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

[Glaucus]

After I run some errands I'm going to visit my dad a state over in Indiana for a week. They've got a few 50 and 60 degree days coming up while I'm over there. I'll be out with him attempting a bass or two.

[A-Jay]

Just now, Glaucus said:

After I run some errands I'm going to visit my dad a state over in Indiana for a week. They've got a few 50 and 60 degree days coming up while I'm over there. I'll be out with him attempting a bass or two.

Good Luck

Safe Travels.

A-Jay

[Columbia Craw]

38 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

A-Jay

 

As you can see....i've lost some weight.

[MN Fisher]

[Glaucus]

26 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

[J._Bricker]

4 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

That’s what “spring skiing” is like in Tahoe. Just not pretty when they “catch an edge” on the corn ice.

[GReb]

3 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

That’s what “spring skiing” is like in Tahoe. Just not pretty when they “catch an edge”.   

I felt robbed when we went to Tahoe several years ago in July. It was 99 degrees here in MS. The avg highs in Tahoe were 75-80 but by the time we landed in Reno the area was recording record highs in the upper 90s. By the time we left the local wild fires were so bad you couldn’t even see the lake

[J._Bricker]

5 minutes ago, GReb said:

I felt robbed when we went to Tahoe several years ago in July. It was 99 degrees here in MS. The avg highs in Tahoe were 75-80 but by the time we landed in Reno the area was recording record highs in the upper 90s. By the time we left the local wild fires were so bad you couldn’t even see the lake

Sorry to hear about trip @GReb, last year fire season in the western states sucked big time on many levels. Definitely don’t want to see another Paradise or Santa Rosa fire any time soon...

[GReb]

4 minutes ago, J._Bricker said:

Sorry to hear about trip @GReb, last year fire season in the western states sucked big time on many levels. Definitely don’t want to see another Paradise or Santa Rosa fire any time soon...

My post came off too negative. We loved our stay and had a great time. I’d go back in a heartbeat.

[slonezp]

I predicted March 22 at the beginning of this thread. There is currently 14" of ice on my home water. Beginning today temps will be in the 40's and 50's for at least the next week. Rain in the forecast multiple days. Last year I was fishing on the 10th, the year before the 5th. I'm optimistic I will be fishing the weekend of the 22nd.

[Russ E]

There is still ice on the cold water lakes here. In the 6 years I lived around Kansas City, this is the first time the lakes were frozen in March. Several years they did not freeze at all.

2 years ago I was breaking in my new outboard, in January, on a cold water reservoir.

With the warm weather forecast they should finally be open by the end of the week.

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

I predicted March 22 at the beginning of this thread. There is currently 14" of ice on my home water. Beginning today temps will be in the 40's and 50's for at least the next week. Rain in the forecast multiple days. Last year I was fishing on the 10th, the year before the 5th. I'm optimistic I will be fishing the weekend of the 22nd.

You think all that ice will be gone in two weeks? What are your overnight lows going to be? 

 

Our temps will be a little cooler than yours, but we are getting rain this afternoon and tomorrow. A few days around or just above freezing and a couple days in the 40-50’s and they’re forecasting Thursday with a high of 63. That’s a ways away and will likely change but encouraging nonetheless. After that back to just above freezing. If we can get all this snow gone today or tomorrow, then the sun can start working on the ice.

 

The sun is close enough now that you can feel the warmth of it so even the days where it’s around or below freezing it’ll still do it’s job on the ice.

[MIbassyaker]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

You think all that ice will be gone in two weeks? What are your overnight lows going to be? 

 

Our temps will be a little cooler than yours, but we are getting rain this afternoon and tomorrow. A few days around or just above freezing and a couple days in the 40-50’s and they’re forecasting Thursday with a high of 63. That’s a ways away and will likely change but encouraging nonetheless. After that back to just above freezing. If we can get all this snow gone today or tomorrow, then the sun can start working on the ice.

 

The sun is close enough now that you can feel the warmth of it so even the days where it’s around or below freezing it’ll still do it’s job on the ice.

 

It looks like we may be turning the corner here. End of the month looks promising.  

[12poundbass]

30 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

It looks like we may be turning the corner here. End of the month looks promising.  

I hope so. I’m ready to pull the boat out of hibernation and bring her home. I’m also ready to get on the water, tired of looking at frozen water.

[Paul Roberts]

This is such a fun thread. Love the photos and comments. You know, the "Eskimos" are known to deal with the constant darkness and bitter cold by playing games and story-telling. Otherwise, I suppose, there'd likely be one or two rather healthy ones leaving the igloo come spring!  If things start to ugly here, someone tell a good story, quick!

 

Winter is just giving way here. Cold air keeps pushing in but ice-break is happening. I'm usually fishing by now. But, we're in the "lions and lambs" season here. The sun is high and... I know whose going to win out. The red-winged blackbird males are already streaming in. Ice-out is... imminent. And then... it's a mad dash to get the fishing in. I've got fishing plans, if I can only wrap up this documentary. Nose to grindstone here.

 

I'm hoping to chase "carnage zones" this spring. To really show it, I need the perfect set-up. A cold spring actually helps. The other parts are the the right mix of predators, prey, and water body layout. My past "perfect" water body was nearly wiped out during the massive "1000yr" flooding of 2013. It's time I re-visited it this spring to assess its potential resurrection. ???

[slonezp]

22 hours ago, 12poundbass said:

You think all that ice will be gone in two weeks? What are your overnight lows going to be? 

 

Our temps will be a little cooler than yours, but we are getting rain this afternoon and tomorrow. A few days around or just above freezing and a couple days in the 40-50’s and they’re forecasting Thursday with a high of 63. That’s a ways away and will likely change but encouraging nonetheless. After that back to just above freezing. If we can get all this snow gone today or tomorrow, then the sun can start working on the ice.

 

The sun is close enough now that you can feel the warmth of it so even the days where it’s around or below freezing it’ll still do it’s job on the ice.

I'm optimistic. There are 2 nights over the next 10 days below 30* and 2 days in a row in the 60's plus more rain.

[Crestliner2008]

We've still got a foot or more of ice on the ponds here. Got about 2" of snow yesterday. UGH! But....there is light at the end of the tunnel. 3 or 4 days predicted in the 50's this coming week (here in MA). That should kick down the ice pretty fast (I hope anyway!).

[superkamikazee]

On 3/9/2019 at 12:57 PM, Paul Roberts said:

This is such a fun thread. Love the photos and comments. You know, the "Eskimos" are known to deal with the constant darkness and bitter cold by playing games and story-telling. Otherwise, I suppose, there'd likely be one or two rather healthy ones leaving the igloo come spring!  If things start to ugly here, someone tell a good story, quick!

 

Winter is just giving way here. Cold air keeps pushing in but ice-break is happening. I'm usually fishing by now. But, we're in the "lions and lambs" season here. The sun is high and... I know whose going to win out. The red-winged blackbird males are already streaming in. Ice-out is... imminent. And then... it's a mad dash to get the fishing in. I've got fishing plans, if I can only wrap up this documentary. Nose to grindstone here.

 

I'm hoping to chase "carnage zones" this spring. To really show it, I need the perfect set-up. A cold spring actually helps. The other parts are the the right mix of predators, prey, and water body layout. My past "perfect" water body was nearly wiped out during the massive "1000yr" flooding of 2013. It's time I re-visited it this spring to assess its potential resurrection. ???

 

Can't wait to see your next documentary!

[Paul Roberts]

7 minutes ago, superkamikazee said:

 

Can't wait to see your next documentary!

Me too! Should've been out already. Rough winter: food poisoning, flu, and on to pneumonia. I finally gave in, listened to my wife and doc, and stayed in bed. I'm actually happy to have the editor's red eyes and sore butt back.

[A-Jay]

Well, we're winding down the days.

Finally inside of a month away from my 'projected' open water date.

Seems like a pipe dream at this point as it's still a virtually winter wonderland in this area.

Plenty f snow & ice everywhere.  And while day time temps this week are expected to be in the mid to upper 30's with some sunshine, the overnights look to be quite winter-like perhaps undoing whatever happens as far as melting goes during the day. 

 

Officially, the count is 4 weeks or 28 more days . . . .

And for The BR Members who are currently employed ~ 

20 working days (160 hours, assuming 8-hour workday),

8 non-working days including:

 4 Saturdays,

 4 Sundays.

 

As of now - It could be another early May open water deal.

I'll be ready - and in pretty good shape too.

A-Jay

 

[MN Fisher]

I can state without a doubt that this year's ice-out on Minnetonka will be earlier than last year's. Last year tied the record for latest ice-out (previous was in 1857). With temps climbing into the 50s this week and plenty of sunshine, I think it'll be 2 maybe 3 weeks until I can get my canoe on the water.

 

Might be earlier for a couple of the smaller lakes.

[slonezp]

I called tomorrow, 3/22 for ice out in northern IL. Ponds are open. Small local lakes are open. Home water is closed due to flooding. Larger lakes are at least partially ice free if not all but, no piers are in for launching. Will I be fishing this Saturday 3/23??? We shall see we shall see...... 

[Todd2]

My lake level is down to pool, bicep has healed up, I'll be out this weekend. You guys hang in there..its close!

[12poundbass]

The forecast for 50’s have been replaced with 30’s and low 40’s. Overnight lows are still freezing over just above. I’m still seeing plenty of ice anglers. There’s 50’s and rain in next weeks forecast, hopefully that’ll come to fruition. 

[TnRiver46]

I have a magnolia blooming in my yard....