Smokinal Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 I thought we needed an ice-out thread. If not only for informational reasons, maybe just to let A-Jay and I know we are not alone. So maybe you drive by some water each day; maybe you live on the water. Whatever the case, what's your situation? I'm in southern Maine and we are all still iced in. A few smaller ponds have some edges open and ice is a little darker but nothing is really open. On my home lake, there is a live web cam I watch daily and it looks like you could still drive a vehicle on top. It would be good info to hear some reports from across the country. And if you aren't frozen, whats your water temp and your location? 3 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted March 6, 2017 Global Moderator Posted March 6, 2017 Found some 50* water in NE KS last week, but we had a cold snap that knocked it down a bit this last week. Fished in water from 43 to 48 Thursday and Friday. We haven't had any ice since early January. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 6, 2017 Super User Posted March 6, 2017 Solid thread idea - just like the water here in northern MI. But that's par for the course for the first week in March. Still, every few days I take a ride out to at least one lake 'just to check'. We'll be in the 50's today with rain - that should help. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted March 6, 2017 Super User Posted March 6, 2017 Never iced up this year (other than some skim ice) here in Virginia and with a warming trend the Potomac started to turn on. Now with a cold streak, I'll be heading back to the hot side of Anna where the water temp never drops to freezing. Power plant discharge lake. River is low to mid 40's. Hot side is 50 to mid 60's. 1 Quote
IndianaFinesse Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 Ice is out here, and the water temperature is about 45 degrees. Catching them on the ned and shaky heads, and a few on jerks. Last week the water temperature hit 54 degrees for a few days, which got the fish so shallow and active that I was catching them on topwater poppers. 1 Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted March 6, 2017 Super User Posted March 6, 2017 We've had a few freak 70+ degree days the last couple weeks which have opened up most of the lakes and ponds and the river is wide open. But the last few days have been brutally cold and windy, so the lakes may have a thin layer of ice again. Cold enough to freeze solid the small amount of water that sits on the tarp covering my next door neighbor's pool. Last year I was fishing by March 1st, but this year the weather has been so up and down, it may be a couple weeks before the water is 100% open. 1 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted March 6, 2017 Global Moderator Posted March 6, 2017 The ice has been gone for about a week or so here in central Michigan. Not sure on the water temp but I'm itching to get out and give it a shot. Head south A-Jay open water all over! 2 Quote
Super User Gundog Posted March 6, 2017 Super User Posted March 6, 2017 Its been a 50/50 deal here in PA. The river never completely ices up but right now half the lakes are frozen, the other half are clear of the ice. Just depends where you are at. Most of the higher elevation lakes still got ice despite the warm up we had last week. Lakes at lower elevations for most part are clear but it wouldn't take much to freeze them over. 1 Quote
Super User DogBone_384 Posted March 6, 2017 Super User Posted March 6, 2017 I've done well the three times I've been out this year, fishing Hedges Pond in Plymouth, MA. Smallies are cooperating with suspending jerk baits in 46.x - 47.x waters. My closest pond was still locked up two weeks ago. Haven't been there since. 1 Quote
CTBassin860 Posted March 6, 2017 Posted March 6, 2017 Eastern Mass we iced out last weekend as it was in the 70s for 2 days but this weekends frigid temps skimmed the ponds and lake back over.I just want to go fishing! Love this thread idea by the way. 2 Quote
Smokinal Posted March 7, 2017 Author Posted March 7, 2017 It's nice to hear these reports. Interesting to hear water conditions around the country; especially near me. It gives me hope that soft water will show up soon!! Thank you folks. Quote
Super User gim Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 There's ice around here in Central Minnesota but its dark and thinning quickly. Further north is still pretty thick. Even if the ice goes early, the season doesn't legally start until mid May... 1 Quote
Smokinal Posted March 7, 2017 Author Posted March 7, 2017 7 hours ago, gimruis said: the season doesn't legally start until mid May... Good point about the season. Maine used to have a fishing season which went from April 1st to Sept 31st but they dropped it to open water. Mid May?!? That's horribly late! Anyone else have seasons still? 1 Quote
Scarborough817 Posted March 7, 2017 Posted March 7, 2017 there was a portion of the lake that was thawed but last weekend made that pretty solid again, guess i'll keep waiting. Quote
Super User Paul Roberts Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 I've had two ice-outs this year. Record temps in mid Feb. Then a re-freeze and second break this past week. I can see waters from my front deck (about 3000ft above) with binocs. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 Freeze, melt, refreeze, repeat. The lakes read like a shampoo bottle around here. 3 Quote
Super User NYWayfarer Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 37 minutes ago, J Francho said: Freeze, melt, refreeze, repeat. I drive over the upper Hudson River between exits 17 and 18 of the Northway everyday and its freeze, melt, refreeze, repeat as well. I was able to get out on the river the weekend we had 65 degree weather. I got skunked and little wonder as my sonar was saying the water temp was 34 degrees! 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 50 degree air temps & big fat rain over night. Fifty's again today with a blustery south wind. Snow is certainly being eradicated in whole sale fashion, hope the lake ice is as well. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User clayton86 Posted March 7, 2017 Super User Posted March 7, 2017 58 minutes ago, J Francho said: Freeze, melt, refreeze, repeat. The lakes read like a shampoo bottle around here. It's so depressing I was out a week ago the creek was 47* went out over the weekend and had 2" of ice on it I wanted to cry Quote
nguggs Posted March 8, 2017 Posted March 8, 2017 Even if the season doesn't start for a couple months, the Minnesota DNR has an Ice Out map for most lakes in the state. http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ice_out/index.html Metro and Southern MN lakes have just started. 1 Quote
Smokinal Posted March 9, 2017 Author Posted March 9, 2017 We had 50 degrees and rain today. The web cam on my home lake showed puddles all over the lake and it looked darker. I was pretty excited until I saw the forcast of single digits this weekend. 1 Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 Just now, Smokinal said: We had 50 degrees and rain today. The web cam on my home lake showed puddles all over the lake and it looked darker. I was pretty excited until I saw the forcast of single digits this weekend. Pretty much the same here in upstate NY. My hopes keep going up and down. I better be fishing by April 1st! 2 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 Snow & wind today ~ Bogus. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User clayton86 Posted March 9, 2017 Super User Posted March 9, 2017 75mph winds today new structure to fish anyone lol Quote
Super User MassYak85 Posted March 11, 2017 Super User Posted March 11, 2017 Lakes near me are open but not for long. Single digits coming and snow. I might try to find somewhere open later in the week when it's warmer (if you consider 40 degrees warm). Might have to be a river though at this rate. 1 Quote
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