our ponds are iced over here in central CT.  It wont be long now...

Many of our ponds are open yet, and the weather, though cold, does not look like it will be enough to put 4 in of good ice on anytime soon. Think I'm gonna fish a warmwater discharge area soon for some smallies.

Welcome back Mike! Nathan Krusko says 5" in Adirondaks in New York .I hope within a few weeks I'llbe drilling  ice !

You're a smart man Jim!

we are iced over just waiting for enough ice for me to trust

You'll be there soon enough Dick!

Two guys were on the ice today at the Monksville Reservoir .I think they are crazy and will wait a while .

Good man John better safe than sorry, thicker is better.

Man, I gotta' have at least 4 inches of ice. I have a buddy that will go on less, but I don't.

I just heard guys are fishing Barry Lakes in Vernon .I may be on the ice sooner than I thought.Getting my 2013 license tomorrow. I might go this weekend .Not sure yet.

Got out on the ice for the 1st time 2013 from 2-4pm .There were 6 guys 4 of which were fishing where I usually catch .Set up at a secondary spot and didn't do well .I only cut 5 holes and deadsticked and jigged using 4 rods .The Genz worm /Marmooska tandem rig got some bait stealing attention and one dink Yellow Perch ,and another deadstick rod caught a small Female Gill.Put a Perch eye on a Swedish Pimple got one bang but the fish were not aggressive .The sideways Jiggle triggered some hits and the nod and lift did also.Cold wind from the NE, blowing powdered snow into the holes combined with light bites was not a good combination .Several times I saw hits but the jigs/baits were dropped .

Glad to hear you got out John. I hope the ice sticks around and gives you another shot at those perch!

me too Tony. Ice was maybe 4 inchesthick

Glad you made it out John maybe the 2nd time will be a charm.

I 'might' pull off a hardwater jaunt tomorrow...gotta check ice thickness at a local pond.

hope so Dick

good luck Jim hope you get safe ice

I heard some lakes had safe ice in sheltered coves...well be safe. Shucks, there's always a fast food place nearby!

Good report Jim .Nice job on the Bass!

Very nice bass John.  Congrats. 

That's Jim's Bass Mike!

Nice Bass. After this week's warm temps it will be another lost ice fishing season for me. I'm glad somebody found some hard water.

Two trips out on the ice ,produced several Perch and a few Gills.Light bites makes two lb test leaders a must.Several drpped baits .Heres what I've been catching on .Tipped with Gulp maggotts or mealworm.

I 've seen  Acorns early this year in the yard .You guys think we might have a good amount of ice to fish this year ?A little early to think about but ...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-3du6wQ6cg&feature=player_embe...

Hey John. I've seen early acorns, too. I'm hoping for some early ice, but I don't want to jinx it. I'm hoping.

Hey Bruce -I see Portage PA is a little South  from Ringwood NJ and quite a bit to the west ,250 miles or so. Hope we both have a lot of ice opportunities this year! I am keeping my eye out for Wholly worms like in the video I posted and will check out their bands to see if they indicate winter weather somewhat.

Well, John, if the early cold temps we're having is any indication, I'd say it's going to be at least an early winter. Yes, 250 miles is a bit long for a day trip, HA!

I know what you mean !  I having been switching from shorts to long pants lately .We have three Tons  of  wood pellets for heat and we are set .Hope to be ice fishing before or around Christmas .

Got find me a mid lake hump at a smallie lake and fish the deep side! Jigging raps and Perch pattern Lindy Darters!

John catching a smallmouth bass through the ice is a great deal. But in doing so you'll find the fight isn't the same as a warm weather fight but it's all good and get your blood pumping and is still nothing like it. Don't know if you're Lake has rocks or boulders on it, that would be a great starting point of course in deeper water 10 to 30 feet. Wish you all the luck in the world. Good Fishin........

I have Greenwood Lake in mind ,a border lake to NJ and NY. The New York end has all that a Smallie needs ;depth, boulders ,perch to eat .Thanks for the ideas Dick! Most of my open water Smallies ,through the years, came from the north end of that lake . I know there's a mid lake hump somewhere in the North end of the lake where I've caught Perch before but it might be along walk on the ice to get to a smallie spot .

Good for you. It's been unseasonably cold here in Central, PA. If this keeps up we made be fishing hard ice before Christmas this year.

Hey Bruce wouldn't that be great to be able to break out the Ice gear after 3 years what a thought. All conditions are finally leading towards ice for a change.

I am hoping that comes to pass Bruce !

Some obvious observations and lesser known tips from my blog,'Seasonal Lure  choices for Northeast New Jersey Fishing': December -Open Water ,hair or feather Jigs, Spoons, Crank baits Crappie, Perch, Bass   Ice fishing; baited  small spoons and ice jigs Yellow and White Perch , Bluegills ,Crappie, Bass, Tipups with shiners -Bass Pickerel January- February, Ice ...tiny ice jigs with mealworms ,spikes ,wax worms, small thin gauged spoons  :Bluegills ,Trout ,small jigs tipped with mealworms or wax worms,  Shiners or Fathead Minnows  on Tip ups :Bass, Pickerel  and Perch ,Trout,Salted dead shiner head or tails on Flyer jigs ,or spoons tipped with fresh Perch eyes : Yellow & White Perch, Bluegill  and Crappie Rapala ice jigs ,Perchhttp://bigbluegill.com/profiles/blogs/seasonal-lure-choices-for-nor...

Got me three 1/4 oz. Lindy slick jigs to try out his year .Maybe I'll tip them with fathead minnows or Shiners. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB2jz3kyfrA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqneNnER3v4

Ain't happening here yet, but I've got my eye on a lake that is in a valley and well shaded...usually the first in my area to freeze.

Only got out one day last year. Hope for more!

Hope so for you, Jim!

Well, John...we will have temps in the 50's and 60's for the next 5-6 days. There goes any hope of ice fishing around here for early winter. I'm rigging up slip floats and bustin the banks somewhere next week.

Go for it .I probably will try to forget about actual fishing for awhile .I am fidgeting with my ice gear ,changing lines etc, in the meantime .

I'm so hoping for ice fishing right before or just after Christmas. Except for a short warm spell this weekend, we might make it.

I hope so here too Bruce!

Guys are on the ice at the monksville Reservoir .

Took a ride over to the Monskville and about three guys were fishing . Another guy was testing the ice with a spud and it was white ice about 2 inches thick in most areas tested .I'll wait ,thanks very much!  Went over to Shepherds; no one on the ice ;drove passed Cupsaw ;no one on ice there either. 

Thanks for waiting John. Best to be safe than sorry.

Absolutely Dick! Thanks !

Some of our ponds are opening up...calling for 70 on Sunday. I have an invite for Marburg panfish on Friday...might go. Open water from the shore.

Go get 'em Jim!

This warm weather will open everything up here in Central, PA.

It's a tease for sure