Snow and first ice ?

[lonehunter]

O.K. , we have a thin layer of ice covered with 10" of powder snow , more snow comming down by the minute .
Gotta ask our ice fishing guru , what kind of ice will we have when this is all over and done with ?
[signature]

[davetclown]

dont know if you are talking about me, but I will lend my 2 1/2 cents worth...

I say go out and cut a hole near shore, measure the ice...

watch the water level, if it starts comming above the ice go back home, That is unless you have all your affairs in order...

thin ice under preasure from the weight of the snow is bad news... the ice is going to crack and fracture like plate glass from the preasure, giving way at any moment..

if you have about 6 inches of ice I might go out a little way if the water comes up with all the safty equipment and rope tied to me and a tree or something that will hold my weight... put in a few holes and let the water come up and about wensday or fryday you should have good ice...

this is where many people loose thier lives, what ice was once safe prior to a heavy snow at the beginning and end of the season becomes stressed by the heavy snow, and we all know how heavy snow can be, just look at all the guys who end up in hospitols from shoveling.....

no ice on my lake at all yet, tho this mess of snow and rain and snow again will realy put a chill on my lake.... My lake is still 14 days at best for signs of walkable ice... that is 14 days from the first time ice shows up to the time it is walkable...

If you decide to wonder out, let me know what ya run in to....
[signature]

[lonehunter]

will do , I'm headed to houghton lake for some fishing this weekend .
[signature]