Who has open water on their ponds/lakes? We haven’t had sun since Dec. 22 and the snow is getting old looking. In 1997, our last very deep snowy year, we had to take off and just drive south to where there was no snow, which was around Ft. Dodge, IA on I-35. Now I’m thinking of taking my fly rod and heading south just to find a place to cast. So, Rick? Hide Hunter? Any open ponds in your areas? Anyone else? Thanks. JGW
Gotta get below me yet. We’re in the stage I hate. To thin to walk on and too thick to throw a fly through. It’s getting rotten. We’re supposed to be 47 on Saturday. That may be enough.
I’m taking the opposite tact. Soon as bird season (and one more deer) I’m heading for northern MN to do some icefishing.
How far north? Might want to call to check on the ice conditions before heading up. We were out Saturday and ice was anywhere from four to eight inches thick with about two inches of slush to walk through. I felt pretty smart wearing my life vest. This isn’t the best ice we’ve had. You might tie up some of those Ryan’s Butts if you’re ice fishing for BG. One of the three I fished with was skunked, the other caught two and my Ryan’s had me busy all afternoon. Then again, I was using a spring bobber while the others weren’t so it might have been in the detecting. I was sort of aiming for NE MO, near Macon.
Headed for Hibbing - Surely they’ll still have ice there. Go any further I’m in a whole 'nother country. But, believe me, I’ll check before I head out.
Macon should put you in open water. We’re close. 10 day forecast here puts us above freezing everyday.
Man just as well live in Florida or some other God-forsaken place. 
[This message has been edited by HideHunter (edited 05 January 2006).]
Open water? Is there any other kind in East Texas? 
Ice around here in RI has been crappy. It was looking good and cold with a couple inches of ice on most ponds before Christmas then it warmed up into the 50’s an most of the ice melted. I think I am the only one around here hoping for a bitter cold snap. I guess that I won’t be waiting for flags or jigging peering through an ice hole until my next trip up to camp in Maine. Hopefully next weekend or the following one.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick
The ice is off the ponds.
The big lake near my other office has the main channel open, but there is bad ice around the boat launches.
I will have to try Saturday afternoon. Sat morning is grinding the bags of leaves to get them on my garden. I think I have about 60 to go.
Rick
All of the water around Nashville is open. It is very seldom any other way. Early next week we are supposed to hit about 60. Last week we hit 75. Welcome to the South.
Ed
p.s. Don’t forget your dries, especially midges. BWO in sizes 18 and 20 as well as cream midges and black/dark dun midges, down to as small as you’ve got 'em, are said to be hot at the moment. (I hope to test that on Monday). Another week like last week and we’ll be back with mayflies…
Hey white43,
South Carolina is all open water and will likely stay that way for the winter months. The temperature is an even 50 degrees and to be honest the fishing is slowing down some. 8T
You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it’s a real short camping season.
HideHunter,I live east of Hibbing in Silver Bay. There’s plenty of ice up here but…lots of slush on top of it. It’s been in the high twenties and low thirties for a couple of weeks now. Normally we’re hovering around zero this time of year.
Good luck.
To fish or not to fish?
What a stupid question.
Thanks IPike… If it doesn’t stiffin up maybe I’ll turn the truck around and head south for some flyfishing. 10 hours is 10 hours. Wonder where I’d end up?
Ten hours, eh? Don’t know if you’d make it to Hatch’s place in 10 hours, but after all these big fish stories from the Santee Cooper I’d stretch it a bit. My cousin from near Columbia MO thought about coming up for ice fishing, but is also reconsidering with the ice we have. JGW
I can see it now. Me banging on the door, hollering, “I know you’re in there, Jim. I can hear you breathing.”
Hey Hidehunter,
We don’t hide from anyone here. Never
know when it’s gonna be that dude from the
Publishers Clearing House.G
Well, temps are forecast to be back up
in the low 70’s early next week. I’ve
experienced a pretty major slowdown in
hookups here, but ya never know what the
morrow may bring. A successful trip may
not even involve fish.G And quite often,
a single special fish can make a trip very
worthwhile. Warm regards, Jim
Ice? What ice? Water temp is around 47-48 degrees, as always. Trout are biting fine on midges, etc. Fishing is good year-round.
What’s ice?..Oh, yeah…that’s what we put in tea down here.
Come on down to Ga. and Fla. Never any ice and fishing’s always good (there is no bad fishing, just some better than others).
Semper Fi!
Planning on heading to Bayport to fish in the open water of the St Croix by the Kings Power Plant water release area, only place to go fly fishing in Minnesota during the winter months, that is within a ? hour of my house.
I hate Ice Fishing, if I wanted to be bored, I would cut a round hole in my closet floor, and hang a bucket of water beneath the hole, down in the basement. Then I could sit in the closet, wth the doors shut, staring at the bucket of water for hours on end. ~Parnelli
I went Ice-Fishing in Minnesota before. They stuck me in something called a ‘Darkhouse’ out on the ice. Inside, it had a large hole cut through the ice to the water, and it was heated. I had a blast. I caught a slew of yellow perch on little jigs fished straight down, and 4 large Pike that I speared with something that looked like a modified frog-gig. It was groovy! You could see in the water all the way to the bottom, just like an aquarium! I forget where I was playing, but it was either Brainerd, Mn., or (I think this was it) some place called Bemidji, Mn., right next to the Chippewa Land.
I always have a blast when I perform in Mn. The people there treat me real good every time. I always get invited to fishing trips, and their lakes are fantastic!
Semper Fi!
I had a fellow Graduate of Texas A & M (Aggies) go ice-fishing up north once. He caught 50 lbs. of ice cubes.
His wife tried to fry it and they almost drowned!
My friends father had been a Navy Captain, and commanded a submarine before he retired, and when he passed on, his last request was to be buried at sea. Two of his uncles drowned trying to dig his grave…
Semper Fi!
Ice fishing can be boring if you are by yourself and there is no bite on. But I am usually out there with friends. You would be surprised how much fun ice fishing can be cooking hot dogs on an open ice fire and playing ice football or soccer, no spikes allowed with a bunch of drunk college kids. Besides the beer is always cold. And yes someone always gets hurt.
Who has time for stress when there are fish to catch.
Nick