last night got me thinking
 

with the cold nights starting to settle in has me thinking of ice fishing hope we get some ice around Boston area this year last year was a total bust. Was also thinking of booking a weekend north anyone have any recommendations of place that caters to small groups with pike action

PM WestPortMafia......

I can't even remember the last time I was able to ice fish south of Boston in the recent past.
I think I'll be offering up all my ice gear for a decent $$ this fall. :wall:

X2 :usd:

I won't even start thinking about ice fishing until after Thanksgiving.

If you "do your homework" you can usually find some safe ice.
It may not be the pond you wanted but think of it as a learning experience if you have to find new places to fish.
I live on the outskirts of Boston, near Dedham, and I have a number of small ponds I can try if my primary spot isn't safe enough.

You will see many "safety on the ice" threads and comments as the season approaches, so don't worry just yet.

Maybe you could use the transitional time before ice-up to scout potential sites for possible tries?

With the weird weather we've had this year (so far) I wouldn't be surprised to see either a colder or warmer than normal winter.

My primary goal this year is to fish the Meredith Rotary Derby and catch a fish worth entering. I found a bay that produced a 26" laker and a MONSTER pickerel that just may still be there since that bay receives very little fishing pressure during the open water season.

See, now you've got me thinking about ice fishing in September.:smash:

@Big BO: I wouldn't be selling off your ice fishing Gear just yet....

According to some latest findings.... Antarctica is growing at a Phenomenal Rate
where as Greenland is melting away just as fast indicating some Major changes
in our weather patterns. Another interesting fact about Greenland is that there's
a SECOND grand canyon underneath all that ice . It's HUGE and a mile and a half deep with frozen ice.
If that were to melt....
New York city would become a water park full of water logged flooded buildings.

Some scientists are predicting a coming ICE AGE due
to the added precipitation but one thing IS for sure and I'm sure you'd agree
that the WEATHER is more Intense or severe no matter what it's doing.

Just look at whats been happening in Colorado and also in Acapulco, Mexico
in the last week as an Indicator of future events. That and the Economy on the brink of Disaster ....
think of it as SURVIVAL Gear.

Yeah, but I'm talking about in my lifetime.
I really don't want to drive a couple hours just to ice fish and I'd bet I haven't been able to use my gear in @ five years.

You do know if you sell it....we will have one of the coldest winters on record this year....murphy's law

:rotf2: Which is why I haven't sold it all as of now. :smash:

How far are you driving?

I live in Hyde Park, near Dedham line, and I have been able to find good ice in Westwood, Wayland, Westford, Georgetown before I even think of heading "long distance".

I do a little early winter checks at some local ponds and get an idea of when I should be able to find safe ice. That also means I don't take chances. I check and re-check the ice to be as safe as possible.
I also enter the ice from the shallowest part so that if I were to break through while checking, I would suffer wet feet and not much more.

My goal is to start checking ice thickness before Christmas (if conditions are right) and as a last resort, I will take a road trip up north. But that won't be until after the new year so I think I have time to plan and putter around the house!

I'm in Rockland and typically in years past I could fish many ponds from here to Plymouth. The last few years it seems as soon as they ice over, we get a warming trend and never a good solid freeze. I don't trust it.

PM me when the water starts to get hard. I usually head to the West of Worcester, but might be doing more stuff closer to home this year.

there's something about ice....
and not being able to get out on it
because it's not yet there...
that makes it even more desirable

Big Bo....let met know if you're serious about getting rid of some ice gear. I have been wanting to get into it with my son. I am interested in picking up some gear.

Spud

hooked, i live in swansea, and there are some great local ponds to hit 5-10 minutes from your house. even if you don't find gear(which i'm sure you will) you can bring your son by and catch some fish. Everyone has complained about ice but there has never repeat never been a winter where our ponds did not freeze safe enough to fish. Granted some years theres a smaller window
as far as gear... used good gear is a great option but there are plenty of cheap traps at bass pro, #^&#^&#^&#^&s , sports authority. the biggest expence is the chipper or auger. which as long as you hook up with another fisherman you won't need it.