We have had epic cold for almost 3 weeks and there is great ice....but is anyone ice fishing with all this snow?? Is there alot of snow on the ice keeping folks from bothering?

i seen a crowd down at lake chauncy

Too much work getting out onto the ice then having to shovel a clearing plus how many holes. Not for me thanks. :(
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I've fished local every weekend, last Sunday was great, pickerels, perch, crappie and 4 bass, all quality fish up to 4+lbs. . Like Bigbo said its a killer of a walk. Snow shoes are a must now.
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I wait till the pike places have been hit and trails are made this type of winter this time of year. Strong man competition pulling your sled through 2-3 feet of virgin snow my legs cant take.

Too much snow! Hoping for a cold 2nd half Feb without much snow. ;-)

I was supposed to be at the Cape yesterday. Ice too unreliable and my shoulder is just staring to heal up. Between on call next weekend and the TFCTFN the next week, I think no ice fishing for me this year
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parkings a huge problem wtf

I will be back in the game w some new snowshoes coming today
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Went to NH for an annual outing with friends that we have done every year for the last 15 yrs the weekend of Feb 6th (2 days of fishing). Pine River Pond. Conditions were brutal. Felt like I ran a marathon each day we were up there. We had a snowmobile to get us out and back and it was still brutal. 4 inches of slush under 2 ft of snow.....with 18 inches of solid ice under that. Auger pretty much bottomed out drilling holes. We all decided that if it's like this next year, we will postpone or reschedule as long as the house rental will adjust. I like to ice fish but that was just nuts. That experience alone makes me not even want to attempt to fish locally.....I could care less if I ice fished again this year. Well, maybe I would like to get out locally for one last trip, but I will pick my battles!!
Snow shoes did keep me above the slop of the slush. Made it more tolerable for sure.
I'm winded just thinking about it writing this post....:err:

Went to NH for an annual outing with friends that we have done every year for the last 15 yrs the weekend of Feb 6th (2 days of fishing). Pine River Pond. Conditions were brutal. Felt like I ran a marathon each day we were up there. We had a snowmobile to get us out and back and it was still brutal. 4 inches of slush under 2 ft of snow.....with 18 inches of solid ice under that. Auger pretty much bottomed out drilling holes. We all decided that if it's like this next year, we will postpone or reschedule as long as the house rental will adjust. I like to ice fish but that was just nuts. That experience alone makes me not even want to attempt to fish locally.....I could care less if I ice fished again this year. Well, maybe I would like to get out locally for one last trip, but I will pick my battles!!
Snow shoes did keep me above the slop of the slush. Made it more tolerable for sure.
I'm winded just thinking about it writing this post....:err:

Geeees , I got winded reading it! :uhuh: LOL

I'm done. Just too much work to get out there. Last time i was out i was mother f@#$^&* every flag that went up. THe cold and wind aren't helping matters either.

It's been difficult.. I think my 4 wheeler wont thaw out until spring.. I'm back on snow shoes now.. just too much slush... I fish central New Hampshire and snow shoes and pack basket are pretty much a given at some point each season... I'm hoping this up coming cold front stiffens things up...if not.. it is what it is.. still beats sitting around the house watching the birds feed...

I'm trying Saturday weather permitting...

I am thinking the same> Trashbags tied around the Sorells

I'm trying Saturday weather permitting...

Same here....
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Out fishing like crazy, the Big Lakes are frozen in Maine and we are out jigging Lakers. These past couple years reinforce the need for a snowmobile to make things easier. Only got blown off the lake once on President's Day when it was 15 and gusting to 50mph, we lasted an hour and then it was time to leave because my buddies hub collapsed in on him despite being anchored tight.
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I've been giving it a try. I'm pretty new to the ice-thing- still learning what-where-when.

the ice in coastal CT is 15inches thick (plus snow)- using a hand auger gets old very quickly. so I usualy end up moving around a lot less just for the fact alone. been catching yellow perch and sunnies- sure would like to find a "game fish" (this seems like a lot of effort just to catch some tiny fish.......

Went out this past Saturday....easily 2 feet of ice out there....fishing was OK we managed maybe a dozen fish....one of the Scout got a nice Small Mouth through the ice...that was a nice surprise.

best part of the season is from now until ice out... time to strap on the "big boy" pants and get it while it's "hot"...

Fished local Sunday morning. Between 3 of us, 4 good sized bass, a few picks an perch. Ice/snowpack slush stuff was 2ft. Easy to move around, no more knee high snow.
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went out locally Saturday, good 2 feet out there. managed a couple of Bass, Pickerel, Perch, Crappie and even a couple of sunfish ........Beautiful day too....

Went out last Saturday for my 1st ever Ice fishing trip besides the company and the nice weather I AM ALL SET WITH ICE FISHING.. between the boat gear and shore gear I don't need ice fishing Gear also

But enjoy the Ice there's a lot on the ponds and be safe

Plenty of good ice now... snow has diminished in the north county leaving good travel on most lakes ..even by ATV... Saturday was the best day of the season... 5 species day including White and yellow perch... Small mouthed bass rainbow trout and large pickerel.. and I had the pleasure of sharing my catch with the resident bald eagle.. or should I say. He stole It!... it should only get better....

I need a freakin auger! Chipping through 10 to 12" on the ponds around here sucks!!! had a perch fest over the weekend but couldn't get to any bass.

Any recommendations for a decent hand auger?

Also I have a question. Where do you want to set your shiners in a generic pond. deep spots? Level shallow beds? or at the sharp transition points?

Get yourself a Nils auger....I've been using mine the past two weekends on 2' of ice.....taking me about 30 seconds a hole.....they are pretty amazing.
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Johnny I target bass, use the biggest shiners I can find and try to keep my bait approx 3 ft from bottom. When checking my baits if any shiner has brown pond scum on them, my guess is there's a weed patch, and I'll bring the bait up another foot.
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Nil's is by far the most user friendly hand auger...if I were to buy new power.. I'd buy an Ion.. I own 3 gas augers..so that wont be happening...

set on pinch points... drop offs and weed bed edges... always put one in tight/shallow... also place one just under the ice.. you'd be amazed how many fish you get just under the ice.. especially late in the season..

Hey Johnny give that pond behind my cottage a shot. I have seen some big bass in there in the summer. I'll bet no one is fishing there either. BTW I told Roy L too last weekend at the show so you better get there before him. P.

I need a freakin auger! Chipping through 10 to 12" on the ponds around here sucks!!! had a perch fest over the weekend but couldn't get to any bass.

Any recommendations for a decent hand auger?
Nils...........just got an Ion, so if you wanna try my Nils before buying let me know....Loving the Ion so far

Thanks everyone. I'll use all the advice I can get. Rockfish9 I always put the shiners close to the bottom... I'll try the just under the ice for one, good tip.
Paul, Roy already cleaned up the pond right by my house, that's the one he made the shark sculpture on. Everyday that week going to work I saw the FL plates and sent him some hate texts ha. But will do, if I can park anywhere that is.
Tony... F you... jk :rotf2: thanks for the call too, good luck today. I'm definitely going to check out the Nils, don't know how much ice time we're going to have left this season, but its march 8th and there's still a foot down here! Decisions decisions...

J. park at my cottage if you can get in driveway and walk the short distance to the end of the road and take a short left. Feel free to shovel if you need to.
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Saxs
I have an 8" Eskimo/hand that came with a bunch of ice gear I picked up a while back your welcome to use. First time I used it was about 6 weeks ago up north, 8" black ice and I'm still out of breath! LOL

slush city this week :spin:

thanks guppy! not sure if I'm going this weekend but I'll be in touch if I do.. Paul I've had enough shoveling thank you ha, but I'll scope it out and see

this last week has had the best icefishing of the season. in my VERY LIMITED experience, I would say the fish are certainly mopre active with the improved temperatures. maybe a few more days before the ice is too sketchy to traverse

finished my season last weekend.. there's still ice but winter wreaked havoc on my property ... too much to do so I am calling it quits... it's hard leaving 30" of good ice but it was a good season...hard but good ..I've got enough white perch in the freezer to last until flounder fishing kicks in...

Hey Johnny give that pond behind my cottage a shot. I have seen some big bass in there in the summer. I'll bet no one is fishing there either. BTW I told Roy L too last weekend at the show so you better get there before him. P.

Fished most weekends and had fun taking first timers out on Buckmaster in Westwood.

Also picked up a pair of snow shoes that made getting to the ice a blast!

Now it's change-over time from ice to spring fishing!

All done, i made it out on the ice no problem this past weekend off the neighbors dock, it sure looked safe enough to get back to shore, but that wasnt the case. Up to just about the jewels, Muck boots are mighty hard to get off once filled with water.