Scare averted.

[gunrod]

I'm off work on Weds and Thurs this week. I was watching the weather and they were calling for a possibility of rain on these days and warmer temps. Now they have changed it to only one day over 30 degrees with no rain. I'm sure it will change again but hopefully no rain. I think the lakes can handle a few days in the 30's with no problem.

Scarey stuff, I'm not done ice fishing yet.:D

[krt]

I think that "making ice" is like a pedulum. Once the lake temperature swings low enough to make ice, it keeps swinging for a while even if the temps start going back up.

I think now it can take quite a few days of 30's.

[jpollman]

The last weather report I saw for the Detroit area said around 34 degrees on Monday and Tuesday. With the cold we've had for the last TWO WEEKS, I'm sure that a few days in the mid 30's won't hurt the ice at all. It should still get below freezing at night to tighten things up if it gets a little sloppy during the day.

Ice season is FAR from over I'm sure. :)

[gunrod]

My fear was the rain. I think the warmer temps will actually turn the fish back on. I'm glad the rain is out of the forecast.

[glowingbarrel]

just pack, a pair of creepers.....the will be around for a while.

[jeremy L]

looking more and more like the cold air stays around and temps only get as high as around freezing. It would be nice to fish in weather warmer then 20 degrees for a few days.

[ESOX]

A couple days of warmer temps will certainly help the fishing. Most likely even move the fish a little shallower.

[bgoodenow]

I'm all for a bit warmer temps AND the fish turning back on!

[koby]

youve got to be kidding

have you been out lately

yesterday i was a almost a mile out of Selfridge....the ice is 13"

it would take a month of days in the 40s to knock it down

[Lundy43123]

OK Guys,

You've got to help me out here a little.

A couple of you in this post said that a few days of warmer weather will make the fish bite better and one even suggested they move shallower.

I can certainly understand that a few days of stable barometric pressure should and would help the fishing, but how does the air temp come into play.

The water under the ice cover will not change temp at all from increased air temps.

Please explain the thought process to me.

Thanks,
Kim

[Tattoo Mike]

Koby I'm sure he knew that. As he said 2 times he was concerned about the rain not the warm weather. Rain kills the ice quick. I'm glad were safe again.

[gunrod]

Thanks Mike, I'm all for a nice 40 degree day on the ice but was afraid of the rain.

Lundy, warmer temps can melt a small amount of ice warming the water nearer to the surface raising the fish off the bottom. Obviously ice is at least 32 degrees, but if the temps are warm enough for a small melt it could make the water temps slightly warmer causing the fish to become more active. Somehow air temp does affect the water (I don't know how) but my Fishing Buddy tells water temps. I've started fishing on some days with temps at 37 that fell to 32 evening came.

At least that's my opinion on the matter, or at least my best guess. Most people will tell you that the fish are more active on warmer days.

[Joe_G]

Gunrod,,,,,for a best guess, I'd say you nailed it perfect......

[jpollman]

Lundy,
I'm no physics expert but. I'm SURE that the water under the ice does fluctuate in temperature. And I'm sure that air temp has at least SOME affect on it.

Maybe I'll have to do some research and see if I can come up with some info.

[MSUICEMAN]

i don't know if a qualify as an expert or not, but i am a mechanical engineering grad student in the heat transfer/thermfluids and harmonics areas (haven't quite pinned down what i'm really interested in), but yes, air temp does affect the water temp. Now, that being said, the ice and the water do not form a perfect boundary. I would believe sunlight has much more effect on the water temp, as a lot of energy gets transferred through the ice, which in turn radiates through the water warming it up (water in black bucket on a sunny day). Also, dirty water will warm up because of the light waves hitting the particulates in it. Ice will conduct energy from the air, but rather slowly, and since it should still be ice... it should remain at around say 33 degrees (imperfect water). so the gradient should end at 33 degrees. now if you combine the warm air and sunshine, then you got something going.....

steve

[Tattoo Mike]

Steve your close but how about getting your professors opinion!!! LOL ;)

[Lundy43123]

Couple of more questions,

On warm days does the ice melt from the top of the ice or the bottom?

The sun's energy shining through the ice has a potential warming effect, how does ambient temp effect this through the ice transfer of energy? The suns rays are just as intense at 10 deg as they are at 40 deg.

I've done a lot of checking of water temps in all stages of ice covering at various depths, except very shallow 2-5 ft and have found zero change in water temps minus the introdution of a warm water runoff like a creek. The water in 15 ft and deeper near bottom remains within one degree all year during ice over until either the ice cover is gone and wind mixing can occur or a warm water influx like a creek or river.

I know a steady barometer has a significant impact, but I still just don't get the temp thing, I just haven't seen it.

Always looking for new knowledge, help this dumb hick from Ohio to understand



Kim

[jkola404]

I think the warmer temp will bring out more people to fish, thus catching more fish. So it is just going to seem like the fish are biting again.

[MSUICEMAN]

the suns radiant energy can be the same on 10 degree days as 40 degree days (not necessarily though, as th suns rays are the main form of heating for the earth, but there are other variables such as cloud cover, etc.) But on a ten degree day, you have a negative gradient from the air to the ice (ie the air is cooling the ice), so the effect of the sun's rays is diminished.

On warm days, the ice would melt from both sides, That being said, the ice on the water side would barely melt noticeably at all, because of the very close temperatures between the ice and the water (heat transfer highly depends on (T*-T**). The radiant energy doesn't, thats why it is the main component when the temperatures are all in the same ballpark. The one thing that would develop is a "mooshy" zone (yes, that is what the call it technically, also a transition zone) that has some ice and some water underneath the solid ice.

I'll do the calculations and get back to ya....

Steve