20141124- GOOD MORNING FROM MID MICHIGAN..SNOW AND ICE ...GONE! CREEK IS WAY UP

Comment

Comment by Mike Martin on November 24, 2014 at 9:25am

Yep, that's what it looked like. You could see the weeds and bottom. I didn't stay out long. I don't know who was more spooked, the fish, or me:). Couldn't get a bite. 

Comment by Slip Sinker on November 24, 2014 at 9:01am

it looked like this 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB8qup2FoK4

Comment by Tony Livingston on November 24, 2014 at 8:56am

One thing for sure, if you're gonna' fish that black ice you better have a good set of cleats for your boots....soooo slick!

Comment by Slip Sinker on November 24, 2014 at 8:52am

i remember my dad giving me a call from his house on the lake and said "you really have to come down to the lake and see this" after a quick cold snap over a couple days and still weather produced 4 inches of crystal clear ice. you could walk out to the weed bed and actually see fish swimming and the weeds up to the surface. once in a lifetime ice conditions.

Comment by Tony Livingston on November 24, 2014 at 8:52am

I despise fishing plate glass ice.....in addition to the whole unnerving creepiness factor, the fish can see you up there! From what I've read, the ice was marginal at best. Guys were out on 3" in some areas, even less in spots. Not me.....my nerves just aren't that good anymore. What good is getting out there if I'm afraid to move around once I'm there?

I'll wait.

Comment by Mike Martin on November 24, 2014 at 8:48am

Wow!!!!!!! I never was on in November. About 15 years ago we had a cold snap just before Christmas. No snow, the lake by the house froze and I went out the day after Christmas. We had 4" of ice, but it was dead clear, just like standing on a window. You could see several feet down, it was un-nerving to say the least! Never saw it like that before or since. 

Comment by Slip Sinker on November 24, 2014 at 8:45am

thanks Mike!

Tony, Mike i took an early walk yesterday to the bridge over the Tobacco River yesterday (the tail end of Wixom Lake and i saw what appeared to be safe ice even in the main channel. i could of easily ice fished yesterday but it was loaded with water on top due to the sudden thaw. even with cleats i dont want to subject myself to a slip in fall situation. so ideally for me i like a thin snow pack on dry ice.

i really like to see ice-on develop later in the season and have an early ice-out. i know that potentially means less available time on the ice fishing but i believe it produces stronger year classes in fishes. 

Comment by Tony Livingston on November 24, 2014 at 8:35am

Northern Indiana guys ice fished this past Thursday and Friday. Earliest anyone can recall.

Comment by Mike Martin on November 24, 2014 at 8:31am

Nice picture Ken. The earliest I can remember having safe ice when I lived in Indiana, about 5 miles south of the Michigan state line, was between Christmas and New Years, but normally it was after the 1st of the year.