Ice observation thread???

[FASTEDDIE29]

Not sure if many will partake but thought it would be nice to start an ice quality thread. Let’s keep everyone safe! I fished the big pond all weekend and by the end of the day Sunday there were some very soft edges and rather large open water patches near homeowners docks, etc, etc!!! The ice was consistent all around the lake at 6-9 inches. We’re definitely taking a big hit today! It sucks but the show must go on regardless. On that note feel free to chime in! I’m headed to Home Depot to get a new plank after work, LOL!!!

Saturday looks like a beautiful day to be on the ice granted it doesn’t all
disappear!!!

[icebadger]

good point eddie the ice is going to "take a hit" in the next couple of days.planking is a good idea but you have to be able to "read the ice". holes made by fishermen and natural cracks can eat away and cause weak spots. i have seen holes become like toilet bowl drains they get very wide in a matter of just one day you add the power of the yellow devil in the sky(the sun) and you have the making of dangerous ice conditions . also be aware of honeycomb ice that stuff is dangerous as well. please remember to ware a pfd a have a set of picks with you at all times. carry a spud bar as well to test any ice that you are not sure of. it hopefully will get cold again, let's be safe out there we all have loved ones that want to see us return safely at days end.

[akoop]

Budd Lake - Sunday (01/21/18)
8" - 9" of good ice

[bunker dunker]

bubblers are a reel problem.the can really make short work of weak ice.

[Adrenalinerush]

Doubt after today there will be safe edges anywhere. Generally, the smaller and shallower the body of water the quicker the edges go. Be safe in general but especially on the smaller, shallow impoundments.

[Andrushkin33]

So far the ice been holding down quiet nicely in my drink...


On the other note, should be still ice fishing well into future ... don't go alone, make sure you have everything you need and you will be ice fishing come weekend with no issues.

Andre

[Cape Cod]

Really good idea. Better to be safe! Hopefully some upcoming nighttime temps will harden some spots.

[Punkinhead]

I'm one of those guys that gets on the ice in the dark for that early morning bite. Decided to wait for the sun to come up so I could better see the ice. So now I'm just killing time writing this reply. Be safe out there.

[Rich196]

To ALL you ice fishermen.... BE SAFE OUT THERE. There is NO fish worth not returning home to your family for. If it's not safe, don't go. There will be plenty more ice in the month to come.

[Chrisper4694]

here's the problem...you're going to have all black ice again when it refreezes and any open water along the edges, old holes, etc is going to probably at least skim over by saturday again. it's going to be very hard to tell the difference in a lot of spots between 4" ice that didn't fully melt and 1" ice that reformed