No Ice Fishing This Year

VT_Hunter1980 · 01-17-2006, 02:30 PM

With all this rain and warm weather, I really don't trust any ice that might be on the lakes. Some are still wide open. Ice trout season starts this weekend too. Not enough snow for snowshoeing, and not enough ice for ice fishing. What a crappy winter.

PA Bow/Flinter · 01-17-2006, 03:47 PM

I know what you mean. I love to go skiing and snowshoeing, but that just hasn't happened this year. I guess the up side will be that a milder winter won't be as tough on the deer and such, so there will be more around next year. And they will find more food so they will grow bigger racks

jf5 · 01-17-2006, 03:59 PM

Get out there man!! Guys are ice fishing all over VT. I have seen reports from Magog, Carmi, Champlain. Guys are reporting 7+" on some other NEK lakes like Seymour and Salem. The only open water I have heard in north VT has been Willoughby, and I suspect thats from the wind.Guys are even ice fishign the CT river set backs as far south as Brattleboro. Of course be safe. But there is lots of ice to fish. Kinda nice not having to cut 2-3 feet of ice for a change!!

I am headed to VT myself for four days ice fishing.

You can also take this timefor some great, post-season deer scouting, coyote hunting, or look for sheds formdeer and moose.

johnl · 01-17-2006, 04:05 PM

sorry guys but I for one am glad that this winter has been mild so far easier on deer and the fuel bills

jf5 · 01-17-2006, 04:27 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: johnl

sorry guys but I for one am glad that this winter has been mild so far easier on deer and the fuel bills

Amen. After so many harsh winters the past 4 years. Its nice to get a mild one again with low snow and not weeks upon weeks of bitter cold. And you can still ice fish :-)

Champlain Islander · 01-18-2006, 06:12 PM

I fish pretty much every day on Northern Champlain and there is plenty of ice in the bays. Drive up Route 2 through the Islands and you will see the crowds nailing the panfish. Trout fishing grounds are still open water but any cold snap without wind and they will be locked.

VT_Hunter1980 · 01-19-2006, 02:24 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Champlain Islander

I fish pretty much every day on Northern Champlain and there is plenty of ice in the bays. Drive up Route 2 through the Islands and you will see the crowds nailing the panfish. Trout fishing grounds are still open water but any cold snap without wind and they will be locked.

About how thick is that ice? I'm a bit of a worry wart and I like to have a good 5" under me. Any pike or pikeral in those bays?

Champlain Islander · 01-19-2006, 05:48 PM

The areas where we fish for sunnies, bluegills and crappiehas about 10" of decent ice. I fished for perch today and there was 5" due to the currents. Good day though, caught 89 pounds and some were slabbers. The sunnie grounds are loaded with LM Bass, Northern Pike and Pickeral. There are often guys fishing beside us with tip ups. They catch some real nice pike. We often catch bass while jigging for flat fish. Sometimes they become a real problem due to the UL tackle we use. Drive up Rt 2 through the Islands and on a weekend you might see 50 people or more on some of the bays and some are driving wheelers and cars on now. That should make you feel a little safer.

buckhunter14 · 01-21-2006, 11:39 AM

I konw, I haven't gotten out but 2 times fishing this year. Usually I am out everyday but now the lakes are open. This is in MI anyway.

Pat Curtis · 01-22-2006, 08:16 PM

Haven't had ice around here since Xmas or so. Before that, we had 9" or so on most lakes.

With that said, it's time to fire up the boat and do some muskie fishing!