11-22-2011, 02:52 AM
Windriver,
I don't want to cast a negative report to all this but feel obliged especially for you and the other forum regulars. I was about 200 yards off the county boat dock Sunday - November 20, 2011. Most of the ice was 4.5" or better. It was a spooky situation though with what appeared to be good ice but then water above that and ~10" of snow above the water in most places. I went behind another guy that was methodical and repeatedly checking for depth but we stopped and fished once we hit 12' of water since we figured that was deep enough. Later I ventured only 30 yards further and found a thin spot. It was so thin that I didn't do a very thorough check but estimate between 1.0" and 2.5" thick ice. The important thing is that it was less than half of what it was 10 feet away from that spot. With the large insulating layer of snow, this situation is not going to improve much regardless of extremely cold temperatures and time. Hopefully the wind will either blow the snow off or ice it out so it can start over with better formation conditions. I have considerable experience on early ice and the situation at Henry's right now is not good IMHO. I would think twice about taking the kids out on it and recommend that you take a full compliment of early ice safety gear (picks for life, using the sled as a boat etc.).
FR
[signature]
I don't want to cast a negative report to all this but feel obliged especially for you and the other forum regulars. I was about 200 yards off the county boat dock Sunday - November 20, 2011. Most of the ice was 4.5" or better. It was a spooky situation though with what appeared to be good ice but then water above that and ~10" of snow above the water in most places. I went behind another guy that was methodical and repeatedly checking for depth but we stopped and fished once we hit 12' of water since we figured that was deep enough. Later I ventured only 30 yards further and found a thin spot. It was so thin that I didn't do a very thorough check but estimate between 1.0" and 2.5" thick ice. The important thing is that it was less than half of what it was 10 feet away from that spot. With the large insulating layer of snow, this situation is not going to improve much regardless of extremely cold temperatures and time. Hopefully the wind will either blow the snow off or ice it out so it can start over with better formation conditions. I have considerable experience on early ice and the situation at Henry's right now is not good IMHO. I would think twice about taking the kids out on it and recommend that you take a full compliment of early ice safety gear (picks for life, using the sled as a boat etc.).
FR
[signature]