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

[Oregon Native]

7 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Michigan winters come with a double whammy. If this is an El Nino winter then there's a good possibility Lake Michigan probably won't freeze and will stay 'warmer' than usual. Here's the catch 22 if that happens the Lake effect snow machine will be in over drive, so even if the inland lakes thaw early chances are @A-Jay will still be buried in deep deep snow. Lake effect snow is very unusual phenomenon. One area will get dumped on and two miles away there will be little to no snow. The east side of Michigan doesn't get nearly as much as I do in central Michigan, I get a fair amount less than the lake shore. It's hard to predict but one thing is for sure, once lake Michigan freezes that machine stops and we can go weeks or months without snow. 

Wow.....now I'm positive I'm not moving north!!!

[12poundbass]

1 minute ago, Oregon Native said:

Wow.....now I'm positive I'm not moving north!!!

? everyone from central to the western part of the state are at the mercy of Lake Michigan. Same scenario with the poor people of Buffalo New York. If things line up just right it's nothing for them to get four feet or more of snow in one storm!

[A-Jay]

47 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

Michigan winters come with a double whammy. If this is an El Nino winter then there's a good possibility Lake Michigan probably won't freeze and will stay 'warmer' than usual. Here's the catch 22 if that happens the Lake effect snow machine will be in over drive, so even if the inland lakes thaw early chances are @A-Jay will still be buried in deep deep snow. Lake effect snow is very unusual phenomenon. One area will get dumped on and two miles away there will be little to no snow. The east side of Michigan doesn't get nearly as much as I do in central Michigan, I get a fair amount less than the lake shore. It's hard to predict but one thing is for sure, once lake Michigan freezes that machine stops and we can go weeks or months without snow. 

Nailed that one @12poundbass ~

 We're currently well below annual numbers.  

Still have plenty but I'm usually looking to shovel my roof in a week or two.

Unless it picks up quite a bit here soon, I may be spared that deal until perhaps February. 

Doesn't exactly hurt my feeling any either.

A-Jay

[WRB]

It's nice to be able to visit the snow and ice only about 2 hour drive in the mountains above 6,000', occasionally lower elevations, instead of living in it.

Stay safe, warm and dry.

Tom

[Jigfishn10]

Well I hope you're wrong and ice out is sooner than that, but I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya  none the less.

[MN Fisher]

With the predictions of an El Nino this year, I'm hoping for a late March ice-out.

 

I want to get in the water more than I did this past year.

[Paul Roberts]

On 12/10/2018 at 5:12 PM, A-Jay said:

...

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. 

 

 

Well.. I hope this makes you feel a little bit better... . You aren't entirely alone.

 

 

Although... you will be bc I'm guessing Feb 12th for my ice-out!  Yeah, it comes early here.

 

 

[A-Jay]

8 minutes ago, Paul Roberts said:

 

Well.. I hope this makes you feel a little bit better... . You aren't entirely alone.

 

 

Although... you will be bc I'm guessing Feb 12th for my ice-out!  Yeah, it comes early here.

 

 

LOL ~ Thanks for the support Paul.

 It's interesting how much of what is falling this winter is somewhat south of me.

125 Days to go . . . .

A-Jay

[Chance_Taker4]

NW Ohio here and I can usually get a line wet around the beginning of March in the rivers and by late march in the lakes. However my first few trips on the rivers are usually Walleye or Yellow Perch.

[GReb]

On 12/10/2018 at 7:22 PM, A-Jay said:

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

That very thing is happening on my local lake. Some type of invasive grass has been found in one of the better fishing areas and it was completely closed off to the public in October and won’t open until May. I can’t wait to be at the ramp as soon as it opens. 

[A-Jay]

1 minute ago, GReb said:

That very thing is happening on my local lake. Some type of evasive grass has been found in one of the better fishing areas and it was completely closed off to the public in October and won’t open until May. I can’t wait to be at the ramp as soon as it opens. 

OK ~  Something to keep in mind.

While not looking spread any negativity, the description you've offered seems to indicate that there's a decent chance 'someone' has or is planning to, take steps to either eliminate or at the very least, halt the spread of, the 'invasive' grass - though I will concede that it's often quite evasive as well.  Either way - the results of these actions often change the 'fishing' at least little.  And sometimes, it's not for the better.   

I'd recommend fishing far way from any of the spots that were affected by this.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

[GReb]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

OK ~  Something to keep in mind.

While not looking spread any negativity, the description you've offered seems to indicate that there's a decent chance 'someone' has or is planning to, take steps to either eliminate or at the very least, halt the spread of, the 'invasive' grass - though I will concede that it's often quite evasive as well.  Either way - the results of these actions often change the 'fishing' at least little.  And sometimes, it's not for the better.   

I'd recommend fishing far way from any of the spots that were affected by this.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

Ahh you caught me before I caught my typo. I should probably start proof reading them before I post instead of after! 

 

The area affected is less than 5 acres and is in a back part of the bay that’s naturally closed off from the rest. The closed off area is several hundred acres and the current flows into it from the main lake. So I’m hoping there will not be any negative effects in my fishing spots. But I’ve never experienced post herbicide treatments before. You could very well be correct. The plant is called Giant Salvinia 

[Columbia Craw]

The issue for me A-Jay is not just snow but draw downs.  The reservoirs are down well below winter pool already. Ramps are out of the water.  It's winter steelhead or nothing. I'm going through my tackle to try and weed out those baits I can just live without.  Feng Shui and all that crap.  So far I've filled a sandwich baggie and I'm almost done. Any body want some fluorescent pink Yum Craws?

[NorcalBassin]

Water temp 54.8* with a crazy good jig bite. Sorry.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, NorcalBassin said:

Water temp 54.8* with a crazy good jig bite. Sorry.

Nice Bass ~ 

And there's no need to apologize.

When the time comes - I certainly won't.

A-Jay

 

 

 

[NorcalBassin]

Touche 

[Boomstick]

After last year where most lakes around me were frozen until the very end of April, my target date is going to be early in may.

[Todd2]

Complain about the Winter here, will I not do anymore.  

[A-Jay]

 ONLY 119 days or 17 weeks or 3 months & 29  more days . . . . .

Good Times.

A-Jay

[Russ E]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 ONLY 119 days or 17 weeks or 3 months & 29  more days . . . . .

Good Times.

A-Jay

You need one of these. May not be a pristine northern lake, but the water usually stays open all year

[soflabasser]

I would be ice fishing if I was living in the frozen north. I like fishing every weekend if possible and it is rare for me to spend even 2 weeks without going fishing. Hard to imagine living in a place where there is hard water for 3-5 months of the year and more than half the year of cold weather. Blizzards, freezing rain, grey skies, and leafless plants are other things I would not like about life up north. Still like fishing up north during the Fall and Spring but fishing in South Florida or other tropical area is much more enjoyable for me.

[A-Jay]

25 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I would be ice fishing if I was living in the frozen north. I like fishing every weekend if possible and it is rare for me to spend even 2 weeks without going fishing. Hard to imagine living in a place where there is hard water for 3-5 months of the year and more than half the year of cold weather. Blizzards, freezing rain, grey skies, and leafless plants are other things I would not like about life up north. Still like fishing up north during the Fall and Spring but fishing in South Florida or other tropical area is much more enjoyable for me.

While I can totally understand not being able to fish when one wanted to and will admit it's a little brutal at times.

But so are these . . .

 

My wife & I no longer wanted to board up our home, pack up & run from them; so we took that completely out of play.  

When the snow & ice all finally does melt each winter, my house is still there. 

And the fishing's pretty good.  

A-Jay

[MIbassyaker]

50 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

I would be ice fishing if I was living in the frozen north. I like fishing every weekend if possible and it is rare for me to spend even 2 weeks without going fishing. Hard to imagine living in a place where there is hard water for 3-5 months of the year and more than half the year of cold weather. Blizzards, freezing rain, grey skies, and leafless plants are other things I would not like about life up north. Still like fishing up north during the Fall and Spring but fishing in South Florida or other tropical area is much more enjoyable for me.

 

Heh, better you than me. I'm afraid for me the misery of ice fishing does not outweigh the enjoyment of ...sometimes catching....something.

 

EDIT: err...I should say, other way around.... the enjoyment doesn't outweigh the misery. 

 

I'm 2 hours south of A-Jay, and my snow from one lake effect blitz in November is almost gone. Lakes have some thin ice, but not uniform, and the rivers are wide open with launches still in use.

 

[soflabasser]

14 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

While I can totally understand not being able to fish when one wanted to and will admit it's a little brutal at times.

But so are these . . .

 

My wife & I no longer wanted to board up our home, pack up & run from them; so we took that completely out of play.  

When the snow & ice all finally does melt each winter, my house is still there. 

And the fishing's pretty good.  

A-Jay

Hurricanes cannot be too bad since I am seeing more and more northerners living in South Florida more than ever. Have spoken to many of them and they all seem to agree that living up in the frozen north is far harder than living in South Florida with the occasional hurricane. You don't see many South Floridians moving up north that is for sure. I lived through Hurricane Andrew, Wilma, and countless other hurricanes they are not that bad if you prepare and live in a well built house. I still like fishing up north during the Spring and Fall on vacation but it does not compare to the South Florida paradise I live in since I like seeing green trees year round and enjoy fishing 365 days a year for trophy bass without leaving my home state.

9 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

 

Heh, better you than me. I'm afraid for me the misery of ice fishing does not outweigh the enjoyment of ...sometimes catching....something.

 

I'm 2 hours south of A-Jay, and my snow from one lake effect blitz in November is almost gone. Lakes have some thin ice, but not uniform, and the rivers are wide open with launches still in use.

Almost everyone I have spoken with says that ice fishing is overrated but I would still like to try it out, especially ice fishing for muskies, pike, and lake trout. Have fished up north on several vacations now and liked it but came to the conclusion that the species of fish in South Florida are much more powerful and more interesting to catch. 

[A-Jay]

10 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Hurricanes cannot be too bad since I am seeing more and more northerners living in South Florida more than ever. Have spoken to many of them and they all seem to agree that living up in the frozen north is far harder than living in South Florida with the occasional hurricane. You don't see many South Floridians moving up north that is for sure. I lived through Hurricane Andrew, Wilma, and countless other hurricanes they are not that bad if you prepare and live in a well built house. I still like fishing up north during the Spring and Fall on vacation but it does not compare to the South Florida paradise I live in since I like seeing green trees year round and enjoy fishing 365 days a year for trophy bass without leaving my home state.

Almost everyone I have spoken with says that ice fishing is overrated but I would still like to try it out, especially ice fishing for muskies, pike, and lake trout. Have fished up north on several vacations now and liked it but came to the conclusion that the species of fish in South Florida are much more powerful and more interesting to catch. 

Super glad to hear that you've faired well. 

Any debate as to where we choose to live & why will end here for me.

Have a safe & happy Holiday season.

A-Jay