10 day forecast for Sturbridge. We should be fine! Directions to follow in the next few days.

Tonight
Dec 30


Snow Showers Late

35°
22°

50%



35°F

Wed
Dec 31


Snow

26°
5°

100%



26°F

Thu
Jan 1


Partly Cloudy

22°
10°

0%



22°F

Fri
Jan 2


Snow Shower

32°
20°

50%



32°F

Sat
Jan 3


Few Snow Showers

29°
10°

30%



29°F

Sun
Jan 4


Partly Cloudy

27°
19°

10%



27°F

Mon
Jan 5


Partly Cloudy

32°
17°

10%



32°F

Tue
Jan 6


Mostly Cloudy

34°
24°

10%



34°F

Wed
Jan 7


Rain / Snow Showers

40°
22°

60%



40°F

Thu
Jan 8


Sunny

34°
19°

0%



34°F

The ice here in sturbridge melted completely sunday. I have a feeling the mojority of the lake will be iced over by this weekend. A few good days/nights and it should be good to go.

I just checked the forecast again, looks like only a couple of days will get above freezing, with nighttime temps in the teens. Jan 10th will be a go!

Look for directions to follow, and motel info is in the first post of the thread.

Later,
Rick

Directions to Ice Fishing Tournament
 

Directions to Bomba Bro’s – SB.com First Annual Ice Fishing Tournament
From Points West:
Masspike to Exit 9, Sturbridge/I84
I84 South towards Hartford for 1.1 miles to exit 3B, Rt. 20 West
Follow Rt. 20 West for 2.4 miles to Brookfield Rd./MA148 on right
Take Right on Brookfield Rd./MA 148 for 1.1 miles, look for Champeaux Rd. on left
Take Left on Champeaux Rd, follow to end, parking is available in lot or on Champeaux Rd.
We will be fishing the Northern Portion of the Reservior (towards Masspike)

From Points East:
Masspike to Exit 9, Sturbridge/I84
I84 South towards Hartford for 1.1 miles to exit 3B, Rt. 20 West
Follow Rt. 20 West for 2.4 miles to Brookfield Rd./MA148 on right
Take Right on Brookfield Rd./MA 148 for 1.1 miles, look for Champeaux Rd. on left
Take Left on Champeaux Rd, follow to end, parking is available in lot or on Champeaux Rd.
We will be fishing the Northern Portion of the Reservior (towards Masspike)

If lost, call Rick at (781)439-1918 or Mikey at (413)210-8491

Tournament to begin at 6 AM on 1/10/08 and will finish at 3 PM.

There is a bait shop on Rt 20 in sturbridge. He should be open around 6, i will check his hours. Best bet for parking is to park at Micnucks Market on the right, it is hard to miss. Its about .5 miles before you get to 148. Park there and walk east 2 buildings, its the sportsman cellar. He is a cranky guy but has the only shiners in town.

visual aid
 

Ravens Eye view :)

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...mfieldRES3.jpg

Is that "X" where the big fish are? :hee:

TDF
 

that's where just " i " was thinking Rick meant we were all fishing so i went to check out an alternate parking spot
for a vehicle or two at the upper yellow arrow and almost
got stuck... in the snow there... the lower yellow arrow is a parking lot there just past ...the fishing area for plenty of people to park and the rest can park along side the res.

i am still determining where the biggens are LOL

Guys, tournament to start at 7 AM, not 6 as originally planned. I am going to be staying at the Super 8 and will be going down Friday night.

What the scoop on Grub...any thoughts??

i asked that TDF but it didn't register doh

because it was a line from Jeremiah Johnson

hey kev , did ya find your half barrel yet?

I'll be bringing my grill with some sausages and stuff. I hear Marky's going to br bringing some venison. I'm sure that Mikey and our friend Shawno will bring some grub as well. Fell free to bring whatever, as I'm sure there will be no shortage of grills!
Later,
Rick
PS-Early dinner to follow at the Picadilly for those who would like to attend, as well.

OK - recommendations for the ice noob

What to bring?

License?
Boots -v- ?
Clothing?
Etcetera...

Getting pretty psyched :lm::lm:

i recommend bringing a folding chair or plastic chair

extra gloves in case you get yours wet !
and extra dry socks if you sweat yours out

ideally bring a small piece of tuffr insulation sheathing
like styrene board to put your feet on while sitting..
if you have some

i'll be bringing a wire mesh patio table Round ....

sunglasses as it's bright ...prolly light flurries tho
no sun... but it keeps snow/wind out of your eyes

helps to have an ice strainer to to keep holes clear

You definitely want to get your license....just pick up a 3 day if you aren't planning on fishing in MA any more this year..here's the link to get it online.


http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/recre...ing_online.htm

I sent you a PM on clothing, I know it was long winded but plenty of info there.....best thing you can do for your self is wear good waterproof boots and wool socks....everything else is just layers to keep you warm.

and bring a spare set of dry clothes incase you end up joining the polar bear club..you never know...

Rick, If I can talk the Mrs. into taking a ride for me I'll bring some of that Sausage that I bring to Cutty for the grill.

Yeah, Mike (FishingFreak) fixed me up with a couple of barrels.....perfect size for a small firepit

long pond
 

just so there's no confushion in names

it's known locally as

long pond

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=42.112979000000003,-72.131799000000001+(East+Brimfield+Reservoir)&t=p& z=10&f=d

this the fish and game version of the map

link, ok

JR,
Waterproof warm boots a must. Change of socks, great idea. Waterproof pants with layers. Good idea to put your korkers over your boots, as well. Aside from that, like the boys sais, bring a chair, maybe some food, beverage of choice, I have neoprene gloves which are nice to handle the fish with, but don't keep you warm at all. Dress warmer than you think, as there is a lot of sitting around. Definately get your 3 day license. You'll need tip-ups and shiners too. You can probably borrow somebody's auger to drill holes. Aside from that, there's a lot of people who are getting pretty exited for this...I am pshyched!!!:fishslap:
Me and the boys will be going out Friday night after work, my number is 781 439 1918 in case you get lost.
Remeber, when you get there, walk out to the front of my truck, down the hill, take a left when you hit the ice, and keep walking till you find me (or not, is ok).
Later,
Rick

Very Nice Kevin,
As you know, no one loves the sausage more than my brother!:happy:

I would suggest getting an ice thickness measurement, so that you won't potentially have 6-10 guys standing together on 5 inches of ice.:conf:
You may want to remind people of the state's "ice safety tips" for anyone new to ice fishing.

here is the short version:
Ice Thickness (inches) Permissible Load
(clear, blue, lake ice)

2" or less STAY OFF!
4" Ice fishing or other activities on foot
5" Snowmobile or ATV
8" - 12" Car or small pickup truck
12" - 15" Medium truck

white (or non-clear ice) 1/2 that of clear ice
Frozen slush " " " "

When we have a thaw / freeze cycle like we have had recently, any snow cover on the ice may just be ice-crusted and should be tested for safety. Trust me, you DO NOT want to join the polar bear club by accident.

For the ice rookies (or less experienced) regardless of whether it's warm or cold, the ice will make noise. Popping and cracking is going to happen, but as long as the temps are cold, it ususally means that ice is forming, not the opposite.

Ice fishing is one outdoor sport where you prepare for an accident every time you head out. Thankfully it's preparation and not reaction.

Hope you all have a great time, and may the call "FLAG!!!" be heard from shore to shore.

depth
 

depth of spot = 5 feet

i'm bringing a rope anyways

safety first

I'm an avid ice fisherman, and have been for 5+ years.
I haven't gone through the ice, and (knock on wood) I don't plan on doing so. Just the same, I always bring a change of clothes and a blanket in my truck and always wear my ice spikes thru each sleeve just as an added measure.

There have been quite a few tragedies this season where people ventured out on unsafe ice without ever checking. eVEN IF I have a CONFIRMED report regarding a specific body of water, I'm going to drill a test hole to verify the thickness.

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the advice. I am sure that with the temps in high central-western mass that we will be in good shape by the weekend (otherwise I would have called this off two weeks ago). This is a spot we have fished regularly for many years, and I myself keep date, temp, and thickness logs. I try not to talk about swimming in the winter, but prepare for it quite seriously, if you know what I mean.
Maybe join us next year?
Later,
Rick

Believe me, if I didn't have to head up north this weekend, I'd be there.
Oddly enough, I'm helping my brother build a bobhouse for us to use during those chilly days on Lake Winnipesaukee.
I'm getting to a point where roughing it is starting to take its toll.

I hope you all have a blast, and hopefully you'll get some greenhorns hooked on the ice as well as you have on saltwater fishing.
(I already have gotten my brother "hooked" and have a hand full of junior aglers (nieces /nephews) that are showing interest as well.)

Heck, maybe someone will get a "pin" qualifying fish?

Bobhouse.....must resist urge! Good luck this weekend!
Rick

i take it......... a Bobhouse is an Ice shack ?

looking like the weather is going to be pissah :kewl:.....30 with a little light snow falling to add to the day. not much accumulation but enough to make everything enjoyable

Just heard marky and the western mass crew are out.:crying:

Anyone bringing kids? My son wants to come and if it is starting later I think it will be fun for him.

my wifes parents are from Royalston. She's coming down with me and my 5 yr.old son. And Bro in law has 2 kids @ the same age. The wives might show up later on in the day. Not 100% certain, but a very good chance. If that helps any:o