Hard watr info...

[FishermanTim]

Are there any areas locally that have safe ice?
I'm thinking of any places from Worcester east.
I'm toying with the idea of heading west and north, but the problem will be whether or not the pond I sent time driving to is safe.

[Gloucester2]

No safe ice with all the warm weather we're due in the next couple of days . . . no fish is worth dieing for .. .

[Christian]

at least another 2 weeks

[Backbeach Jake]

Supposed to be 50 degrees next couple of days, don't even think about it. No one is sicker for hardwater than I am. I'm just painting plugs this weekend.

[Rob Rockcrawler]

I live on a lake in sturbridge, (bout 20 miles west of Worcester) not huge but it aint small either. A lot of it is safe, bout 6 inches but its porous. Safe in many spots but over the deep water and springs its sketchy. Dont take it as advice that its safe anywhere else.

[Motor Fish]

Here's some ice fishing safety tips I copied off some site. Hopefully this will help somebody. BE CAREFUL!!!





Each year, there are recreational ice-related accidents and fatalities on ice-covered bodies of water -- often the cause of poor judgment or poor decision-making based upon inadequate information. No ice is safe. Anyone who decides to go out onto a frozen body of water must make a personal decision to do so, realizing that there is a degree of risk associated with this choice. Ice seldom freezes at a uniform rate. What constitutes a safe depth of ice is difficult to apply in all cases. While three-inches of ice on a farm pond may pose little danger, that same three inches on a moving stream or lake with springs, stumps and currents could be very dangerous. On the Great Lakes, one step from three-foot ice may lead to nothing more than skim ice on the next step. For these reasons, the Department of Natural Resources does not advocate the use of relative ice thickness guides. It is crucial that anglers, and others considering recreating on the ice, take individual responsibility in evaluating the quality and soundness of the ice on the particular body of water in question.

While attempting to apply ice thickness guides to all ice-covered waters is not recommended, some of the following safety precautions may prove useful:

Wear a personal flotation device and don't fish alone.

Leave information about your plans with someone -- where you intend to fish and when you plan to return.

"Know before You Go." Know the conditions of the ice before venturing out; taking into consideration recent possible effects changes in the weather have had on the ice.

Children should ALWAYS be supervised on the ice.

Use an ice spud bar or an auger to test the ice ahead of you.

Before venturing out onto the ice, check with local sources, such as bait and tackle shops, for the most up-to-date information.

Avoid ice formed over flowing water near shore, around inlets and outlets of streams, or on lakes with springs.

Avoid aeration devices such as warmwater bubblers used near marinas.

Early winter freezes and thaws, render ice unsafe for any type of traffic, especially in December and early-January. Temperature fluctuations typically occurring in March and April will again make for uncertain ice.

Be suspicious of gray, dark or porous spots in the ice as these may be soft areas. Ice is generally strongest where it is hard and blue.

Heavy snow cover insulates ice and prevents it from freezing as evenly and as quickly as it would if the snow weren't there. Snow cover is also deceptive and makes evaluating the ice cover difficult.

Be especially wary of river ice, as it can be highly variable in thickness due to the erosive action of the underlying river current. One can be standing on ice eight-inches thick on a river and just a few feet away, the ice may be only two-inches thick.

Carry a couple of large nails and a length of light nylon rope. If you should go through the ice, the nails could help provide a "grip" on the slippery surface and aid in getting out.

Should you break through the ice, try not to panic. Remember to turn toward the direction you came from -- toward the ice that supported you. Use the nails or your hands to gain a hold on the unbroken surface of the ice, and advance by kicking your feet.
Once you are out of the water and are lying on the ice, don't stand! Roll away from the point where you broke through until you are on solid ice.

If you do see someone fall through the ice, do not run toward them. Carefully extend a rope, ladder, pole or line to the victim.

Making it a point to have good information about the quality of the ice before venturing out, assuming personal responsibility, exercising caution and having safety gear available will not make a recreational outing on the ice risk free -- but it will certainly help to reduce the risk.

[FishermanTim]

Well said.
I, like most hardwater enthusiests, have a hard time waiting for safe ice. The good yhing (in my case) is that the desire to be around to fish at a later date can/will override the desire to become a human popsicle. There are other options available, if you're willing to change plans a little bit.
For instance, if the ponds aren't safe and solid, there should be river and stream access to tide you over.

The most recent forecast doesn't bode well for safe ice for the next week or so.

Play fair, play safe, and live to play another day!
Happy New year all!

[tynan19]

I fished Thursday and Friday at Comet Pond in Hubardston 15 mi. North of Worcester. We had about 4-5 inches on Thurs., Friday there was about 3-4. It was pretty safe. Saw about 6 teen size salmon caught and a few trout. Had a few flags and one run but did not get them.

[tynan19]

With todays temperture I wouldn't venture onto the ice.

[FishermanTim]

How about the news story of the Lowell man that drowned when he crashed thru the ice snowmobiling on Winnipesauke this weekend?
It seems that he and his "buddies" where drinking and snowmobiling on the lake.
I'm sorry for the guy's family, but that is one of the stupidest things (in a long list of stupid things) that I've heard in some time.
I won't even venture out on the ice until we've had a decent freeze, and these guys go cruising on one of the LAST lakes to freeze in New Hampshire.
That would be like heading out on Long pond in Plymouth or Whachusett, or Quabbin waterways. It's just not safe enough yet on foot, let alone on a snowmobile. I was watching the story and couldn't believe it.

For those of us here who like the hard water, it's only reinforces the safety issue even more.

[Christian]

whats the ice like out there now?

nothing but crap from the last week and a half?

we have an "ice fishing" trip planned with the boyscouts out in western mass the 28th. might just be snow tubing from the looks of it.

[FishermanTim]

I was just checking the extended forecast for the region, and it should b cold this weekend, but I don't know if it will be cold enough for safe ice. The forecast is calling for temps next week to be in the mid to low 30's for a daytime high and mid to low 20's for nighttime lows. That should be producing some nice ice for next weekend.
Unfortunately, I'm heading up to NH for a weekend of manual labor. It will be hard to concentrate knowing some of the ponds in the "lakes region" will be set up with safe ice, and I'll be without a trap.

[Christian]

sposed to reach something like 60 (boston) here tonight!!!

[scoobe]

Originally posted by Christian
sposed to reach something like 60 (boston) here tonight!!!

Funny how it got warmer tonight in Beantown as the sun went down...

[Christian]

alot of ice is gunna be made this week!!!

single digits

[FishermanTim]

I made a trip up to Newfield pond in N Chelmsford.
5 1/2 - 7 inches of ice.
I managed 2 perch, 2 pickerel and one bass.
I got plenty of exercise, running for those flags, and only had a couple of "wind flags".
There should be PLENTY of ice for next weekend.

[HighTide]

Has anyone gone out on the ice lately? I'm looking to get out this weekend.

[Canalratt1]

I'm heading out this weekend too, where are you planning to go? I'm going to try the Cape but we'll see with all this snow around.

[Christian]

i went to buckmasters tuesday.....there was 2". i was kinda shocked. 2 chips with the spud and i was though, bout 40 ft from shore.

not safe.

[HighTide]

Originally posted by Canalratt1
I'm heading out this weekend too, where are you planning to go? I'm going to try the Cape but we'll see with all this snow around.

Thinking of heading out on Sunday, maybe around Plymouth/ Billington Sea. Hamblin's pond was an option, but I think getting there will be a bit of a problem.

[FishWebb]

Has anyone been out on the ice on the cape? We've had a pretty good stretch of cold weather, but we've also had quite a bit of snow.

[Canalratt1]

I think we are going to try Peters unless the snow makes parking tough.