has anyone got out on the ice yet?

[kfa4303]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

Having traveled the country extensively for many years I can only speak for Minnesota. Our standard of living is high relative to other places and the cold comes along with it. Of course the endless number of lakes and boating opportunities helps. We have several downsides however that are getting harder and harder bear.

I see your land o' lakes (FL has more btw), and raise you beaches and bikinis year round!!!! Sounds like we may be seeing you soon after all. We'll leave a light on for ya

 

[jkust]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

I see your land o' lakes (FL has more btw), and raise you beaches and bikinis year round!!!! Sounds like we may be seeing you soon after all. We'll leave a light on for ya

Like I said...that comes at about 65ish or so. Until then, if you haven't snowmobiled, I say you are missing out. Just the unbelievable acceleration alone ignoring the rest is a good time. Besides that...my folks packed it up and moved to Hawaii several years back. I will own all of their properties there some day and betting I'll be a Hawaii man at least in during the MN winters.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

I've been out twice. I'm in Alaska though. Eel fishing was unsuccessful but did get some lush (burbot) and pike. One of the pike was 44" long. Average size was 30 inches.

 

[hardwater fisherman]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

is this a burbot? i catch many through the ice but here they are called loche.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

is this a burbot? i catch many through the ice but here they are called loche.

Looks fairly close. They are similar to catfish is what I am told. I call them lush, but a friend in the lower 48 called it a burbot. Here is one that I caught in my net this summer:

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

Here is a pike from last season's ice fishing haul:

 

[hardwater fisherman]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

yes thats the same fish i catch here, but i think like any fish the color varies depending on where its caught. the ones i catch here are darker and almost a light purple color. that is a nice pike you caught.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

yes thats the same fish i catch here, but i think like any fish the color varies depending on where its caught. the ones i catch here are darker and almost a light purple color. that is a nice pike you caught.

Thanks. I'm in one of the best pike fishing locations in the world. Back I'm august I went in a spot up river from me and within an hour we (neighbor and I) had caught 18 pike. None were smaller than 30".

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

yes thats the same fish i catch here, but i think like any fish the color varies depending on where its caught. the ones i catch here are darker and almost a light purple color. that is a nice pike you caught.

What is your set up like? I was surprised at the simplicity if what the natives use. How deep does the ice get? My first trip last year we hit spots that was more than 4 feet of ice. Our augers didn't push through.

 

[hardwater fisherman]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

i fish mainly on the st lawerence river. it has been quite cold this year and we have around 2 feet of ice on the river right now. last year it was not frozen at christmas. the river has a very strong current so it does not freeze as much as a lake. and the coast guard keeps the shipping lanes open. sometimes the water goes over the ice when they break it up. we had alot of snow last week followed by freezing rain.when i was out on tuesday there was a 4 inch crust on top of 1 foot of slush, then 2 feet of ice. it got colder the last 2 days so maybe now there is 3 feet of ice.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

Lots of people on the ice in north central Iowa. I have not developed enough backbone to give it a try.

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

Lots of people on the ice in north central Iowa. I have not developed enough backbone to give it a try.

I am by no means an expert. as a matter of fact, I've only been out on the ice a few times. This school year I went out earlier than last year and I got my first scare. We took the HS kids out eeling and while standing on the ice I experienced my first cracking sound...yeah...let's just say they kids got a good laugh at their teacher running to the shore.

My first time out we built a huge fire to stay warm. It surprised me at how "safe" the ice can be.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

A few of my coworkers are avid ice fishers and they tell me that if the ice is safest when it is making weird sounds. That is supposed to mean that it is getting thicker.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

We've had some vehicles go through the ice. Got too much snow before it could make a foot of good ice. At least I need a foot to drive on....

 

[Vintage Boat Guy]

Re: has anyone got out on the ice yet?

Oh there is a small town on the lake where I am, I think the population by day outnumbers the population of the town