Ice Fishing? Is it going to happen this year?

[z-man]

Are we going to get any ice this year? It’s supposed to be 50’s and rain Friday then cold then back to 50’s late next week. Strange weather patterns. Maybe we’ll get one week of ice in late February. 

[mikez2]

That has been the refrain every year recently. Even years that start cold end up warm in January. 

 

Like many others, we'll be looking north of the border for any hopes of a reasonably early start.

[foxfai]

Ya, doesn't look like it will happen soon. If anything maybe late Jan/Feb like previous years.....

 

Global warming is a thing lol.

[z-man]

I wish we had safe ice some year for school vacation week. 

[bassturds]

I want to be on my bass boat all winter. I don’t Ice fish anymore! UNLESS, it’s cold all winter like it used to be 

[z-man]

8 mins ago, bassturds said:

I want to be on my bass boat all winter. I don’t Ice fish anymore! UNLESS, it’s cold all winter like it used to be 

Friday sounds like a good boating day. 

[mikez2]

There's definitely hope for new years weekend. Might have to venture into NH, but not far.

 

I usually have to slum it early ice and go for pickerel and perch. My local trout ponds freeze late.

Still, something to be said for lots of flags but I hate to burn my precious bait on 8 inch pickerel. 

 

For awhile in the recent past I was waiting, sitting out early ice because it was always so sketchy.

Now my 16 year old pushes me to get out asap.

[bassturds]

48 mins ago, z-man said:

Friday sounds like a good boating day. 

I did that the last time it was 60

[z-man]

3 mins ago, bassturds said:

I did that the last time it was 60

This time both the temp and wind will be 60 though. 

[SalmonAndStriper Stalker]

Plenty of Ice to be found currently just need to be willing to drive and look. Some places in western MA have 7in of ice already. I've found a little bit of fishable ice in Central MA but for any consistency you need to be west of the CT river. The warm trends do suck for central and Eastern mass but when given lemons you need to make leamonade.

[bassturds]

22 mins ago, z-man said:

This time both the temp and wind will be 60 though. 

Slight breeze. Fish a Smaller pond, should be good. Im more worried about trees though. Falling on my vehicle or blocking road ways 

[z-man]

5 mins ago, bassturds said:

Slight breeze. Fish a Smaller pond, should be good. Im more worried about trees though. Falling on my vehicle or blocking road ways 

Or your head. Be careful. 

[bassturds]

Just now, z-man said:

Or your head. Be careful. 

Almost happened to me once. It wasn’t to windy out either. Dead branch 

[bdowning]

Same here. Its a hazard of walking in the woods with dead limbs just waiting to come down. Usually you get a few seconds warning of a cracking sound overhead somewhere. At that point i usually just freeze, get low, and cover my head. Sometimes i think a helmet might be a good idea. 

[wishiniwuzfishin]

Good thread. 

Gear question;

What kind of auger is this?