Preytorien Posted February 23, 2014 Posted February 23, 2014 I was wondering if there were any guys here that could tell me an approximate base for knowing how long the ice will take to thaw. As you can tell, I'm getting ants in my pants concerning fishing, and I'm about to go nuts waiting for the ice to thaw. Here in Indiana, drastic temperature swings aren't out of the question, but not all that common. The ice on most of my lakes are about 7-9 inches thick. While we're sitting at averages right now of mid-30's and maybe some 40's. We actually just came through a spell of a few days in the high 40's even a day at almost 60. Given that our average temps for the next 20 or so days will likely be in the 40's, maybe a few days of 50's, about how long do you think it'd take to thaw? Keep in mind I'm just wanting some approximation, I understand that wind, sun, and water temps will affect it. I'm just looking for a quick guesstimate. I don't know the water temps, it's usually a bit breezy here this time of year but nothing too bad, and of course the sun doesn't ask our opinion. Thanks! Quote
Preytorien Posted February 23, 2014 Author Posted February 23, 2014 I suppose I could give a bit of info why I'm asking.... I'm fishing a pit on March 15th in southern Indiana. We've had a brutally cold winter and have a lot of ice on the lakes here in upper central Indiana, but I think the temps in the southern part of the state have been a bit warmer. I was hoping the ice would be thawed enough for us to fish. You think it might be fishable in Mid-March? Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 24, 2014 Global Moderator Posted February 24, 2014 We're both pretty centrally located, and I have little hope for the water being thawed before late March with the way the extended forecast looks. I'm not sure exactly where you're at but I did the extended forecast for Columbus, IN and there isn't a day above 40 in the forecast until the 7th of March. The warmest day between now and the 15th is 49. Only 6 days between now and then above 40 in fact, that's not melting much ice. Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 For here in MO around my parts I'm shooting for mid March. I know it wont be this week and hopefully the weather will warm and thaw next week. Quote
FlipnLimits Posted February 24, 2014 Posted February 24, 2014 I'm envious! You guys are lucky. Northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin will probably not thaw until April this year. I pray I'm wrong! Usually it's mid/late March. FL Quote
Preytorien Posted February 24, 2014 Author Posted February 24, 2014 We're both pretty centrally located, and I have little hope for the water being thawed before late March with the way the extended forecast looks. I'm not sure exactly where you're at but I did the extended forecast for Columbus, IN and there isn't a day above 40 in the forecast until the 7th of March. The warmest day between now and the 15th is 49. Only 6 days between now and then above 40 in fact, that's not melting much ice. Yea, that's what I was hoping NOT to hear! Ha. My trip in March may just have to be postponed or something. Quote
1Boy1Girl Posted February 25, 2014 Posted February 25, 2014 I've been looking at that dumb forecast for the past month and nothing looks good! I'm supposed to fish Patoka on the 16th and West Boggs on the 29th and I don't have a lot of faith in either despite their southern Indiana locations. I see may a tournament and trips being pushed back this year. Check out accuweather.com it's been very accurate and goes out 45 days. Tight lines! Quote
Preytorien Posted February 25, 2014 Author Posted February 25, 2014 I've been looking at that dumb forecast for the past month and nothing looks good! I'm supposed to fish Patoka on the 16th and West Boggs on the 29th and I don't have a lot of faith in either despite their southern Indiana locations. I see may a tournament and trips being pushed back this year. Check out accuweather.com it's been very accurate and goes out 45 days. Tight lines! Yea, they're already talking about moving this trip to April. Although the weather patterns are sometimes drastically different north and south of the 70-corridor, I don't think their fluctuations are drastic enough to help our chances come mid-March. I'll have to check Accuweather. I know on weather.com it's showing we should be in the mid-40's right now, so we're averaging about 20-degrees cooler than average. At that rate it'll be 70's in June. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted February 25, 2014 Super User Posted February 25, 2014 I'm hoping by the 4th of July. Once the nights start staying above freezing, it goes quick. Quote
FlipnLimits Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 I'm hoping by the 4th of July. Once the nights start staying above freezing, it goes quick. You're not kidding! Another short season on northern ILL lakes. Brutal Quote
Preytorien Posted February 26, 2014 Author Posted February 26, 2014 ....and all this after a winter where I got a Curado/Crucial combo for Christmas and just bought a Sea Eagle SE-8 *Grrrrrrr please Lord let spring come quickly! 1 Quote
wnybassman Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 All depends on the weather. About 12 years ago I saw 18-20 inches go from "this ice will be here forever" to boating in about a week. It shot up to the 60's all week with night time lows in the 40's and 50's. I have also seen 6 inches linger on for several weeks with below freezing nights. Quote
FlipnLimits Posted February 26, 2014 Posted February 26, 2014 ....and all this after a winter where I got a Curado/Crucial combo for Christmas and just bought a Sea Eagle SE-8 *Grrrrrrr please Lord let spring come quickly! That's horrible! You actually have New toys to play with and can't do it, I'm truly sorry. lol I also have some new toys so I'm in the same boat as you, friend. Move over, I'll pray with ya! 1 Quote
Super User MarkH024 Posted February 26, 2014 Super User Posted February 26, 2014 last season here which was an abnormally long cool spring, the ice was out around april 13th or so...this year being so harsh with the ice on some lakes in southern mn being over 30"+ thick so if we have another cool spring again, hell it could be more towards the end of april, that sucks =( Yea but you caught your PB, twice in the same day no? Maybe you'll get an 8 this year with this long cold winter. I'd be happy for a week of 40 degrees right now. cabin fever 1 Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 Around here it has been around St. Patrick's Day when you can be sure there will be no ice. This year I'm thinking maybe the end of April. Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 In the 10 years I have owned a boat, I have been on the water as early as the second week of march, to as late as the 3rd week of april.... I am going on record as saying that this year my boat will not see water untill at least the 20th of April, due to ice, not me keeping it off the water so I can say I told you so LOL. My home lake has 15" of ice on it now, and the extended forcast for the next 45 days...FWIW..has few nights above freezing. It's subject to change, but that's the way I see it for now. Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted February 27, 2014 Super User Posted February 27, 2014 In the 10 years I have owned a boat, I have been on the water as early as the second week of march, to as late as the 3rd week of april.... I am going on record as saying that this year my boat will not see water untill at least the 20th of April, due to ice, not me keeping it off the water so I can say I told you so LOL. My home lake has 15" of ice on it now, and the extended forcast for the next 45 days...FWIW..has few nights above freezing. It's subject to change, but that's the way I see it for now. The lakes and ponds around my area will be frozen for awhile too, however our local river is not ice covered. Unfortunately the issue is no bass fishing until June. I will probably go for Pike though as soon as these temperatures go mild..at least bank fish or if I'm brave enough take my Kayak out. 1 Quote
MarksHooked Posted March 1, 2014 Posted March 1, 2014 I've been wondering this same thing for a while now! I'm hoping I can find some open water somewhere nearby within the next month... this is my first time having to endure waiting for winter to end to go fishing, and I am not handling it well. I don't care if it's perch, pike, trout, at this point I wouldn't even be mad if I was feeding worms to gobies lol. I'm thinking the rivers would start breaking up sooner Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted March 1, 2014 Super User Posted March 1, 2014 I've been wondering this same thing for a while now! I'm hoping I can find some open water somewhere nearby within the next month... this is my first time having to endure waiting for winter to end to go fishing, and I am not handling it well. I don't care if it's perch, pike, trout, at this point I wouldn't even be mad if I was feeding worms to gobies lol. I'm thinking the rivers would start breaking up sooner I don't think the issue will be finding open river, the problem is all the snow and way below freezing air that is stopping us. Quote
Super User iabass8 Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 as long as overnight temps stay above freezing, ice can go super quick. if day time temps are 50-60 but night is sub 32 its going to be a loooong spring Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 2, 2014 Super User Posted March 2, 2014 The results of this crazy over the top winter will linger up here for some time. Usually I can get out near the 3rd week in March, give or take a week. Of course I'm trout fishing as C&R bass season opens last Sat in April in MI. I'm going to guess that Ice Out on most of my favorite waters this year will be close to the Opener. Good Times. A-Jay Quote
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