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  #241  
Old 12-10-2017, 07:14 PM
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caddisfly7 caddisfly7 is offline
 
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Snipe Lake (Valleyview) had 6" of ice, looked like less in areas which we stayed away from. A family came by on a side by side and a few moments later the back half was through the ice. Everyone got off ok, but another reminder that those things can happen! We left before the recovery began.

Also Swan Lake had a solid 9" of ice.
  #242  
Old 12-10-2017, 07:26 PM
Crankbait Crankbait is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stryker2 View Post
anybody been to Buck lake and know how much ice there is there?
5 thru 9 inches as of monday
  #243  
Old 12-10-2017, 07:45 PM
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Default Beaver Mines

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Originally Posted by HoytCRX32 View Post
Anyone been out to Beaver Mines lately?
We were out on Beaver Mines today, Dec. 10. Ice was about 5".

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]
  #244  
Old 12-10-2017, 08:18 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankbait View Post
5 thru 9 inches as of monday
Thank you!
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  #245  
Old 12-11-2017, 11:19 PM
wookie wookie is offline
 
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Has anyone been out to Crawling Valley over the last few days? I want to head out there and walk on but 2 hours is a long way to drive if the ice is bad. Thanks in advance
  #246  
Old 12-11-2017, 11:43 PM
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PlayDoh PlayDoh is offline
 
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Default 2017/2018 Ice Thickness Reports

Quote:
Originally Posted by wookie;
Has anyone been out to Crawling Valley over the last few days? I want to head out there and walk on but 2 hours is a long way to drive if the ice is bad. Thanks in advance


Eagle has 7-8 inches so I’m sure it’ll be fine for foot. Seen a guy driving a car on Eagle today.
With all this warm weather the ice has stayed the same, in fact slowly grown. It’s starting to ‘talk’ now that there’s a few heaves.
I’d be amazed if there wasn’t anything less than 6 at CVR, and I’d guess 7-9. I would have went there today but thought it could be a gamble so wanted to check Eagle.

Fishing was good at Eagle so I stayed.
I had around 7 on, but only landed 2. Had one break my braid, yet it was on it’s 3rd season. Still they were fighting good.

I might get out there tomorrow too. Probably north end, dark grey Chevy, and might bring the quad.
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  #247  
Old 12-12-2017, 07:20 AM
Don_Parsons Don_Parsons is offline
 
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Looks like the ice fishing cabin is going onto the lake today.

My good friend tested the ice yesterday, and it's a go.

Ye Ha

Good times ahead

Don
  #248  
Old 12-12-2017, 08:03 AM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Gull has an average of 13 inches. Lots of heaves forming now. North side as 2 heaves that are pretty dangerous to cross. No one in vehicles tried, just quads and skidoos. I was on foot.

Sylvan has an average of 8.5 inches. RR23 was 9 inches. Sunbreaker was 8 inches so I think an average of 8.5 is about right. Huge heave at Sunbreaker which was on the move. Good amount of water on the ice from the heave. RR23 has no heaves and is nice, clean and slippery! The entire surface of Sylvan looks like a mirror from a distance. No snow.

Did crappy at Gull...sigh. Sylvan I only started fishing for the last hour but did mange a white and a pike. Lots of missed whites.
  #249  
Old 12-12-2017, 11:30 AM
Helgs28 Helgs28 is offline
 
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Anyone have any recent updates on Lac St Anne? Don't really want to drive the couple hours to find out myself Thanks!
  #250  
Old 12-12-2017, 12:25 PM
Jigapoolza Jigapoolza is offline
 
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Can anyone tell me if Cold Lake is froze over , if so how thick is the ice?
  #251  
Old 12-12-2017, 12:36 PM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Jigapoolza View Post
Can anyone tell me if Cold Lake is froze over , if so how thick is the ice?
You're joking right?

Not my picture but this was taken 2 days ago at the Marina:

https://postimg.org/image/txibhrc1x/

I wonder how it fishes from a boat this time of year...
  #252  
Old 12-12-2017, 02:26 PM
muzzy muzzy is offline
 
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Lac ste Anne has 11-12 inches but beware the bullrushes. Another member rescued an old timer yesterday who decided to cut thru a big point of bullrush and pencil weeds on his quad. He sunk the quad and got soaked and hypothermic Luckily the member saw what happened and was able to get to him and haul the quad out with great difficulty. The brown weeds absorb heat especially with the warm sun these days and the ice is a lot thinner in the weed beds now
  #253  
Old 12-12-2017, 05:33 PM
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curtis_rak curtis_rak is offline
 
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Lac Ste Anne is 12" for the past week. I've noticed however that for the past week the ice has not gotten any thicker. There is virtually no snow at all on the lake so a sled won't get you anywhere. Need a quad.

Yesterday I had to help a guy pull his partially submerged quad out of the water after he attempted drove it through a reed bed. It was mentioned on here to stay away from the reeds and sure enough I seen it first hand what can happen.

I've seen some vehicles on the ice including a couple 1/2 tons but they are way braver than me and I don't think it's a great idea quite yet.


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  #254  
Old 12-13-2017, 04:22 PM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Don't worry about ice conditions and being too warm out there. They say change is coming:

https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ne...alberta/90754/
  #255  
Old 12-13-2017, 07:56 PM
MountainHunter7 MountainHunter7 is offline
 
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Ghost Res Ice was 11" Out on the main Body and Near the boat launch.
IceHeave South of boat Launch has water running on top of it.
  #256  
Old 12-14-2017, 08:05 AM
Remps17 Remps17 is offline
 
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heading to newell tomorrow, any reports out there?
  #257  
Old 12-14-2017, 08:10 AM
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Okotokian Okotokian is offline
 
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rookie ice fishing ice questions:

-How thick does ice need to be for a couple fellows around 200+ lbs to stand on and fish? Looking for totally safe thickness, not "probably good enough".

-Same question for driving out and parking my GMC Sierra 1500. What's a totally safe thickness?

Thanks in advance!
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In this case Oki has cut to to the exact heart of the matter!
  #258  
Old 12-14-2017, 08:25 AM
bpoppa85 bpoppa85 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okotokian View Post
rookie ice fishing ice questions:

-How thick does ice need to be for a couple fellows around 200+ lbs to stand on and fish? Looking for totally safe thickness, not "probably good enough".

-Same question for driving out and parking my GMC Sierra 1500. What's a totally safe thickness?

Thanks in advance!
I know they say less, but I don't go out fishing with less than 6" of ice and the odd time I drive my truck on (1 ton diesel) i won't do it with less than 24". I know everyone is going to say that is overkill but you asked for totally safe and i feel totally safe with those numbers. I drive my snowmobile on lakes that have 8".
  #259  
Old 12-14-2017, 09:28 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Okotokian View Post
rookie ice fishing ice questions:

-How thick does ice need to be for a couple fellows around 200+ lbs to stand on and fish? Looking for totally safe thickness, not "probably good enough".

-Same question for driving out and parking my GMC Sierra 1500. What's a totally safe thickness?

Thanks in advance!
I feel safe with 4" here's a guide to use:

https://www.almanac.com/content/ice-...s-safety-chart
  #260  
Old 12-14-2017, 09:38 AM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bpoppa85 View Post
I know they say less, but I don't go out fishing with less than 6" of ice and the odd time I drive my truck on (1 ton diesel) i won't do it with less than 24". I know everyone is going to say that is overkill but you asked for totally safe and i feel totally safe with those numbers. I drive my snowmobile on lakes that have 8".
^^ Oki, these are good guidelines for a person new to the sport. Even 8 inches will feel, sound and even look a bit scary but you get used to it and realize how tough ice like that actually is. Now I'm good with with walking on 6-8 inches and driving my skidoo on 8 inches...not fast mind you

P.S. This is the first year I walked on 3-4 inches early season with some flood water and I had to leave my stained underwear behind... takes time to get guts
  #261  
Old 12-14-2017, 11:56 AM
lromanchuk lromanchuk is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SNAPFisher View Post
You're joking right?

Not my picture but this was taken 2 days ago at the Marina:

https://postimg.org/image/txibhrc1x/

I wonder how it fishes from a boat this time of year...
That can't be accurate. Friend of mine just fished Winefred and it had over 12 inches. I understand there's a big difference in those lakes, but it should defiantly have a layer of ice by now.
  #262  
Old 12-14-2017, 12:06 PM
lromanchuk lromanchuk is offline
 
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Originally Posted by lromanchuk View Post
That can't be accurate. Friend of mine just fished Winefred and it had over 12 inches. I understand there's a big difference in those lakes, but it should defiantly have a layer of ice by now.
I stand corrected. Got confirmation from a local. Totally open water.

I was thinking with my heart and not my brain. I can't wait to hunt giant lakers.
  #263  
Old 12-14-2017, 12:50 PM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lromanchuk View Post
I stand corrected. Got confirmation from a local. Totally open water.

I was thinking with my heart and not my brain. I can't wait to hunt giant lakers.
Yeah, it's the damn weather but thankfully that is changing. Just means that it will be January for most and only in the bays that freeze early.
  #264  
Old 12-14-2017, 01:22 PM
muzzy muzzy is offline
 
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Oki 4 inches of clear hard ice is safe to walk on. Issue is if you hit a spot with current or gas bubbling up that safe 4 inch is now likely very marginal 2 inch or less. So bit thicker ie 6 inch allows for a margin of error. I wont drive my half ton on till minimum 16 inches. Saw two trucks on Lac ste anne two days ago parked side by side a foot apart on 12 inches...they are just asking for a free car wash. If you go on with the minimums allowable spread out to take the stress off the ice
  #265  
Old 12-14-2017, 01:34 PM
SNAPFisher SNAPFisher is offline
 
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That is why I said new to the sport. Unless some of you started out at 4 inches of ice like first time out....it is nice to build up some trust first
  #266  
Old 12-15-2017, 10:32 AM
jimm83 jimm83 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remps17 View Post
heading to newell tomorrow, any reports out there?
How were the ice conditions at Newell?
  #267  
Old 12-15-2017, 03:31 PM
nikvikan nikvikan is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remps17 View Post
heading to newell tomorrow, any reports out there?
Hi There, I hope you got some luck on Newell. How were the ice conditions at Newell?
  #268  
Old 12-16-2017, 06:39 PM
NSR_RAT NSR_RAT is offline
 
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11 inches on lac la nonne on the east side, bring boot cleats there’s 0 snow on the ice
  #269  
Old 12-17-2017, 09:13 AM
MLayden MLayden is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nikvikan View Post
Hi There, I hope you got some luck on Newell. How were the ice conditions at Newell?


About 8” as of Friday.
  #270  
Old 12-17-2017, 10:28 AM
Hunter guy Hunter guy is offline
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Anyone know the ice thickeness of slyvan on the very northwest corner up by rr23 I think it is, in that bay to the north west
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