Riding or Waking

[moodman]

Is there quads or snow machines going out at the State Park or Linwood Rd?? Want to go in the AM, But not sure if I should take the quad or not? Need a little input please!!:confused:

[frozenbeer]

People aren't even walking out at State Park. I think the ice is too broken up. Haven't seen a lot of machines yet, a few snowmobiles but not many quads. I'm heading out tomorrow too but plan to leave the quad behind. Once I see everybody and their brother riding, then I bring mine out.

[moodman]

Thanks Frozenbeer for responding back! I dont know if your like me, But I depend on the info I get off this forum. And maybe you got your info about the State Park & Linwood Rd off here, But I ended up not going Saturday morning from what I was reading here about the bay. So I decided to take a drive & just check it out leaving everything home. Well I get over there and there are trucks with trailers to haul there machines & they were out at the state park on the ice with machines. I drove over to Linwood Rd. and there were probably 2 dozen vehicles with empty trailers & on the ice fishing with there machines. Needless to say I was Bummed when I seen the people out fishing hauling there stuff with machines. There I vented & I feel better. So PLEASE when anyone responds back to someones questions know the facts. Thanks!! Time for a BEER, Maybe 2!!! Good Luck & Be safe on the ice!!!:confused:

[jig head]

moodman
no one has been saying much yet because the ice is still forming.
the trailers that yoy seen at state park might have left empty because they had to retrieve 3 machines that I know of straight out from state park that fell through on the 2 inches of ice that was out there.

[theangler]

I was down to linwood road tonight and there were probably 6 trucks at the end of the road and they were out probably a mile, down at boutell they were out probably a mile, six trucks there. Parish road looked a little shakey, about a mile out the ice looks gray, this ws the only road i seen it like that:confused:

[jig head]

angler
could you see ice out as far as you could see.
just curios if all the open areas froze yet?

[theangler]

Ice was out as far as you could see, the only thing was that at Parish, there was gray ice out about a mile, it wasn't open water but it didn't look safe, this was the only place I seen ice that looked like that. On another forum, a guy posted that they went out from Boutel and said they were out .87 miles and about 150 yards past them the ice looked very thin. Hope this helps.

[kingfisher 11]

I was out of Boutel tonight (on Quads). The other guy who posted might have been with us? We were out over 3/4 mile between Parrish and Boutel. We were very careful to check everything after the first small crack. I would bet we were about 200 yards from the gray ice. We were in 8 fow water. It will be a while before you can trust the ice out there. We never saw a fish, not worth doing again until we can get out deeper. I will either fish the river or head to the east side.

The ice did average 6" right out to 8 FOW. Not many people out. Many did walk out as far as they could.

[Ralph Smith]

Went off turn around this evening with son just for about an hour. About half dozen vehicles there, but no one straight out. Saw lots of shanty's to left looking to be off kilarney beach, in closer to shore. We walked straight out with spud. Lots of broken and refroze ice. Walked across until we got to ice that was open water a few days ago. You can see it up and down the shoreline, but if snow get on it, you wouldn't know. I hit my spud twice, and right through. About 2" of ice. We drilled holes and gave it a try. Only in 3' of water about 1/8 mile out. This should be good by weekend if weather stays cold. Area looked to be about 30 yards wide, but couldn't tell with snow drifting from other side. Did drive car down to ice through reeds, if you do, stay to left side of trail, someone sunk in to right by the looks of it with a truck or 2.

[frozenbeer]

For the record I still haven't taken my quad out at either State Park or Linwood Rd. or have talked to many others that have. If you can't walk out 3/4 of a mile and be safe, then maybe you should stick to golf. Now I know people started fishing the curve at State Park for the first time this weekend, but the only reason I know that is because I CHECK IT NEARLY EVERY DAY. So hey Moodman, if you want to go take a swim, be my guest. I live right close to the River/Bay and talk to a lot of people. State Park is a great spot to unload your sled and run it up and down the shoreline (like a lot of people were before they even thought of fishing there). There....now I have that of MY chest.

[adam bomb]

guys,
the ice is really iffy. those who choose to drive out right now are really taking a risk. ive been walking out close to a mile and the ice really varies on the west side. ive seen it anywhere from 2"-10". i went off of boutel last night and spudded my way out. the thickest ice i found was around 6" near shore and the rest of the way was 3-4" thick. yeah, there were machines out past me, but i think they really took a risk. the ice on the west side is made up of old ice and new ice. its been broke up, blown out and refroze together so many times that theres no certainty to what your actually on at any given time.

theres a report, and that is the facts. just because there are trailers with machines doesnt automatically make it a go. remember, there are allot of people that throw common sense to the wind just to catch a fish. think about it, be safe.

[kingfisher 11]

I had 6" out past you last night. We had a guy in front of our quads walking with a spud checking as we went out. We stopped at 4" and setup.

So I guess I am one of the guys you are calling crazy.

[adam bomb]

thats exactly what im saying though, the ice varies. i wasnt a 1/4 mile north of you and the same to the west and i had 4" or less pretty much the entire walk out. i checked the ice about every 20' all the way out. sure theyre were thicker areas, but they were few and far between. bottom line, there is thick and thin ice all mixed in. the chances of hitting a thin spot and falling through are good right now. im not trying to tell anyone what to do, its definitely your deciscion, but the possiblility of putting a machine through right now is very real and more likely than a normal year on the bay. people need to understand you just cant go zippin around out there whereever you want right now. its just asking for trouble...its not worth risking my life or loosing my machine just to catch a walleye...and believe me, i love to fish for them. for now, if i want a walleye ill open the freezer door and get some out, im not riding out just yet.

now, having said that, itll probably be good by the weekend. its definitely been cold thus far this week, and is supposed to continue on to weeks end last i checked. i will continue to check the ice with each trip and when it hits 6" or more all over ill get my machine out.

theres the info, do with it what you want...thats the conditions, no BS, i have nothing to gain or loose from posting anything but the truth.

[The Whale]

It has been said by most who post about ice thickness. Just because they had such and such thickness of ice, does not mean a damn thing about the thickness of ice YOU are going to be on !!! Unless of course you are in the same tracks as someone else. Just use common sense, don't take chances. Check the ice yourself, check the ice yourself, did I mention to CHECK the ice YOURSELF !!! :D ;) :cool: :fish: