First (SAFE) Ice Predictions??

Drewski Canuck · #1 10-25-2023, 04:05 PM

Temps are staying steady below zero up here, day and night.

Lots of steam coming off of the sloughs and dug outs, and I imagine the small lakes are still in cool down phaze as well.

Any guesses on first safe ice for the season? It will be a small trout pond and it will probably be at higher elevations, but my guess is November 15th for Edson and northwest.

Drewski

AlbertanGP · #2 10-25-2023, 09:10 PM

I was on the ice November 11th the last two years on local trout lakes. I doubt this year will be much different, despite all the global warming hype.

Of course we may have very different definitions of what constitutes safe ice.

npauls · #3 10-26-2023, 01:12 PM

I am taking a drive this weekend and may be able to punch some holes into 1 or 2 spots I fish early ice. They seem to freeze up faster than anywhere else.

ragweed · #4 10-26-2023, 01:31 PM

Same

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pikeman06 · #5 10-26-2023, 06:21 PM

With overnite lows in the -15 range for the last 4 or 5 nights, and daytime highs below zero....I bet I could tiptoe out and catch a trout in 4 ft of water in a couple ponds I know of already. Certainly wouldn't suggest anyone try it. Might test the ice on Sunday, bringing a rod of course.

WayneChristie · #6 10-30-2023, 07:06 PM

The Bow is mostly frozen in my area now, havent checked any lakes yet

JohnB · #7 10-30-2023, 07:37 PM

https://youtu.be/gRelyXcSF-Q?si=FTASzYLB0AYxNSa8

First ice video I've seen so far.

Hunter Trav · #8 10-30-2023, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

https://youtu.be/gRelyXcSF-Q?si=FTASzYLB0AYxNSa8

First ice video I've seen so far.

Nothing like catching big brookies on a couple inches of ice, although I would use a spud bar to check it out instead of the auger. But hey, I'm not a world record angler so what do I know...lol

FlyTheory · #9 11-01-2023, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

https://youtu.be/gRelyXcSF-Q?si=FTASzYLB0AYxNSa8

First ice video I've seen so far.

Not surprised! Wildhorse ALWAYS is the first lake in central AB that freezes up from what I know.

chucklesthe3rd · #10 11-01-2023, 02:12 PM

It'll be a while before we get safe ice in southern alberta I think.

Lunkerhunter · #11 11-01-2023, 05:20 PM

I had high hopes to be on safe ice the first week of December with my kids but now I’m thinking not with this warmup and long range forecast. We’ll see what the end of November brings hoping for some serious ice making weather.

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JohnB · #12 11-05-2023, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

I was on the ice November 11th the last two years on local trout lakes. I doubt this year will be much different, despite all the global warming hype.

Of course we may have very different definitions of what constitutes safe ice.

I don't think Nov 11 is going happen this year.

pikeman06 · #13 11-05-2023, 11:00 AM

Was building nicely last week. Tiptoed out to about the 3 ft depth last week. Only 2 inches didn't dare poke a hole. Now its open water again. Just a stocked trout hole, but a fair sized one. Itll freeze quick when it gets cold. Thinking of taking the boat out again, sheez sitting in the driveway ready to go.

ragweed · #14 11-05-2023, 11:29 AM

I saw 1” of half decent ice last week. 1.5” of ****ty ice this week. Need some cold nights to firm that stuff up.

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AlbertanGP · #15 11-05-2023, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnB

I don't think Nov 11 is going happen this year.

I could have been out already tbh. We've had 3" of ice in front of my place for almost two weeks. This photo is from right now. Looks a bit sketchy now, but last week it was golden.

I'm in no big rush this year. Last year I was skunked more often than not early and got pretty burned out in March back and forth across Alberta and Saskatchewan.

AlbertanGP · #16 11-06-2023, 12:17 PM

Two men and a child dead after falling through ice in Sask.

fish99 · #17 11-06-2023, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Two men and a child dead after falling through ice in Sask.

so sad.

Penner · #18 11-15-2023, 06:38 AM

Temps taking a drop end of this weekend. Looks like ice making weather to me. Bring it on.

AlbertanGP · #19 11-15-2023, 07:52 AM

Went out to the small stocked trout lake I usually fish on the south shore in the shade at first ice on Sunday and there was less than an inch. When we got back we walked out in front of my place in the picture above and had three inches, but no one was excited about fishing for small pike and walleye just to say they did it. Looks like the weekend of the 25th/26th is going to be go time around here for any decent fishing. Maybe a little later than past years, but only by a week or so.

Lowrance Fishburn · #20 11-15-2023, 02:36 PM

With it being an El Nino year, I'm guessing most lakes wont be safe to drive on until end of Jan. Approximately a month later than usual.

SNAPFisher · #21 11-15-2023, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lowrance Fishburn

With it being an El Nino year, I'm guessing most lakes wont be safe to drive on until end of Jan. Approximately a month later than usual.

Around Central and North it should still be good to go by Xmas break or right after. Glad my skidoo is in the shop though getting ready. I probably won't venture out with anything else until I hear of 12 or more inches.

simpatico · #22 11-30-2023, 03:01 PM

Hoping to be ice fishing for whites on Dec 11th or close to. Hoping for an ice thickness report.

Thanks
Tony

Poppa · #23 11-30-2023, 03:13 PM

I was hoping mid-December for Brooks area, but holy Christ is it ever going to be warm the next couple weeks. We might be lucky to get out by New Year. I've been told some west-central AB trout lakes are locked up with about 5" of walkable ice, but those baby 'bows are not really my idea of fun. Gonna wait for the big walleye lakes to lock up...

RACKER · #24 12-01-2023, 08:28 AM

Was out on Coal last Saturday and the ice was 5-7”. Now with the colder evenings this week it should be a good 8 inches.

SNAPFisher · #25 12-01-2023, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RACKER

Was out on Coal last Saturday and the ice was 5-7”. Now with the colder evenings this week it should be a good 8 inches.

Good to hear! I feel for the Southern members.

Man, it feels cold at -14 as the low. One day we will be saying that's TShirt weather.

Ice Fishing Maniac · #26 12-01-2023, 01:58 PM

I was on the ice with on of my boys Nov12 up in NW Alberta. Walked out a bit, maybe 30-50 m. It and chipped thru the ice…it was about 5-6” thick then. Crystal clear ice. Caught a few brookies and a tiger trout . Was a fun 2 hours on our travels up north.stopped in again on our way home the next day. Ice was about another 1” thicker

Sea Hawk · #27 12-01-2023, 06:23 PM

First time out on ice tuesday found 6 inches of ice. Cracking ice and slow fishing. The ice was about 6 inches. Went back out today and found 11 inches of ice. still walking out.

SNAPFisher · #28 12-03-2023, 06:59 AM

Yep, seeing 6 to 8 inches as well North of Edmonton on small lakes. It is on!

Will plan to hit up Gull and Sylvan when they are open and if the ice is thick enough. I"m sure Gull will be.

archerynut · #29 12-03-2023, 08:20 AM

Would Crawling Valley be safe first thing in the morning after a cold night? I'm just itching go get out.
Minimal gear with hand auger?

Drewski Canuck · #30 12-03-2023, 09:09 AM

Make sure you go out with other people. Make sure someone has a rope, and if possible, take a 2 x 4 - 8 footer. If someone breaks through the 2 x 4 can bridge the hole to help the person get out.

There are these floating Ice picks that you can carry in a pocket that will give you a grip on the ice if you have to try and pull yourself out after falling in.

Wet ice is nearly impossible to grip to pull yourself out on without ice picks or a couple very good pocket knives to dig into the ice to pull against to get out of the hole.

Just some ideas that may help out in an emergency.

Drewski