Safe Ice in NJ - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

TheDreamCatchers · #1 12-31-2016, 06:55 PM

I wanna start ice fishing soon but Ive been away for a bit. Does anyone know what lakes are safe now and/or will be safe in the next few days? The only 2 I know are Budd Lake and Jefferson Lake way out west. Thanks!!!

Chrisper4694 · #2 12-31-2016, 08:12 PM

small shallow places up north and west...everything else is a maybe.

NJSquatch · #3 12-31-2016, 08:46 PM

was out scouting today and they all look sketchy.....hoping with the chill down next week to get out next weekend

Mikey topaz · #4 01-01-2017, 08:01 AM

Stick with budd for now.... evreything else took a prettybig hit next wknd u should be able to start gettin on some new turf. Looking real good starting wed night

Mikey topaz · #5 01-01-2017, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikey topaz

Stick with budd for now.... evreything else took a prettybig hit next wknd u should be able to start gettin on some new turf. Looking real good starting wed night

be careful at budd btw too i walked out past evreyone had5 inches walked another couple feet and went to an 1-1/2

mtman · #6 01-01-2017, 11:24 AM

The 15 acre pond I live by in Sussex went from four inches of solid black to two inches after this weeks rain.I was hoping to get out this weekend, but no good. And waking up to 42 degrees on New Years Day ain't helping. The long range forecast not looking too good either, hope for no repeat of last year.

TheDreamCatchers · #7 01-01-2017, 02:49 PM

It's crazy that a 375 acre lake like Budd freezes up 6 inches and then a 10 acre pond down the road has half an inch. Thats why NJ ice fishing is sketchy early in the season. Hopefully Wawayanda is frozen im looking to hit that up

Chrisper4694 · #8 01-01-2017, 05:58 PM

Many many variables, I can assure you budd doesn't have 6" of ice. Many open spots middle and shore. The wind ripped up some ice. Idk how the orgy at the beach was, but we checked other parts and I took a nice dip, felt refreshing on this nice warm January day...this weather is getting stupid...

FASTEDDIE29 · #9 01-01-2017, 06:56 PM

I'll say this one more time...... It's a normal ice year in beautiful NJ! It's January 1st, 2017! We get an early Arctic blast, a very small portion of safe ice, then a melting period! After all that nonsense we get another DEEP FREEZE, like the one were getting later this week! Although some years it just doesn't happen. The northern tier should make some ice as long as the wind isn't blowing out of the NW @ 20-60 mph all winter like it was last year. You have to pay attention to details and do some scouting if you want to get on the ice. It's not a game! There are many variables to consider when looking to get into the game of ice fishing! You can't rush the ice making process here in NJ! You have to wait for it! Haste makes waste! It also makes you swim when you don't want to! Trust me, I've been swimming in February when it was 10 degrees out, it's not a good feeling at all. Be safe! Make phone calls! Make contacts! Make friends and never, absolutely never venture out onto the ice alone if you don't know what the hell your doing!!!!

TIGHT LINEZ and FLAGS to all in 2017!!!

Delawareriver · #10 01-01-2017, 08:20 PM

They are predicting this pattern to break around the 10th, then the rest on January February and March Is predicted to be 4-5 degreeso colder than average. Doesn't sound like a lot but 5 degrees Colder on the edge of the ice belt like we are is huge. Could turn in to one of the best seasons we ever have