A-Jay's Inaugural Ice Out / Open Water Countdown Thread ~

[A-Jay]

OK ~ I guess it's time. 

 I'm selecting 15 April 2019 as my "I hope the ice is gone" date.

While this date is a full 2 weeks earlier than 2018, it's a full 2 weeks later than 2017.

So I'm splitting the difference and we'll see what happens. 

As of today, I'm looking at 127 days or 4 months & 6 days or 18 weeks and a day. 

Either way, it is what it is and I'm hunkering down (although I'm not quite certain what that actually means, I'm doing it). 

 

Please feel free to add your comments, support, and yes, even the jabs; as I know they're inevitable & usually quite entertaining. 

And while you're at it, perhaps even add a few pics of recent catches.

All of which may help to pass the time . . . .

A-Jay

 

btw- this is what Lake Menderchuck looked like on 21 Apr 2018 - hoping for something a little earlier. 

 

[Way north bass guy]

That is probably exactly what my ice out date will be, give or take a day or three, seeing how I’m pretty much right across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay from you at about the same parallel. 

Hold on my cold weather brother, together, we can get through this!

[flyfisher]

Any more trips to southern locations to fish planned?

 

We got a snowstorm here in central virginia that you would call a dusting but it has effectively shut down the city for a few days.

 

just go run those dogs and clean your gear and keep working out and April will be here before you know it...

 

[A-Jay]

15 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

That is probably exactly what my ice out date will be, give or take a day or three, seeing how I’m pretty much right across Lake Huron and Georgian Bay from you at about the same parallel. 

Hold on my cold weather brother, together, we can get through this!

Thanks for the support I certainly appreciate it.

A-Jay

15 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

Any more trips to southern locations to fish planned?

 

We got a snowstorm here in central virginia that you would call a dusting but it has effectively shut down the city for a few days.

 

just go run those dogs and clean your gear and keep working out and April will be here before you know it...

 

I saw that you guys were getting it pretty good.  You know it will most likely be gone soon.

I'm pacing myself on the gear cleaning but you know you nailed the rest of it. 

As for trips south - locked in for another fall trip in 2019. 

Can't start thinking about that one just yet - might get the yips. (yea, I  I  I don't know what this is) 

A-Jay

[flyfisher]

Apparently it is a record for a 24 hour period or something in this area since they started keeping track of those things.   I know at my house we easily got over 12"

[gim]

Central MN - I will guess April 14, 2019 for official open water here.  Last year tied a record from 1924 on May 5, 2018.

[JustALineWetter]

5 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Central MN - I will guess April 14, 2019 for official open water here.  Last year tied a record from 1924 on May 5, 2018.

 

I'm gonna (sadly) put that off a couple weeks. April 27, 2019 - at least for Minnetonka.

[Gundog]

I've consulted the grand ole Almanac and taking into account changes in elevation, latitude and longitude, not to mention atmospheric pressure and cosmic lunar phasing, I believe I can accurately predict the correct day and even hour that ice will break and open water will be seen on your Lake Menderchuck, A-Jay. The good news is it is earlier than you think. March 27th. The bad news is its 2020! Have a nice but cold summer. 

[Big Rick]

Caught these in northern La. Thanksgiving week. Water was 50 degrees and muddy. A double Colorado blade spinner bait did the damage. I ended up with 15 total. I can't imagine total ice out. My heart goes out to you guys up north. 

 

[A-Jay]

9 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

Caught these in northern La. Thanksgiving week. Water was 50 degrees and muddy. A double Colorado blade spinner bait did the damage. I ended up with 15 total. I can't imagine total ice out. My heart goes out to you guys up north. 

 

Nice ~ 

Don't feel too bad - there's sort of a sliver lining.

Think of your favorite lakes - the ones with the most & Biggest Bass. 

Now imagine that they are all Closed to all fishing & boating for at least 5 months. 

And once it opens - the very day , the very second - YOU get to be the first & Only dude fishing them - for the first 2 weeks - At Least !    Often results is a couple of memorable outings. 

Admittedly it's a bummer while it's frozen, and the waiting can be brutal but once it melts, 

It's a Beautiful thing.

A-Jay

[TnRiver46]

Are there any of those ice fishing restaurant / bars with sports on tv in your area? Looks like the hoards of winter schools have arrived early in my area this year. I won’t starve this winter! Hopefully all your Michigan bass are getting super fat on gobies under the ice 

[Big Rick]

I can understand that. We sort of have that down here. Most bass anglers become hardcore hunter all winter long. Ducks, rabbits, deer, and deer, and deer.... take the preeminence over fishing. And, hunting season lasts until Jan. 31st. So, a few warmer days in the late winter and BAM it's on like a chicken bone and I'm the only guy on the lake that's fishing. That's when I catch my years PB often times. 

[NorcalBassin]

Nothing but respect for you guys. We get a solid 4 seasons out here with plenty of snow in my neck of the woods and higher, but fortunately our winters are tied into elevation and the water temps in the lower elevation foothill lakes rarely dip below 50*. Those 2 weeks post-ice out do sound pretty amazing though. 

[Arcs&sparks]

Historically our ice out date is April 15th in southern Maine. Early to mid May in the western mountains and sometimes even later than that.

 

 Last year was the 18th here, the year before, MARCH 13th!  And we were open water fishing in January! Wierd year.  The only ice shacks out were pulled in at night,  and the guy who left his out...well it fell in.  We had the beach community that year. 

 

 

[Glaucus]

I'm aiming for March 31st here in North Central Illinois. Around that time is typically when fishing resumes. March 31st of 2019 will be a Sunday which means I'll be off work. Just hope Mother Nature cooperates.

[Bluebasser86]

Last year was a drawn out winter that ran most of the way through April for us, and summer immediately followed. Had a lot of thaws and refreezing and more snow in April than the entire winter. I'm hoping for a much more normal winter and ice out around March 15th. Until then I'll be chasing my power plant lake fish around to keep myself busy. 

[Oregon Native]

Wishing you all a safe winter on the ice....wow....just can't imagine and ..... no it's not on my bucket list.

[scaleface]

The boat is winterized and I'm done til spring . In the mean time my brothers and I are out hunting Big Foots .

 

[Harold Scoggins]

11 hours ago, A-Jay said:

As of today I'm looking at 127 days or 4 months & 6 days or 18 weeks and a day. 

You could have this game mastered by then.

[12poundbass]

12 hours ago, A-Jay said:

OK ~ I guess it's time. 

 I'm selecting 15 April 2019 as my "I hope the ice is gone" date.

While this date is a full 2 weeks earlier than 2018, it's a full 2 weeks later than 2017.

So I'm splitting the difference and we'll see what happens. 

As of today I'm looking at 127 days or 4 months & 6 days or 18 weeks and a day. 

Either way, it is what it is and I'm hunkering down (although I'm not quite certain what that actually means, but I'm doing it). 

 

Please feel free to add your comments, support, and yes, even the jabs; as I know they're inevitable & usually quite entertaining. 

And while you're at it, perhaps even add a few pic of recent catches.

All of which may help to pass the time . . . .

A-Jay

 

btw- this is what Lake Menderchuck looked like on 21 Apr 2018 - hoping for something a little earlier. 

 

This winter is going to be a tough one for me. As you know I bought a boat so late in the season I couldn't even launch it, I did fire it up and hear her run just before winterizing it. So she is inside hibernating. 

 

As you may or may not know we sold our house this fall and we were on the hunt for a house. As if buying at boat just in time to put her to bed for 5 months wasn't bad enough, I doubled down and we are in the process of buying a house on a lake. A private lake at that, with no speed boats or jet skies! I'm very familiar with this lake having briefly lived on it years ago, pretty quiet as far as traffic and fishing goes. 

 

Soooooo hopefully the winter goes by quick, which it should considering well be closing on it this week or next, then moving for the second time in two months, then getting settled in to the new house. 

 

I'm shooting for the last week in March for ice out here. Fingers crossed!

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

This winter is going to be a tough one for me. As you know I bought a boat so late in the season I couldn't even launch it, I did fire it up and hear her run just before winterizing it. So she is inside hibernating. 

 

As you may or may not know we sold our house this fall and we were on the hunt for a house. As if buying at boat just in time to put her to bed for 5 months wasn't bad enough, I doubled down and we are in the process of buying a house on a lake. A private lake at that, with no speed boats or jet skies! I'm very familiar with this lake having briefly lived on it years ago, pretty quiet as far as traffic and fishing goes. 

 

Soooooo hopefully the winter goes by quick, which it should considering well be closing on it this week or next, then moving for the second time in two months, then getting settled in to the new house. 

 

I'm shooting for the last week in March for ice out here. Fingers crossed!

Well Congrats and best of Luck with all of that.  Your timing is impeccable too. 

Sometimes life comes at us pretty quick, other times, not so much.

Seems in your case it's a lot of BOTH !   

Stay the course my friend as the reward for all your relocation efforts will be plenty.

 Like a New Rig on "Golden Pond" (can't call it Menderchuck, that one's taken).

A-Jay

[BassNJake]

I managed to catch one on a toad this past Saturday.

Our lake was right near 50.

I'm glad I left the cold and moved down south.

 

Good luck waiting it out!!

[padon]

winter sucks.we  will have ice here soon it may thaw for a little while but will re freeze again.im not good in the cold and my freezer is full so no hunting for me either. I will become a frequent visitor to the indoor gun range though just to get out of the house and not turn into a mole

[NYWayfarer]

Last winter went right into summer and summer seemed to go right into winter. Winters in the north are long enough. Even longer for those of us who don't hunt or ice fish. There is only so much rod/reel maintenance, tackle storage organization one can do during these times.

 

I have a trip planned for Florida in February to visit friends and go fishing.

 

Hoping for a March ice out for you my Northern brother.   

[MIbassyaker]

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

The boat is winterized and I'm done til spring . In the mean time my brothers and I are out hunting Big Foots .

 

 

Looks like you're all set -- guy in the middle has all the equipment you need.