For you brave souls that venture out on a skim, are we getting close?

No!

Not down here anyway... this rain will rot the ice too...

Not here in the NE. The snow will jack the ice up. We just received about 5 inches of powder & no to happy . It seems to insulate & weight down the ice. So far I have heard in the northern part of the state (Kosciusko County) there is some "safe ice". I haven't fell thru yet & I don't plan on it. Be safe fella's. I love this stuff 2, but it's not worth a trip to the emergency room or the mortuary.

was out saturday. It was about 2 inches I didn't venture to far

I was told today that Summit Lake had 4.5 to 5 inches on it, I am sure that is in the coves.

Saw a guy out fishing on Stone Arch lake in Atterbury yesterday evening.

3 inches of clear hard on a 3 acre farm pond I fish. 2 gills and 1 bass. Lost 2 other bass right at the whole and a few other bites that I missed. Hope to add 2 the mess in the morning so I can post a pic

Dang Buckwheat. I'm really surprised by the fishable ice. I have some angst over high water that then drops and leaves an air pocket on small ponds. Are you in northern Indiana?

Thanks Buckwheat. I hope the next few cold days soldify getting out in the next week or two!

Anyone braving it again yet?

Sounds like next weeks temps ought to do it. Brrrr!

[QUOTE]Dang Buckwheat. I'm really surprised by the fishable ice. I have some angst over high water that then drops and leaves an air pocket on small ponds. Are you in northern Indiana?[QUOTE]

North East Indiana Delaney, Just South of Allen County. Plan on getting back on the ice tomorrow evening. We have close to 5 inches now

I haven't punched thru yet & I sure don't plan on it. I'm still learning how to read ice. I have a few people to get a solid opinion & I still test it like I'm walkn on a 1/2"

Still a lot of open water here. Things are closing up again. Can't wait to drill a hole.

I'm ready....c'mon ice!

Be careful with all this snow on the ice. It won't make ice as fast with the snow on it.

-11 below right now at 8:30am.......should be safe ice most every where. h.h.

You guys up in NE Indiana should be in good shape since you've had ice for some time. Those of us down here in central Indiana haven't had good ice for a while and I'm with Yaz, especially if there is any moving water under the ice or springs close to the surface. If we get another 6 plus inches on Sunday, that will be a lot of insulation on top of the ice. I agree that most ice should be good, but having gone through, only about four and half foot of water, when I was 17 is always a reminder, especially since the ice we were fishing that day was at least 4 plus inches in most areas of the lake. And that was on ice that had no snow on top west of Logansport.

[img]http://content.ll-0.com/westshoremarine/ice-thickness-chart.gif?i=121812145012[/img]

Great conversation, thanks for sharing that graphic hh.

I am getting ready!

I have to break ice on the pond every day to let the bulls drink. It was only about 2" thick and mushy today. I could stomp through it today. Just be safe guys!

Ordered new blades for my auger yesterday. Time to get ready.

Is this ice making weather? LOL! Man it is cold!

have been reading on iceshanty and getting a little skeptical about getting out since I don't do it all the time. You would think we would be good since it is cold but many are reporting thinner ice cover than snow pack and the weight of the snow is pushing the ice down and deteriorating the ice that is there.

May wait this one out some until reports of better ice come out!

Safety first!

BnD - Having ice fished for a number of years that had a daughter and son go with me, I will give you my opinion on a shanty.

I would have found it counter productive really because my kids liked to move and be active. Fishing, sliding on the ice, or hitting me w/ a snow ball was pretty normal. They do not fish like I do and trying to keep them corralled in a shanty would have bored them. When I did find fish it was game on but, unless you for sure know where the fish are, you will be moving around some - which means moving the shanty.

I found that keeping it simple and dressing them well is all we needed. When they said it was time to go - it was time to go. The less stuff I had the better it was as I had to carry it all. Luke could handle sitting and fishing now but I don't think it would have worked when he was younger, especially if it was really slow.

Not trying to talk you out of buying one. I understand where you are coming from. Just my .02

I walked out on our little farm pond tonight to chop a hole for the bulls to drink. There is about 3" of frozen, but soft slop on top of about 3" of good ice. I walked out in the middle, and poked a hole with a spud bar. Water poured up through the hole. I'd say after tonight it would be safe on THAT pond though. However…….I won't be there!!!!

Where did you order them from? I hope next weeks weather report is wrong!!

Next weeks forecast is going to ruin any ice we have here.

I'm afraid you are correct.

Always hate to see stuff like this. Between the snow pack we had on the ice the last week, and the 40 degree days we have had this week, I couldn't imagine any ice being safe. Be careful!!

http://www.wane.com/news/local/man-dead-after-water-rescue

If you fish early ice get a spud bar and use it to test the ice as you walk. Every other step hit the surface of the ice. If the bar doesn't go through keep going but if it does then stop. Air pockets can and do form and are much thinner than the surrounding ice. h.h.

I was thinking of trying Loon Lake this weekend near Warsaw. Maybe will reconsider. Very sad.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hornharvester:
[QB] If you fish early ice get a spud bar and use it to test the ice as you walk. Every other step hit the surface of the ice. If the bar doesn't go through keep going but if it does then stop. Air pockets can and do form and are much thinner than the surrounding ice. h.h.

+1

Spikes, a rope, and a good friend to fish with are essential too, IMO.

Dave,

If you and your wife want something to do this a real good time. Ive been to Tip Up Festival several times and had a blast. Lodging isnt too hard to find. I stayed in cabins where you drive right out on the ice, fish in rented heated shanty's. They will move your shanty if you dont like the spot and have shanty's placed for the type of fish you want, walleye, perch or bluegill.

If you do go and fish you will find its truly an exciting experience when a vehicle drives by......especially a big truck h.h.

http://www.michigan.org/events/tip-up-town-usa-1/

Thanks for the site. I talked with my Michigan guide and he agreed that Houghton is really cool. Six hours fom Indi isn't bad. My guide won a perch ice fighting tourney last weekend on Pentwater Lake. Six perch with total length just under 55 inches.

Heading to Caldwell lake today in Kosciusko County. Hopefully I can post some pics with a good report. Past week apparently has been really good. I have been teased all week at the office with text pics of gills & crappies from my wife's uncle :p I hate when people do that!!!

I will be on the ice tomorrow not sure where Im going yet. Friend fished yesterday on Adams Lake and the bite was slow. h.h.

Buck, any update? Thinking about tomorrow also.