Fish-Hawk.Net

I'm new to ice fishing and would like to know what signs to look for as an indication that it's safe enough to go out. Also, when is it safe enough to have a small (4x7) ice shack out?

Thanks,
Fishosopy

Check out this link. Should cover all your questions. But....if you are unsure....error on the side of safety.

http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/ice_fishing_safety.php

tricky question.

no one can say its safe 100% anywhere. and everywere.

saw some place where they was like 24 inch off ice then goes to 3 inch ina few feet..cause off some high curent area or under water stream etc.


use to fish first ice years ago..at the cottage..and we just did some hole wit an axe to see,then we go fater down and do the same..and always 2 people and a rope then go farher abd farther then we were ok.

but we did no those waters.

its wen you go in a new area that could be tricky even worst wen you never been there even in soft water..becasue wen you been there in hot wetaer condition you have notice some streamsn going in or high curent or narrowing betwn two island where they could be more current and so on.

sometime goin in soft water in those area could help to find great spot for ice season..could find deaper hole wit the fish finder then puit them on your gps and go back there in winter.


the major pro on ice is snow...it covers the black sra where you could see better wehere it could be good or no good.

been in some place i taught it was great until i hit like 2 time wit an axe and went true.. ..meening like 1.5 inch...and you are 250 pound plus the sled full at 75 pound let say you feel a lot smaller then.. .


but like said you never no.é..you see a lot off time big ice fishing derbies there is like few hundres car on the ice..but one guy did went true..in one area..why...currents///streams//deaper hole//tons off factors.

the worst enneymies on ice is snow...but it could become a good friend wen its melt and become more ice.



nitle anecdote in 1998..i was going for a derbies in hull on the ottawa river..a full weekend one...so we deside to go the night before to see where we could place are tent the next morning at 6am..it was like 8pm then..so we go down on ice wit my pick up drive around in bay(gatineau boom)..and so on found a place go back out.

the next morning we go back.....what we saw its like.. ...

a guy wen on ice wit is pick up...and WENT TRUE THE ICE...BUT IN MY TRACK...... ..my track i did like 9h before wit my truck..so that made me think wow..i could have went true that ice at 8pm pitch black outside what could have happen to us in the truck we dont no...all this to say..we never no what can happen.

did went true in a creek wit some cross country ons..that right cross country ski..imagine i was like 16 then..i was in a creek alone..lac des fees gatineau park area...man i did got so scre and the only reason i am here now..its because there was only 4 feet deap..beasue i could not go back on mu skie were hiting the ice under so it tookme like a good 10 min to go back on..soaking wet and have like a 2km walk to go back home...those moment make you think.

some dont think mutch and take chance ..sometime one to manny...and i am guilty off this to.....

those is it worth it..realy......... to take a chance in an area we dont no for some crappies or pike or walleye or wathever the species..its just a freaking little fish..and you are ready to die and let your famillly get all that trobe for freaking tiny fish... that are not even good to eat for are health.

ok i got my ideal out...hahaha


be safe and enjoy ice fishing.safely.


but again its personal...all ahve there choice mine now is do something helse until its safer...snowshoeing and crooscountry ski and so on.

and wen the time comes i will do my time on ice.

joco

Thanks for the insight Joco. Can't imagine your cross country skiing ordeal. Seems like everybody knows someone with a horrific story. Take Care.

Fishology,

It is really a personal preference....I used to be out real early but in recent years have backed off a bit......you need to find your own comfort zone.....

Like Joco said...(I think that's what he said... )....knowing the area you plan to fish makes all the difference....and if you don't know....or see noone there....there is a reason for it....

Enjoy the ice....won't be long now and it'll be plenty safe for all of us...

RJ

I know in my area there are 4 days coming up in the near future that are forecasted to be very cold. - 22 being the coldest and -7 the high. Is there any formula of days and tempature?

I used to fish on 2" of ice...then I got married. But 2" might have been fine when I weighed 140lbs...not so much if I'm 155lbs. Your best bet is to not be the first guy out! Fish with a buddy, wear a floater suit, or if you dont't have one, a life jacket your first times out and listen to your little voice. If there's any doubt in your mind that you shouldn't be ice fishing, that you probably shouldn't be.
Generally I like to see at least 36hours of bitter cold and no wind on lakes, a bit more on the Ottawa We haven't really gotten that yet, all this snow might hinder ice quality this year.

Tight lines,
Yannick

Fishosophy wrote:I know in my area there are 4 days coming up in the near future that are forecasted to be very cold. - 22 being the coldest and -7 the high. Is there any formula of days and tempature?

Every lake freezes differently....size of the body of water, current, underwater springs and wind really dictate alot when it comes to ice building....

If you are staying close to home from where you live...PM me...I fish all the lakes around you and know which ones are troublesome at early ice...

RJ

RJ wrote:

Fishosophy wrote:I know in my area there are 4 days coming up in the near future that are forecasted to be very cold. - 22 being the coldest and -7 the high. Is there any formula of days and tempature?

Every lake freezes differently....size of the body of water, current, underwater springs and wind really dictate alot when it comes to ice building....

If you are staying close to home from where you live...PM me...I fish all the lakes around you and know which ones are troublesome at early ice...

RJ

Very true, in fact there is an article in the Dec/Jan 2010 In-Fisherman that's tells how lake ice forms (page eight).

like rj said all lake are deferent.

deapth ..current...structures..creeks going in or out..etc etc.

ex lac roddick..there 4 place where its no go until mid feb if that..its channels..that dont frea mutch becasue there current. wen you are on a lake like this that moves..are lake goes down into the gatineau river..and are water is rome 2 lake and 31 mile lakes..so meening current.

and there a few lakes like that in are region.


all lakes or almost have some weaker part for ice formation.

no the area in soft is the best.

onother time wen younger we were fishing in a little lake....what we taught was a lake..but we saw in summer it was like more a beaver pond...no fish at all just minnoes..but in winter..it did lok like a nice little lake....hey wen your young...all the adventure in mind..


i wish you all a great 2009/2010 ice season and cant wait to see the reports.


joco

Another consideration (later in the season) is pressure cracks.
Sometimes good solid ice will open a large gap, which then re-freezes on the surface. A bit of wind blown snow across the re-froze gap and the new section of thin ice appears identical to the good ice. I've seen 24 inches of ice on a lake, with isolated sections of 1" (refroze cracks)

Happened last year to Carolyn Bray and her daughter Jolene on Lake Rosseau. A classic example of a pressure crack opening, refreezing an killing while ice appeared to be of safe thickness everywhere else.

My experience is that lakes with multiple islands and/or steep rocky shores tend to be more prone to these pressure crack openings. Charleston Lake is known for it, as a matter of fact, similiar cracks and openings always appear in the same areas year after year - it can be counted on.

RJ's offer is a good one - find someone who knows a lake well and make enquiries. Could save your life.