Some of the ponds near me that get regular traffic or heavy use (that bums me out thinking how it use to be before the internet brought half of Albany to them) are seeing much lighter use. A good 2' of snow cover on them  and more coming right now.  You might want to think about a pulk sled rig. They float well over snow, especially behind a snowshoe track.  A hip belt takes some of the strain off.  I used an old frame pack and hooked a few carabiners to the sled harness.  Nice fish, RJ. Looks like a great spot. Much props to you for putting in the effort.

I haven't posted in a while but I'll me hitting the hardwater Tuesday with all new gear thanks to my awesome father.

Will post local ice here. Everywhere around there is 1.5 to 2 foot of snow on the ice. Oneida has tons of slush fields where there are pressure cracks and where multiple holes are drilled. It does have 20 or so inches of ice though. If you have a sled and knowledge of where to go you can find fish,  neither of which I have. Sandy pond has as much snow, but the slush is a bit better. The perch bite up there continues to be like the salmon run of this year, every now  and then you  can find a few, but they are not there in any kind of numbers and honestly it was not worth my time and effort to drag out there for a few dinks and 2 or 3 keepers. The ice up there is 20  plus inches too, but it was formed on layers of snow so it is not the greatest. I think when it gets warmer it will get ugly fast. I plan on hitting Oneida one or 2 times after work when the clock changes. They should be in shallow and I think I know a decent place. Will also get after some step when the weather breaks too. According to long tem forcast that should be 3/1. Temps will be normal. 

Sucks, can you send it out to be sharpened. There is a guy that does them, last I knew $20lus shipping.
http://hotspotoutdoors.co...howflat/Number/1219226

Well yesterday may have been the last day out this year.  there was 10 inches of black under 6 inches of white, but I have a feeling it will go fast. It was my best outing and they is not saying much. Got 4 perch above 10 and 5 or 6  8 to 10. My issue was I could not keep the slime logs off my jigging pole. I lost 2 Swedish pimples and 3 jigs to the bastads  even got a nice large mouth. Funny thing was most perch and pike and bass  came out of the same hole. I would have ate them if in season. Finally figured out how to lose the y bones. You lose meat, but it's bone free. They are a bit softer than perch, but eat well. Will have a few pics later when I can get them off the phone.