Now I know most folks here fish saltwater but I'm sure there's a few wackos like myself that go out and stand in the cold and are looking for it to get real cold . But what have you seen or stood on?
I saw kids ice skating on quarries on Saturday.

yes, plugs pond in haverhill has safe ice, most of the coves in Winni are frozen with 6-8" on ice, some areas allready are sporting bob houses...

Out in Western Mass we have from 5 to 8" depending where you are at. Plenty safe though.

Plenty of skating on the bogs in Pembroke, but I haven't seen the fisherman on Oldham/Furnace ponds yet, if not already I'll bet by the weekend they'll be safe.

I was on 3.5" of black ice in Northwestern CT on Sunday.

Ton of guys out on the ice at Wilson's Pond in Burrillville.

paul there was open water at watermans yesterday.i bet by the weekend will have pleanty.

I've been checking the ponds in Falmouth the past three days in a row. Today there was 2-inches. It's been freezing about 1/2-inch per day the past three days. I'm going out Sunday. Can't wait!!!

Stay on the south side of a pond for thicker ice (it gets less sun)

to moderators: What am I doing wrong? I log on & make my post but it does not get posted. You tell me I'm not authorized.

Please be careful with early ice [or any ice]. A few years ago I went through on a 10 degree day. The ice ranged from 7" to 1". I think I broke through because I was wearing an old type military crampon with widely spaced 1 1/2" spikes. If I had been flat footed I think the ice would have held. Distributed weight more evenly. Luckily because of the cold, I had put on an extra pair of tightly woven nylon pants.They saved my ass! They acted like a bobber by trapping the air and actually PUSHED me back up enough so I could get out and roll away from the hole. When I got back to the car [50yds away] my coats zipper and boot laces were frozen solid. I hate to think what would have happened if I had been wearing just my wools. I love the solitude when I'm alone on the ice, but be careful. Don't be careless [stuuuupid].You can't fish when your dead, at least that's what I hear. I always carry a throw rope to help others-never thought I'd be the one in the hole. Good safe fishing. See you on the ice.

to moderators: What am I doing wrong? I log on & make my post but it does not get posted. You tell me I'm not authorized.

I have no clue what that is all about :huh:

Icefishing in NH for the weekend......will be my first time out this year, but will be out every weekend from here till ice out, locally. Then I can get back in the shop and turn wood for spring.

wait untill tomorrow,,, low temps in the single didgets,,,wind chills below zero

Here's a few things I learned about ice fishing (not all first-hand).
1.) Regardless of where you fish, and how many times you've fished that place in the past, always check the ice thickness as you head out. I check at 5 foot intervals.
2.) Ice that makes noise can be alarming, but if the air is below freezing, it usually means that ice is being made, and the noise is created by expansion (freezing). I saw people RUN off 10-12 inches of ice after hearing it pop and crack. My favorite noise is that echoing "pong, pong, pong...." sound caused by cracking ice on the other side of the pond.
3.) Fish the western shore as the season progresses, because the sun is still lower in the sky, and the western shores won't warm up on sunny days like the eastern shores can. I fished one of my favorite spots last year on a pond that was half open. The east shore was open, but the west still had 6 inches out to about 75-100 feet from shore.
4.) Bring more than you think you'll need. Extra food, beverage, bait, tackle and especially clothes.
5.) If at all possible (based on their desire to go) bring a kid ice fishing.
I took my nephew 2 years ago, and now he's itching to get back out there again.
6.) Most important. Tell someone where you'll be going, and know when it's time to quit. Don't push your luck

:huh: I was watching them fishing yesterday on Worden,s Pond

I have no clue what that is all about :huh:

Thanks anyway. I'm still a cave man when it comes to computors & the internet. Very frustrating. I'll get it someday so please bare [or is it beer or bear] with me.

4 to 6" in northeastern Ct
Getting out Sunday for some Pike!

10 bass, 2 pickerel today.

8# largemouth this am

I saw Roy L on TV this AM catching lake trout I think on Fishing New England OTW show on FSN. Looked like Maine I think.

warmer today, maybe the ice is thinning a bit near here.

4.5 inches on long pond lakeville... caught bass, yellow perch, pickerel and a lone catfish! great weekend fishing

Smeltin !!!!! Its brackish water in a river so we wait a bit longer.

:soon: :soon: :soon:

Supposedly Mikey lit em up today.
Somebody grabbed a 7# bass on one of his tip-ups, and he got a 25" pickeral to boot.
Sounded a little under the goldshlager when he left the message at 4 pm.
OOPs,
Too bad I had to work.
Argh.
Rick

Horn Pd. Woburn - 3 1/2" at main parking lot. Open water south of island.

lots of ponds have safe ice on the south shore. it's going to be getting real cold this week. were probley going to end up having a colder late winter than we have had for awhile.