Ice report thread
 

Well, the cracklins should start forming soon'ish,, so those who have reports, post em here.

I'm doing a 4 lake ice scouting tomorrow and will post my supposing's then.

Anyone out there this weekend notice any tell tale signs of ice forming?

Have not seen any ice.

Next weekend I'll give her a drive to the smaller trout lakes around edmonton, don't think anything will be happening yet.

Long bay on Cold Lake was for the most part froze over on Sat

Went To cooking lk for ducks. .. a week ago. Cock stiff. Mind you its shallow. Won't be long for smaller lakes. A week or 2 depends on your mentality and comfort zone.

Apparently Herm trout pond has a small layer of ice on it now, thin obviously to thin to venture on so wait a few more weeks.

someone had the calculator for determining ice thickness to weight bearing,, if anyone knows it can they post it?

This is a very fine version of the Mexican Hat dance, and, it lasts 2 hours.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m2TH...D02klVe7_2UEQ8

This pretty much sums up the mental state of us who fish quite regular and are now waiting for the ice to thicken up.

Tomorrow, during my scouting, I will be bringing a small anchor and life jacket and about 30 feet of rope, just in case I have to cut an area to cast into. It should look like this,,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jOtVy3t7-Q

A bit off topic but

It doesn't take much ice at a local aerated lake there is always open water and a few people fish the edge the ice where its is so thin it bends as they cast. Probably only on a inch if ice or so. Ill wait a bit saw a guy drive his truck on. A lake last year drill a hole see only 3 inches of ice, never see some one get off the ice so fast.

Completely on topic and I want the calculator for the newbs who may not know.

My start time is 5 inches. Some go out on thinner.

IIRC, weren't there a few crazy fishermen crawling on the ice last year while tied to the shore?


Seems like winter just snuck up and struck.

I've got a floatation suit.

I'll be out within 20 days max.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/cal...-weather/52479

hopefully this is the last snowfall till December 21st.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/cal...-weather/52479

As of OCt.29th 2-3 inches of ice on most small stocked waters out in narrow hills sask. I thought I was going for one last fly fishing trip and wound up ice fishing in my float tube just to be safe. Earliest ice fishing for me by a long shot.

you can fish on 4 inches of good ice as long as you don't weigh 400 lbs.

that being said, I know I can stand on 2 inches, I'm only 140, but I would only fish on that in a couple feet of water just in case

I've fished on thinner than 5, and some really inconsistent thinner ice, but, I'll stick to 5 or better.

Mind you, two winters back, I targeted whites just under a pressure ridge of certain frailness,,, but the bite being quite good kept me thinking about going through. Only two feet deep but the ice chunk that could have broken with me would have been horrible had I gone thru.

http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg...fety-tips.html

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/thickness.html

Ice Thickness and Strength




Ice Thickness
(inches)

Permissible Load
(clear, blue, lake ice)




2" or less STAY OFF!


4" Ice fishing or other activities on foot


5" Snowmobile or ATV


8" - 12" Car or small pickup truck


12" - 15" Medium truck

5200' elevation - small lakes are now frozen over. Any areas on them with constant shade have had ice in the shady areas for about 1 week. Only the last 2 days have had ice shore to shore. If any warm weather happens, this ice would open up because it is only about 1/4 - 3/8" thick.

Haven't been up to Spray, but judging by what I have seen at other lakes, it should have some ice around the shorelines, with the wave action breaking up any attempt at a freeze over.

Any of the smaller lakes in that area (Elbow, Chester Lakes) would have a thin layer of ice shore to shore, but very thin.

Seebe is still open water, but Gap lake and any beaver dams in that area are frozen over.

Ghost is still open water.

Bearspaw Dam has no signs of ice around the shoreline yet.

Bears are still out in full force, and lots of them west of Calg.

Info current as of today.

I had to "swim" (more like wade) back to shore when some clumsy fellows broke the ice edge.
It was safe, but not very comfortable (I had rope, board, ice picks, and cloth change) - so you can go on the ice way thinner than 5in, but I would plan on going through.

Do not bother with spray. Spray is usually one of the last to get iced up because of the nasty winds that whip through there every afternoon. And breaks up any forming ice. Water temps have to drop a bit more and then you need a couple stupid cold nights with no wind to get it formed. Once the ice holds for a couple days and that first inch is established, ice grows rapidly. But I wouldn't expect ice up there for a few weeks yet

Spray has no ice on it, and won't until the around end of November at the earliest.

Hk

bang on, we usally dont hit spray till 2wk of dec..

Any reports around edmonton yet? lol

I plan on heading out this weekend to a little lake I like to fish and it is frozen. I think most trout lakes in K country should have a few inches by this weekend.

Any body ever iced fish Wedge pond in K country for grayling?

This thread is going in so many directions, I forget what the topic was.

:sign0176:





.

I have done very well this year fly fishing there and in the past have tried ice fishing there with no success at all.

Any ice on Crawling?

PCR is still open,, good fishing today,, nice warm day.

Was going to head to Chain - but didn't - my guess is that there is still cast-able water.

Twin Valley is still open,, very, very good fishing,, bit of fog, nice end to the day,, lost a hog. If crankbaiting use big raps or the like. You know when your spoon gets hook sideways on the leader and has that crazy fluttery action, well that was the action of my herring while I reeled in for re-cast.

The hog took a run of at least 100 feet, then near shore, turned to do another big run and left with my herring. I normally slice cuts in my herring to allow the hook to come through, but, got lazy today. The fight was thrilling and good enough for me.

1/32" for me and 1/30" for old guy to end the day.

Tomorrow we lake-hop 3 different bodies of water.

What shore ice there was, was 2mm thick.

I think that it is more than safe to say that there is no ice on Crawling.

There might have been ice but any snow would have sunk it.

I should note that last week the ground was frozen rock solid, this week, pure mush,, so trouble spots would be muddy roads or muddy roads with frozen semi-melted snow drifts.