I went up to LOTW this summer for the 1st time and really had a great time. I heard about how fun ice fishing is and really want to try it but I probably won’t be able to make it up that far. So, where is the ice fishing cut off? 
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I went up to LOTW this summer for the 1st time and really had a great time. I heard about how fun ice fishing is and really want to try it but I probably won’t be able to make it up that far. So, where is the ice fishing cut off?
Where are you located?
around the iowa/missouri line you can hit the hard water safely for 6-8 weeks each year…i wouldn’t try much further south…tho some guys get out around KC i’ve heard…fools.
I live in Arkansas.
Thanks. Could you give me a time frame as far as the months? I’m guessing Dec and Jan….
southern iowa usually locks up in mid-dec give or take 2 weeks…i’m about 100 miles farther north and i usually get out for the first time on thanksgiving give or take a couple days…i’ve got permission for 30 or so farm ponds in sw iowa…shoot me a pm when it gets colder if you’re up for a road trip.
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I live in Arkansas.
Welcome to IDO. You owe it to yourself to hit any big water in the winter just to see what this ice fishing craze is all about. I think you would really enjoy a trip to LOTW in mid-march and or Mille Lacs in January to see the small towns on the lake, not to mention drive a vehicle on the ice or even catch a big walleye thru the ice. If you get into the area this winter, I am sure a lot of fellow iceheads would be more than willing to take you out fishing.
Welcome again. 
I’ll second what Calvin said. Driving on the ice and drilling through 36″-48″ of ice is something you just have to experience.
Welcome to IDO 
Iowa
There’s Ice south of Rainy Lake? 
Welcome to In Depth Outdoors!!
Well, if it ever gets cold I’ll head up that way.
Thanks y’all for the welcome. I would
love to make it back to LOTW area or the Mills Lac
(heard it was a nice place).
Thanks again everyone for the welcome!
My son fishes the small farm ponds around Kirksville, MO. Its usually a early January to maybe mid February season, with maybe 8-10″ max of ice. The big water down there doesn’t seem to freeze long enough and hard enough to ice fish, but the 3-5 acre farm ponds can be great for panfish.
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around the iowa/missouri line you can hit the hard water safely for 6-8 weeks each year…i wouldn’t try much further south…tho some guys get out around KC i’ve heard…fools.
I may be a fool in your eyes but you are a 
in mine. If the ice isn’t safe I don’t go out on it. Growing up close to water and ice pretty much all of my life I have a good idea of what is safe. (I’m not as old as BK but I am older than most members on this site.) 
Some years we don’t get ice at all but most years we get at least a week or two of fishable ice. And when the urge is there but the weather does not cooperate it isn’t too hard to make a trip north. And a trip north to meet up with some IDO buds is a nice vacation.
What part of Arkansas are you from Jen19580?
I’m in North East AR. About 1hr 1/2 west of Memphis.
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