Report Your 1st Ice Findings Here...

[Connor4501]

To help each other out, post your observations, whether it be ponds, inland lakes, or LSC's canals. Try to include ice thickness and an estimated time frame for foot traffic. In my neck of the woods, all the smaller ponds are completely froze over with skim ice but the wind has prevented the bigger ponds from freezing over...

[TheApprentice]

Well, I am not sure how much ice we have, but I checked one of my favorite channels and it is completely covered. I was not in proper atire nor did I have a spud to check the thickness. I am heading out in a few minutes to check the thickness to help me determine when I will be out there. I am thinking possibly tomorrow or Monday I will be slaying the gills. This prediction could be just wishful thinking, but since it's totally covered with ice now it has been making ice all day today and tonight is supposed to be in the low 20's, so I am sure it will make another inch from now until tomorrow morning. Then tomorrow is supposed to be even colder with Monday being colder yet. I know we will be out very soon woooooohoooooooo!!!!!!! I walked about 2 feet out on the main lake and the ice was holding me, but without a spud I was not going to chance it.


Ryan

[WALLEYE MIKE]

When we get to have some safe ice,(end of next week) I'll make a sticky in each forum for this subject. Post something like the following: 2-3 in. on Lk. ABC, one or two guys have been venturing out. Or: such and such lake is frozen but might be weak in the middle yet.

We want facts not opinions on whether you would be caught dead out there yet. Some guys feel safe with 3in and some with 12in. Just be safe whatever the thickness is.

[Arin]

Will be swimming in the Holly area for a while still... :lol:

[Ed Michrina]

Yea Walleye Mike that sticky is nice. It also includes unsafe ice spots be it pressure cracks, bad ramp spots, air pockets or where a truck or ATV went through and left a hole.

I checked out most marinas and canals today. One of my favorite spots (first ice) has 1/2 to 1 inch of ice. I'd say It will be good by Friday or the next weekend. I'd give out the spot but it's small and can only park or handle a handful of guys. Most of the other spots were skim ice to no ice.

[Backlash]

Good call Mike :yeahthat:

[Jacob Huffman]

My dad actually got out on ice at sunset bay marina.It was 1 1/2 inch thick and he cought exactly 1 perch...lol

[Houghton laker]

will be leaving friday afternoon for Houghton Lake....cannot take it anymore :lol: will be posting ice thickness and results!!....will be wearing the mustang suit! ;) :SHOCKED:

[perch-a-holic]

Northern Oakland county small lakes frozen with skim to 1" of ice. Threw a couple of rocks and they all went threw the ice. Maybe next weekend.

[Ed Michrina]

H.L. remember the Idea of that new Mustang suit is to keep it dry ;) This darn snow might slow some freeze on that new layer of thin ice :(

[kdogger]

Oakland County:

1.5 inches on an Oakland County private lake.

Not thick enough yet...give it a week to start thinking about it, two to be safer.
Drowning under ice is not worth catching a couple of fish. Be patient, the ice will come!

This week is forcast nice and cold, with lower teens for lows, 20's for highs, with a slight warmup over the weekend, to the lower 30's for highs. But then is sounds like another shot of cold air is headed this way for early the following week. Here's the latest forecaster discussion regarding this:

At the surface...broad troughiness/cyclonic flow easing Thursday as
high pressure then settles southeast into the Ohio Valley through
Friday...good model consensus here...then pretty fair consensus
toward moderating return flow overhead into the weekend...with
dgex/GFS depicting a trough settling southward into area by
Sunday...which trough should introduce yet another surge of colder
air.


We should have decent ice in most Oakland County lakes by saturday the 17th.

[Lake Simcoe ice]

End of the month.....:D

[Chuck1]

I have been checking the satelite photos daily of Simcoe. I finally got a little peak today,and you can definetly see ice in the south end of Cooks. Now if I could ever get a clear shot of Couchiching.:rolleyes:

[Houghton laker]

H.L. remember the Idea of that new Mustang suit is to keep it dry ;) This darn snow might slow some freeze on that new layer of thin ice :(


No worries here Ed...throw a speedy spud every step.....I never chance it too much :lol: ......will wait till sat...to check ice conditions while light out.....if Ice is good....then will run over to get a dozen minnows for the evening bite!!

[Salami]

lakes cadillac and mitchell should be safe by wed. some locals are fishing now.

[bucknduck]

I was breaking ice in the marsh along Saginaw Bay on Saturday for duck hunting. 1 1/2 to 2 inches thick on top of 2 ft of water. I had a hard time breaking the ice and was walking around without any problem. The bay itself has ice going out about 100 yards or more at the end of Linwood Rd. According to a couple of guys at Franks Outdoors, there were guys on the bay ice fishing. I think I'll give it more time before making my first venture onto the bay. With the night and day temps we they are calling for this week, its not going to be long.

[slim Jim]

Went by saginaw river this morining by wickes park. Close to be frozen all the way across, few open spots in channel. Should be about 2 weeks be able to get out. Don't know about any of the ponds or smaller lakes around saginaw.

[river_walleye]

Here's a picture of the Saginaw River from this morning about 10:30. Can't see much of it, but as SlimJim says, it's starting to freeze. Hopefully it will be fishable soon!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/fishinaddiction/120505.jpg

[double trouble]

can u say HOG alley. cass ,sylvan, orchard and pine lake in oakland county are mostly ice free.monday morning 12-5

[sfw1960]

Half Moon lk. M-37 near Casnovia , Mi.
I drive by it every day.
DEEP , clear - two story lake , had a skim half-way across today.
It's comin' boyZ!
:cool:

BE SAFE.
;)

[deputy865]

Lake Fenton is pretty much covered@!!!!!!!!!!! CANT WAIT

Check my thread out: L.Fenton Outing part 2 L@@K

Shane

[Can't Touch This]

Should be fishing by maybe this weekend. The first week of 20s will always freeze up the inland lakes nice and good with 3-4 inches. Pretty early start this year.

[TheApprentice]

Checked one of my favorite channels in Cass County this evening and in most spots there is around 2 1/2" and I am sure by morning there will be at least 3". I am headed out there at daylight to slay the gills. I could see the holes from someone that was out there already fishing. I know they were fishing because the person had a small yellow perch dead on the ice. The big lake is almost completely covered as well. Hopefully I take my limit early because it is going to be quite cold.

Ryan

[Ed Michrina]

Don't forget you ice spikes. or make some out of an old broom (wood) handle and two nails grind the head off after you pound them in and attach with a long thin cord. Good luck let us know. I'm jealous

[slowpoke]

will be leaving Friday afternoon for Houghton Lake....cannot take it anymore :lol: will be posting ice thickness and results!!....will be wearing the mustang suit! ;) :SHOCKED:

Would it be to much to give me a call and let me know how's the ice? I'll be at my cabin in Harrison. It's a local call now. 539-7845. I sure would thank you for that. I'm going up Fri myself and I'm thinking on taking a little ice fishing stuff with me just in case. I will be trying to get my deer this week-end and if I get it early I was thinking on trying Houghton Lake for a little while. Sure could used a reliable report. Thanks. Jim.

[slim Jim]

For ice and fishing updates on houghton lake, you can go to houghtonlakefishing.com

[Southend517]

did you cut some of the pic off?

http://xs58.xs.to/pics/05492/120505a.jpg

[unclecbass]

Ice on lake skeegemont(Sp), We just kall it lake sketchyswamp, has been iced over for a few days now. 12 degree temps make for quick ice, Elk lake is still wide open water. I will continue monitoring this week.

[Houghton laker]

Would it be to much to give me a call and let me know how's the ice? I'll be at my cabin in Harrison. It's a local call now. 539-7845. I sure would thank you for that. I'm going up Fri myself and I'm thinking on taking a little ice fishing stuff with me just in case. I will be trying to get my deer this week-end and if I get it early I was thinking on trying Houghton Lake for a little while. Sure could used a reliable report. Thanks. Jim.


will surely give you a shout slowpoke!!

[Mike2000]

Today i checked Metro beach i find guy fishing on ice i dont know, his name but i post photo in photo gallery, he told me ice is 2.5"-3"
just to let you now......
Good luck!!!!

[mike h]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/metro_beach12-6-05.JPG

[brianroy6]

Oh man that picture gives me butterflies in my stomachBut I'll hold off a little longer, no sense in risking your life, it is only the 1st week of DECEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!

[garyrodbender]

The guy holding the camera? Whats he think`n?? :SHOCKED:

[jeremy L]

it is only the 1st week of DECEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, but some of the best shallow water fishing of the year occurs now. you couldn't force me out onto ice above more then 4 feet of water until there is at least 5 inches of ice, but on sag. bay where the water is 3 feet or less 100s of yards out, i'll strap on my waders and make my way out, if i break through, no big deal.

[Connor4501]

The guy holding the camera? Whats he think`n?? :SHOCKED:

If he where I think he is, the guy with the camera is standing on the breakwall...

[fish eater]

If he where I think he is, the guy with the camera is standing on the breakwall...

Hey Connor, that kinda looks a shot on the narrow canal right in front of Dog Island doesn't it?:confused: If it is, this picture is impossible. I was just there at 2 PM today, and that whole area is open water. Your thoughts?

[double trouble]

i think its at the marsh on the backside of metro boat basin. had a friend who saw people out there this morning (wed.) i have fished it before and there are lots of gills and a few perch.

[gobluenola]

I know this is a Meeechigan forum, but just wanted to let y'all know that your bretheren to the south have some pretty decent ice formed on a few smaller ponds right on the state line. Locked up water....I can barely contain myself. :dizzy:

I'll be waiting till the weekend to make sure the stuff is safe, but the time is here.

Good luck y'all.

[Ed Michrina]

that cold dips down. Looks like you'll have an early ice season also. good luck and Welcome to the site!

[stinger63]

The black river in Port huron and canal are frozen and have been the last 2 days.How thick I dunno but I saw someone walking on it today. :yikes:

[just tryin to fish]

we have 2-2 1/2 inches here in grand haven on millhouse one guy out there tonight but i decided to go rabit hunting after having ice crack right under my feet. :yikes:

[The Whale]

Please do not even THINK about playing around on the ice on the Saginaw River yet !! That ice can be 3" thick in one spot and a 1/2" on your next step. You experienced guys know the deal with river ice, can't trust it hardly ever let alone now. 1" thick at the shore line at Wicks yesterday, no way even close yet. Another 10 days of these temps and we might be safe enough to give it a shot out there. Don't rush it, on the Bay, yeah, it's happening. Palmer Rd., Pine River has fishable ice, one foot of water too if you do bust through. ;) Throw backs mostly but had a reliable report of 15 keepers (7"+ with a belly) with about 30 throw backs. Early ice fun is starting !!! :D BE CAREFUL :cool:

[Arin]

Just heard from someone that they saw some guys on Bevins Lake in Holly(northwest oakland).. He's in the fire department, so maybe he'll get to help them back out.. :lol:

[gobluenola]

Anyone heard about the Irish Hills? Thinking about heading up their over the weekend to catch some dinner. Any advice is appreciated.

[cireofmi]

Sessions Lake in Ionia County might be fishable, took a few steps out and it held. The whole lake was froze over. Didn't see any signs of anyone else had been on the ice. Might check back Saturday or sometime next week for updated report.

[Can't Touch This]

KENT LAKE REPORT-----------------------------------

3-4 inches in the shallow(less than 6fow), solid too. But, get into the 8-10+ depths, you get the 1.5-2 inches of ice, or even less. Heard plenty of crackling and got quite nervous at times. The holes we drilled in the thinner ice holes started pushing out water, and the holes were actually deteorating the ice around them, and it was actually dangous to go and bring the tip-ups in because the ice was very thin there.