11-25-2006, 07:07 AM
sorry there is no mathmatical equation I can give you that would be standard for any lake.
every lake has its own set of variables.
size, depth, wind shear, springs, in flow and out flow of streams, depth of the thermalcline from the prevous summer.
parts of any lake can freeze a foot thick while other parts may only be a mear inch or to or even just crusted over....
its a bad idea all together to try to guess the quality of ice making conditions, I know a lake with a foot and a half of ice in january and february parts of it are just crusted over, holding snow even, yet if you try to walk over it you best have your affairs in order.
your best bet is to listen to the guys who fish that lake in the winter, check conditions as you walk out and check the ice thickness every step with a spud especialy if it is first ice or you have had thaws refreezes rains and freezes again.
being the first on the ice is not the same as being the first to have a ripe tomato in your garden, If you pic a tomato a day or two to early you can set it in the window to finish ripening, if you step out on the ice to early, you may not be able to set foot any where else ever again.
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every lake has its own set of variables.
size, depth, wind shear, springs, in flow and out flow of streams, depth of the thermalcline from the prevous summer.
parts of any lake can freeze a foot thick while other parts may only be a mear inch or to or even just crusted over....
its a bad idea all together to try to guess the quality of ice making conditions, I know a lake with a foot and a half of ice in january and february parts of it are just crusted over, holding snow even, yet if you try to walk over it you best have your affairs in order.
your best bet is to listen to the guys who fish that lake in the winter, check conditions as you walk out and check the ice thickness every step with a spud especialy if it is first ice or you have had thaws refreezes rains and freezes again.
being the first on the ice is not the same as being the first to have a ripe tomato in your garden, If you pic a tomato a day or two to early you can set it in the window to finish ripening, if you step out on the ice to early, you may not be able to set foot any where else ever again.
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