Any safe ice up nort

Going to northern and north central wisconsin in next day or so ..anybody got safe ice..

Haven’t seen anything safe around Hayward, WI.

Not yet but I am guessing some will be by weekend. I walked on two boat Landings by Minong Sat. I only make it out a couple yards but it was holding and didnt crack until I shifted my weight up and down. Too bad it got covered with snow. That makes reading first ice more difficult.

First ice is like granite, but thin is thin.

Checked couple smaller lakes by Shell Lake, should be good to go by tomorrow or Wednesday.

I would imagine many small lakes will be good. We have fishable ice by us right now

Below zero temps here this morning.

Not exactly “up north” but I saw some of the old famed “rock testing” going on on some shallow sloughs of Pool 4.

Steps to the Rock Test:

Step 1: Drive around for a while until you find an area with fresh looking ice. Bonus points if there’s a boat launch area to test this at as rocks become more of a hindrance there.

Step 2: Scour the shoreline for a rock that’s approximately 2% of your body weight

Step 3: Throw said stone approximately 20 feet onto the ice.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 a few more times for no real reason.

Step 5: If they go through, you get back into your vehicle and leave. If they land on the ice with a thud, also get back into your vehicle and leave.

Step 6: Realize on your ride home that you gained very little usable evidence along the way, but you did get to throw a rock or two.

Bucky I snorted my coffee out on that one so true thanks for the humor

Bucky A+ post.

Rocks scattered at every landing drives me nuts. I have considered buying cheap spud bars and leaving one at the popular accesses with a sign to please test ice thickness with the chisel and do not throw rocks on the ice.

FinnyDinDin wrote:

Bucky A+ post.

Rocks scattered at every landing drives me nuts. I have considered buying cheap spud bars and leaving one at the popular accesses with a sign to please test ice thickness with the chisel and do not throw rocks on the ice.

Why not, they are sending the rocks back to there homes.

The rock test glad i never drill holes by the launch. Good way to need new blades.

Youbetcha wrote:

The rock test glad i never drill holes by the launch. Good way to need new blades.

Its all fun and games until you pierce your ice house tub on one

ive completed steps 1-5 many many times

actually something the kids look forward to every year

Its all fun and games until you pierce your ice house tub on one
[/quote]

My otters never broke. Cracked or chipped. They would just hop the rock. Hope my new clam can take the same beating.

crappie55369 wrote:

ive completed steps 1-5 many many times

actually something the kids look forward to every year

Same, my kids love it. Unless it’s on a skating rink, I let them throw those rocks all they want.

The lake shore in front of my house is devoid of rocks as they are all about 20′ out in thigh deep water.

I’ll most likely be on the ice Thursday and Friday. I’ll check area lakes (GR area) Thur. But considering how my lake looks and the below zero temps with no wind. I’m thinking ice season is a go.

Wade Boardman wrote:

I’ll most likely be on the ice Thursday and Friday. I’ll check area lakes (GR area) Thur. But considering how my lake looks and the below zero temps with no wind. I’m thinking ice season is a go.

i like your thinking Wade. we are about 40 miles north and west of rapids. 7 miles west of talmoon near jessie lake!!!!

buckybadger wrote:

Not exactly “up north” but I saw some of the old famed “rock testing” going on on some shallow sloughs of Pool 4.

Steps to the Rock Test:

Step 1: Drive around for a while until you find an area with fresh looking ice. Bonus points if there’s a boat launch area to test this at as rocks become more of a hindrance there.

Step 2: Scour the shoreline for a rock that’s approximately 2% of your body weight

Step 3: Throw said stone approximately 20 feet onto the ice.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 a few more times for no real reason.

Step 5: If they go through, you get back into your vehicle and leave. If they land on the ice with a thud, also get back into your vehicle and leave.

Step 6: Realize on your ride home that you gained very little usable evidence along the way, but you did get to throw a rock or two.

I didn’t realize there were actual rules for the test!

For all you “ROCK Testers”,Rralize that Quite a few of your rocks either don’t go through or go partially through the thin Ice….as the ice thickens and the rocks become solidly iced in, some real damage can be caused – especially when the exposed rocks seem to be near the launch ramps. Hit one with your rig or sled and this post will have more meaning.

I have a spot that is good to go right now in West Central MN. Darn work is in the way.
DT

deertracker wrote:

I have a spot that is good to go right now in West Central MN. Darn work is in the way.
DT

I have spots too but I am locked out the next two weekends.

guthook1 wrote:

For all you “ROCK Testers”,Rralize that Quite a few of your rocks either don’t go through or go partially through the thin Ice….as the ice thickens and the rocks become solidly iced in, some real damage can be caused – especially when the exposed rocks seem to be near the launch ramps. Hit one with your rig or sled and this post will have more meaning.

I been running the same rocks over on the ice for 35 years. They don’t do any more damage then when I ran them over on shore or the heaves we run over. You sound like your talking about 100 pound boulders. That or really crap equipment which I doubt. I’m guessing wr will be rock testing tonight near the house just because its fun.

buckybadger wrote:

Step 2: Scour the shoreline for a rock that’s approximately 2% of your body weight

Step 3: Throw said stone approximately 20 feet onto the ice.

Step 4: Repeat Step 3 a few more times for no real reason.

This is the 494 ramp on P2 every year when it ices up.

-J.

guthook1 wrote:

For all you “ROCK Testers”,Rralize that Quite a few of your rocks either don’t go through or go partially through the thin Ice….as the ice thickens and the rocks become solidly iced in, some real damage can be caused – especially when the exposed rocks seem to be near the launch ramps. Hit one with your rig or sled and this post will have more meaning.

Been ice fishing for better than 30 years. Never suffered any damage to anything hitting those rocks and ridges. Honestly I have never thought of those rocks I walk or drive over as an issue. Never gave them a second thought. Until I read this post, I didn’t know anyone did.

Perhaps those suffering damage need to slow down? Do you guys enter the lake at 30 MPH or what?

If it is truly a concern. I highly recommend not fishing glacial bedrock lakes in the north. Nothing but huge sharp rocks.

Might be time to get back to the original question – how is da ice looking up nort Wisconsin, der hey?

Willow river MN, small lake is about 2-4″ so that’s all I know.

I see a couple of portables on the lake behind my house right now. I sure as hell wouldn’t be out there yet. They keep moving closer to the sketchy black spot that’s always last to ice up because it’s deepest. No sign of testing the ice with a spud or drill as they go, either.

I live on a lake near Rush City and they are walking all over it everyday.