good forecast!

In your expert opinion, how long does it take ice to form on smaller bodys of water under these conditions ?

I have never really paid attention to how long it takes to form ???

Thank you !

And if i fall in , it's your fault  LOL

I'm no expert on such things, but I did live in Alaska for awhile AND, I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
 
But I think SOF is right on target since a lot of it has to do with wind (or lack of) also.  Last winter my lake tried to freeze many, many times but failed to freeze all the way across (lock up) because of the wind.  For several weeks when I would leave my driveway on the way to work the lake would be skimmed over with just a little open water in the middle...
 
But if the wind blew, nearly the entire lake would be open water again when I got home.  I think the key is for a COMPLETE layer to form on CALM and cold nights to prevent waves from breaking/melting the formed ice.  After several weeks here on the mountain, we finally had two really calm days and the lake froze and just got thicker all winter long.  You guys probably recall the vans and jeeps driving all over it last year. 
 
Man, I sure hope the same thing happens this season!
 
I hope I don't sound like "Debbie Downer", I am surely as fired-up for solid ice as the rest!!!!
 
But I kept falling for the excitement here on my lake the last few winter seasons and it can be crushing to just sit and WAIT!!!  But alas, we've got the Adirondacks and I know it was in the TEENS in Glens Falls last night so that means some of those tasty little pike ponds are dealing with air temps in the single digits at night!!!!
 
Bring it on!!! 
 
 

People were out on the little lakes in Partridge Run last year very early........it is in Southern Albany County but way up in elevation........... not great fishin but there are panfish, pickerel etc and ......  it is still fun hangin in the shanty!

ORIGINAL: bassinbrian

SOF - I was going to take a drive by them this weekend

 
 
who knows.........with the forecast maybe we can fish em Sunday......

I wanna' ice fish on Christmas!!!
 
Luckilly, the small waters out in Cortland/Cayuga Counties have skim ice already so it sounds like I can scoot out there to spend the holiday on the hardwater with a buddy of mine who is also "family-less" this time of year.
 
Its actually a lot of fun to be out on major holidays when everyone else is at home arguing with in-laws.
 
I was going to go out and spend Thanksgiving on Corss/Seneca/Keuka but decided against it at the last minute. 
 
But I think Xmas might be a real possibility!

ORIGINAL: Ship of Fools


Who is in for an early season adventure?  ...  and where?

right here...I got a 1/2 dozen spots within 1.25 hours that get early safe ice AND great fishing.

Saw a report on the small local ponds, nothing really good yet !
Saved me a scouting trip anyway ... for now.
 
 

I also decided to work at home today and so far it's been all work Dropped the wife off at work or I'd for sure be up for a north trip today. For now it's back to plowing snow & doin laundry.

I am predicting a post from "Ice Fishing Steve" sometime in the next 24hrs...
 
Now that the snow is here, I would imagine he's thinking about nothing but Lakers and Walleye until April!!!
 
Where you at, Steve?  Won't be long until the bright orange hat is once again spotted on local waters!!!!
 
 

The 10 day for the far north (Saranac) looks awesome (teens & single #'s ) . There are some pike ponds I know that should be hard by next weekend up there.. I would like to see some Warren, Hamilton co. or even Essex tighten up but not sure it will , so how far north should we go fellas ?? Won't be hunting, won't be standing in water and I'm up for a road trip..

Big Bass in there too, Tuna!!!  Oh wait, you already know that dont' you?
 

 
Disregard any comments regarding those lakes on the Warren/Hamilton border...  There are no lakes there and if there was, they would never freeze.  And if they did freeze, the fishing sucks in both of them. 
 
But Myosotis?  Now we're talking!!! 

I cant wait to get out on the water with you guys! This season is gonna be awesome.

Dag Nabbit!!! (Did I really just say that?)
 
I was hoping to be in on the 2nd Annual "first ice celebration" up around Chestertown with some of you but I am tied up next weekend.  UGH!  My college buddy's band is throwing their annual XMas bash show in Auburn and I never miss it.  But the plus side is, the past two years they have gotten ice way sooner then we have here. 
 
I should at least be walking on hardwater next Saturday afternoon (19th) once I regain conciousness after the bash.  But I think last season we all went up north during that gap between Christmas and New Years, right?
 
I am hoping to convince at least a few of you to head up to the old stomping grounds with me the day after XMas for some pike action!!!  (and Walleye and Smallies and Largies and Crappies and Perch and Bluegill)
 
I know ya'll got families and stuff, but won't you be ready by Saturday morning!?!  P-L-E-A-S-E?!?
 
Where you at Dougie???  It's my turn to drive you up there this year!!!

   who was on partdridge run the day before thanksgiving day last year ...ya man..not so this year I don't think anything around our neck of the woods will be safe before x-mas this yr.,did someone say ROAD TRIP..I have the next two weekends OFF...if any of you fellow hardwater fishermen are going on one,my bud,yamonfishinmon would LOVE to tag along..  ...Jimmy,Tuna,Red anyone ????

I am down for ice fishing at least one day next weekend...If I get another deer this weekend, I will ice fish both days.

I just got a call that my buddy Tom is heading up to the Tupper Lake region THIS weekend, supposedly there are some bodies of water up there that have good ice on them...I will try to find out for sure...but no matter what, we WILL have good ice next weekend.

HOLY CRAP IM PUMPED!!!!!!!