . .
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 2/11/2020 at 6:22 AM, A-Jay said:
64 Days ~ Maybe . . . .
A-Jay
I know you have more, but we only have 3-4” of ice. This time last year we had 10”.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/11/2020 at 8:12 AM, 12poundbass said:I know you have more, but we only have 3-4” of ice. This time last year we had 10”.
I really have no clue what the hard water status is.
Sort of don't care either.
Because as long as the word hard is being used to describe what ever level it's at,
I'm still waiting . . .
A-Jay
A-Jay reply :
59 days ~
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
Kind of ironic you update this because the lake has been popping and cracking all day making ice.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/16/2020 at 8:19 AM, 12poundbass said:Kind of ironic you update this because the lake has been popping and cracking all day making ice.
That is interesting.
My Knees & Elbows do that all the time.
A-Jay
Boomstick reply :
Given this winter, I believe I will be fishing (or building my harbor freight kayak trailer) in more like 50 days or so.
slonezp reply :
Spent today working at my kids house. The ice fishermen were out in abundance as were the snowmobilers. Had to run into town to get some stuff and drove over a bridge that crosses, what they call the "Lower River", on my home water. Both shorelines have ice that goes out about 30 yards. The center of the river is open.
TriStateBassin106 reply :
Oh man A-jay I already miss watching your videos on Lake Menderchuck. I know the feeling of not having Open Water for long periods of time, here in NY/NJ we get this really weird period of cold weather after January in the upper 30s/40s but it causes very thin ice on our ponds and lakes, it'll probably be like this until mid March, even in April we can still get temperatures in the low 40s and it honestly makes the fishing miserable, the bass will all of a sudden get into pre spawn mode if there's 55+ weather for a day or two and then the second it hits below 50 they go right back to winter mode.
I just want those mid summer mornings on the lake back hahahahahaha
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/17/2020 at 9:14 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:Oh man A-jay I already miss watching your videos on Lake Menderchuck. I know the feeling of not having Open Water for long periods of time, here in NY/NJ we get this really weird period of cold weather after January in the upper 30s/40s but it causes very thin ice on our ponds and lakes, it'll probably be like this until mid March, even in April we can still get temperatures in the low 40s and it honestly makes the fishing miserable, the bass will all of a sudden get into pre spawn mode if there's 55+ weather for a day or two and then the second it hits below 50 they go right back to winter mode.
I just want those mid summer mornings on the lake back hahahahahaha
Long live winter! (Dodges object hurled at me)....... fish bite really good when it’s cold here. It’s hot enough to sweat through your skivvies before sunrise in midsummer
Way north bass guy reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 12:00 AM, TnRiver46 said:Long live winter! (Dodges object hurled at me)....... fish bite really good when it’s cold here. It’s hot enough to sweat through your skivvies before sunrise in midsummer
That’s not winter what you have ( hurls object ????). Winter means your standing on top of the lake, not on top of a boat in the lake.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 12:29 AM, Way north bass guy said:That’s not winter what you have ( hurls object ????). Winter means your standing on top of the lake, not on top of a boat in the lake.
I call it calendar winter. Same time of year as regular winter but much warmer and more fun
A-Jay reply :
On 2/17/2020 at 9:14 AM, TriStateBassin106 said:Oh man A-jay I already miss watching your videos on Lake Menderchuck. I know the feeling of not having Open Water for long periods of time, here in NY/NJ we get this really weird period of cold weather after January in the upper 30s/40s but it causes very thin ice on our ponds and lakes, it'll probably be like this until mid March, even in April we can still get temperatures in the low 40s and it honestly makes the fishing miserable, the bass will all of a sudden get into pre spawn mode if there's 55+ weather for a day or two and then the second it hits below 50 they go right back to winter mode.
I just want those mid summer mornings on the lake back hahahahahaha
Well I miss making them at least as much ~ !
I have a little Jersey experience ~ South NJ.
Was stationed there for 15 years.
Lived in Cape May for most of it - and I loved it.
Didn't do much sweet water fishing but did Striper fish my Arse off !
A-Jay
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 12:53 AM, A-Jay said:Well I miss making them at least as much ~ !
I have a little Jersey experience ~ South NJ.
Was stationed there for 15 years.
Lived in Cape May for most of it - and I loved it.
Didn't do much sweet water fishing but did Striper fish my Arse off !
A-Jay
I've vacationed at cape May (my brother and his family are in south Philly). Pretty cool spot.
12poundbass reply :
Last weekend we set tip ups on our lake, the ice was around 4” thick. We set some again yesterday and it was 6”. The thickness is going in the wrong direction for my liking.
This time last year we were close to a foot thick so I’ll take what we have now.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 4:59 AM, 12poundbass said:Last weekend we set tip ups on our lake, the ice was around 4” thick. We set some again yesterday and it was 6”. The thickness is going in the wrong direction for my liking.
This time last year we were close to a foot thick so I’ll take what we have now.
Super Cold here this morning - well below zero.
Wind was a little brutal.
And wait for it - getting half a foot of snow starting any minute now . . .
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 5:13 AM, A-Jay said:Super Cold here this morning - well below zero.
Wind was a little brutal.
And wait for it - getting half a foot of snow starting any minute now . . .
A-Jay
Looking back at my prediction (March 25), Looking at how thing are, the extended forecast through the end of the month, and the lack of snow and ice I’m confident I’ll be close to hitting the mark.
I hope I didn’t just screw myself with that. ????
A-Jay reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 5:22 AM, 12poundbass said:Looking back at my prediction (March 25), Looking at how thing are, the extended forecast through the end of the month, and the lack of snow and ice I’m confident I’ll be close to hitting the mark.
I hope I didn’t just screw myself with that. ????
Either way ~ Good Luck with that.
If I've learned anything the past 13 years, it's that Pure Michigan, especially the snow belt area, has unique & unpredictable weather patterns, that change every year.
Season's as we know them - don't really exist.
There is virtually no 'typical' spring & fall weather; unless we a ready to count a week or ten days it.
It's more like the No snow season and the Snow season because we go from winter to summer and from summer to winter.
And I have 'cold weather gear' in my rig almost ALL YEAR ROUND !
WTH !
A-Jay
slonezp reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 5:13 AM, A-Jay said:Super Cold here this morning - well below zero.
Wind was a little brutal.
And wait for it - getting half a foot of snow starting any minute now . . .
A-Jay
It was rain on my side of the pond
A-Jay reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 9:00 AM, slonezp said:It was rain on my side of the pond
Snow like a Basstid here ~
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 10:03 AM, A-Jay said:Snow like a Basstid here ~
A-Jay
Ya, we got dumped with about 4" today. Then we get this
WRB reply :
What are the temps this week.....-6.
April 1st or fools day still looks good!
Tom
A-Jay reply :
On 2/18/2020 at 10:47 AM, WRB said:What Are the temps this week.....-6.
April 1st or fools day still looks good!
Tom
Cold - still full on winter here.
It was -12 without the windchill last night.
Brought the dogs in the house, first time this winter.
Snowing now, we have a foot or so on the ground, more in drift areas.
My count down to projected open water is still 57 days away.
And while a lot can change in almost two months --
This recent & current weather deal is not making the wait seem any shorter . . .
A-Jay
TnRiver46 reply :
5 pm when I got off work yesterday....
Ksam1234 reply :
Just took a ride by Lake Erie today, temp outside is 42 and rain so I figured I would check it out. Literally not even snow around the beach.. going to be an early spring !!
slonezp reply :
On 2/19/2020 at 1:17 AM, TnRiver46 said:5 pm when I got off work yesterday....
It was single digits when I woke up and never made it past 25* today BUT we don't have any houses falling into the Tennessee River. There was a video on the local Chicago news yesterday of a home falling 60' down an embankment into the river because of erosion from the flooding. Crazy stuff
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/20/2020 at 10:42 AM, slonezp said:It was single digits when I woke up and never made it past 25* today BUT we don't have any houses falling into the Tennessee River. There was a video on the local Chicago news yesterday of a home falling 60' down an embankment into the river because of erosion from the flooding. Crazy stuff
My house is near the water but not that close! (Hopefully). This attorney jumped off a bridge in downtown Chattanooga and they didn’t find him until 19 days later 122 miles downstream
https://newschannel9.com/news/local/longtime-chattanooga-attorney-found-dead-in-alabama-along-tennessee-river
Tennessee Boy reply :
On 2/20/2020 at 8:08 PM, TnRiver46 said:My house is near the water but not that close! (Hopefully). This attorney jumped off a bridge in downtown Chattanooga and they didn’t find him until 19 days later 122 miles downstream
https://newschannel9.com/news/local/longtime-chattanooga-attorney-found-dead-in-alabama-along-tennessee-river
That's some crazy stuff. He went through two dams!
J Francho reply :
I wonder why he jumped?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/20/2020 at 10:46 PM, J Francho said:I wonder why he jumped?
My first guess would be occupation related stress
J Francho reply :
It wasn't clear if it was a suicide or accident. Regarding the former, mental illness, left untreated is often deadly. Sad end.
Tennessee Boy reply :
That story will probably keep me awake tonight. Thanks @TnRiver46 ????. I have kind of a phobia with dams. I sometimes fish below them even though it's a little scary. I stay away from the top side. I just feel like I could fall in and get sucked through at any moment. I'm sure it would be very dangerous to be anywhere near those dams right now with all the flooding.
J Francho reply :
You probably don't want to hear the story of not being able to start the big motor during a TX on Erie. We were in the Niagara River, and moving pretty quickly towards the falls. The falls were around 8 miles away, but it was a pucker moment. We figured worse case, we would have to beach in the slack on the Canadian side, and call customs. Luckily, she started up eventually, and we got the heck up outta there. I've never fished the upper river again, lol.
A-Jay reply :
While my projected open water date is a mere 53 Days away,
and a lot can change between now & then, considering how much of winter we're still experiencing here and how much winter there is still on the ground, I'm not feeling very optimistic.
Even if by some miraculous turn of events, there is open water, access to these places may be a problem.
Big Snow, pond sized snow melt at the ramps and big mud is always a concern early on, and this time around it's setting up to be very detrimental to the end game . . . . .
I can foresee another very short pre-spawn period in the works.
Booo
A-Jay
12poundbass reply :
Even the swans are ready for ice out.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 2/22/2020 at 10:24 PM, 12poundbass said:Even the swans are ready for ice out.
12poundbass reply :
On 2/23/2020 at 3:30 AM, TnRiver46 said:
Ha ha that’s awesome. These ones are nice. A lake just down the road has some that aren’t so nice.
dgkasper58 reply :
On 2/23/2020 at 4:43 AM, 12poundbass said:Ha ha that’s awesome. These ones are nice. A lake just down the road has some that aren’t so nice.
We had several that would CHASE every jet ski, kayaker, paddle boarder it was bad. Unfortunately they (DNR) had to put it down.
Dirtyeggroll reply :
Took a detour home today and HOT DIGGITY we’ve got open water!
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