Official 2013 Ice-Out Thread

[dt5150]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I hear you!

I think what may screw me is Smith Cove (Fay's) where my fishing boat is at. I don't think Smith cove will be free of ice by the weekend. My other boat is at Dave's and can be put in the water at Glendale but it's not set up for fishing at all....

Keeping my fingers crossed!!

Dan

that's ok, mine's at thurston's right now getting some warranty work done

[hilltopper]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Boy I got the itch to go fishing but stupid me left my fishing gear at the camp so until I can get to the camp to fetch it I'm screwed!

Stinks to cause I just picked up a nice 14' aluminum island hopper/commuter that happens to be a nicely outfitted side console fishing boat. That'll be nice to take out instead of the big boat and much better to troll with and not burn through a ton of gas.

I'd love to see a picture of the boat some time. I'm looking to track down a similar 14' setup.

[Crusty]

Here is view from east side of Smiths Point, taken 4/9 at 1:30 pm. This all opened up in the last 5 hours. Pic 1 is Sleepers, Pic 2 is Rattlesnake.

[Just Sold]

Lots of ice movement on a number of the web cams. The Winnipesaukee.com cam shows large piece has broken off right in front of the Pavillion. Rattlesnake Cam shows that the ice is moving about and crashing into itself. Won't be long now.
The Paugus Bay Cam http://www.overlooker.tzo.com/ is the only one not showing any breakup or movement of the ice.

[Bear Island South]

Ice is moving out of our cove.

[Merrymeeting]

Here's the view of Wolfeboro Bay about 1:00 PM today. The ice is darker than yesterday, and you can see pieces have broken off and are floating in the open waters. I'm guessing sometime this weekend...



Interestingly, Merrymeeting Lake is still fairly well locked in. It looks like the Paugus Bay cam picture.

[webmaster]

Check today's (Tuesday) WeirsCAM time lapse. The ice visibly recedes and starts breaking up:

http://www.winnipesaukee.com/index.p...rscamtimelapse

[Island Girl]

The time-lapse is very dramatic. What is often discouraging is seeing the whole lake liquid, but one of those icebergs blocking one of the Mount's ports.

Tomorrow should be even more exciting!!!!! I wonder how many people are clicking several times a day to see the cams and read this thread!!!!

Is anyone getting any work done this week?

IG

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

The time-lapse is very dramatic. What is often discouraging is seeing the whole lake liquid, but one of those icebergs blocking one of the Mount's ports.

Tomorrow should be even more exciting!!!!! I wonder how many people are clicking several times a day to see the cams and read this thread!!!!

Is anyone getting any work done this week?

IG

I'll admit to multitasking

[ishoot308]

Today's warm sun really did a lot of damage as the ice was breaking up and moving all over the place. More warmth, rain and wind predicted for the end of the week should make short order of what's left!

I really think the majority of the ice will be gone by the weekend!!

[LIforrelaxin]

I have tried to fight the camp feeling but I am starting to get ready.... Any one have any information on what is left for ice, between Long Island and Moultonborough Neck?

[JMR]

I have to admit that I sneak a look at the Forum and the cameras several times a day at this stage of Ice Out. Skis are put away and it is time for the boats.

Think I am going to plan on going to the lake on Sunday for lunch, if nothing else. Otherwise, I will go bonkers.

Who' da thunk I would be excited about ice melting?

[Chaos]

Originally Posted by Island Girl

The time-lapse is very dramatic. What is often discouraging is seeing the whole lake liquid, but one of those icebergs blocking one of the Mount's ports.

Tomorrow should be even more exciting!!!!! I wonder how many people are clicking several times a day to see the cams and read this thread!!!!

Is anyone getting any work done this week?

IG

Guilty as charged. Multiple counts!

[LadyJane]

Great pics everybody. thank you !! yeah....guilty.....I check a few times a day. My Ice Out guess was April 15 and for a while I thought that was going to be way too early. But it doesn't look bad now ! Love watching the time lapse this time of year.....very dramatic.

[Orion]

Nobody mentioned the boat in one of the frames of the time lapse video. Lucky bas........

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

It never ceases to amaze me how many views there are of this thread as ice out nears...last week it was around 8,000 views and today it exceeds 14K....

23,000 views......by contrast the ice in thread received over 40,000 views. We've got some work to do.....
BT

[Jeanzb1]

Left Florida early Friday and arrived at the lake Saturday night and found it pretty much totally iced in. Fast forward three days -- voila!!! What a transformation! Still lottsa and lottsa ice, but it's looking slushy and breaking up into huge ice floes. How very humbling it is to see the seasons change before our very eyes.

[codeman671]

I headed up to Gilford today. A boat could easily make it out of Glendale at this point. A few paper thin strips were moving around which may need to be pushed aside, outside of the flasher it looked pretty open.

For those in Smith Cove, it is a bit more open than the Smith Cove camera shows. I will post pics in the morning. I think by the weekend I should be able to get to my slip. Good thing because I am launching Sunday, maybe even Friday if the boat is done.

Alton bay was out to the pavilion with long strips of open water heading down towards Sandy Point.

[webmaster]

Ice check 4/9/13:

[Merrymeeting]

Thanks to Emerson Aviation for posting these updates for all of us.

While becoming fragile, clearly there is still a lot of ice out there!

[Wetbiker]

Originally Posted by Just Sold

Lots of ice movement on a number of the web cams. The Winnipesaukee.com cam shows large piece has broken off right in front of the Pavillion. Rattlesnake Cam shows that the ice is moving about and crashing into itself. Won't be long now.
The Paugus Bay Cam http://www.overlooker.tzo.com/ is the only one not showing any breakup or movement of the ice.

Should i go stir the water up on the jetski?

IMO the ice dosnt break up in Paugus till later because of the current, and the way the bay is shaped. we broke a few peices off the the jetski and it just merged back with the mass. it pretty much just melts in place. After being on the ice last weekend i can say that the ice is in a latent stage seeing how porous the ice is. It wont be long now.

[Merrymeeting]

The ice pack in Wolfeboro Bay appears to have shifted quite a bit. The Yacht Club cam shows the ice right next to their docks. It was much further out before.

[Slickcraft]

It is open half way out to Welch today however there is still a lot of ice moving around. A shift in wind could bring lot of ice back in to the LT 26 area.

The area from Ames Farm out toward Diamond and Rattlesnake was filled on with large sections of ice that the wind had moved in.

[Dog's Ear]

Can anyone give me an update on 19 mile bay?

[codeman671]

Here are the pictures of Smith Cove and Glendale yesterday.

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by Resident 2B

I just saw my first loon of the season in the open water off Weirs Beach. I'll be on the deck listening for calls tonight.

Took this this afternoon just off Elacoya beach. He was too far out for a real good shot. he was calling like crazy, looking for his friends I assume.

[ishoot308]

One pic from my camp deck and one pic from my dock.

You can really see open water forming now. With the heavy winds coming in hopefully this ice will mostly blow away for the weekend and allow some fishing and accessibility to our camps!!

Still keeping my fingers crossed!

Dan

[Lakegeezer]

From Melvin Bay up through Moultonborough Bay, the ice is gone. It went out yesterday in the afternoon and by 5PM, my dock was in

[Bear Island South]

Nice to see open water again, next Friday will be our opening day.

[JB Long Island]

Any info on Harillas ? would love to know if the ramp is clear...

[Bear247]

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

Nice to see open water again, next Friday will be our opening day.

That is what I am talking about...

[GBerg]

Thought you all might be interested in this graph of ice outs. Any trend?

[RLW]

Originally Posted by GBerg

Thought you all might be interested in this graph of ice outs. Any trend?

GBerg, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.
Thanks for the input..

[chasedawg]

Originally Posted by Dog's Ear

Can anyone give me an update on 19 mile bay?

Nineteen Bay has very dark ice. It is open in one section half way out to Chase Island. There is a chance that it will be open this weekend if we get some wind out of the NW. Between Farm Island and mainland it is wide open. Beyond Chase Island out to Whotleberry and by Dog's Ear there is still quite a bit of white ice. I would give it five more days to break up.

[radar4401]

Just noticed the weather forecast for tomorrow. It appears we may get 3-5" of snow/sleet. That should slow things down a bit.

[snowflake]

Thanks for the fantastic views of the ice. There surely looks like there's an awful lot out there. I'm hearing birds singing all the time now in Boston. Spring and ice-out are coming.

[hilltopper]

Originally Posted by radar4401

Just noticed the weather forecast for tomorrow. It appears we may get 3-5" of snow/sleet. That should slow things down a bit.

What? Are you looking at the forecast for Northen Maine or something?

[Diver Vince]

Originally Posted by GBerg

Thought you all might be interested in this graph of ice outs. Any trend?

Thanks for posting the graph. Trends? Well I see from the years 1886 through 1946 the temps appear to be getting warmer. Than it reverses from 1946 to 1962 where the trends were getting cooler. From 1962 to 2012 the trends have been warmer. Looks to be like it may start another cooling cycle in 2013. Especially with the weather they're predicting for tomorrow.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by hilltopper

What? Are you looking at the forecast for Northen Maine or something?

Not that I believe it will happen, but nothing would surprise me when it comes to weather in New England. This is the current "winter weather advisory" for our area.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 7 PM EDT FRIDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAY HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND SLEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 7 PM EDT FRIDAY.
* LOCATIONS...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INTERIOR NEW HAMPSHIRE EXCLUDING ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW THEN MIXING WITH SLEET AND RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING.
* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES...ALONG WITH AROUND A TRACE OF ICE.
* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN AFTER MIDNIGHT AND BECOME MIXED PRECIPITATION DURING THE DAY AND CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING.
* IMPACTS...ROADS WILL BECOME SLIPPERY AND SNOW COVERED.
* WINDS...EAST 10 TO 20 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S.

[hilltopper]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

Not that I believe it will happen, but nothing would surprise me when it comes to weather in New England. This is the current "winter weather advisory" for our area.

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 7 PM EDT FRIDAY...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GRAY HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND SLEET...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 7 PM EDT FRIDAY.
* LOCATIONS...CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN INTERIOR NEW HAMPSHIRE EXCLUDING ROCKINGHAM COUNTY.
* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW THEN MIXING WITH SLEET AND RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON AND INTO THE EVENING.
* ACCUMULATIONS...SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 5 INCHES...ALONG WITH AROUND A TRACE OF ICE.
* TIMING...SNOW WILL BEGIN AFTER MIDNIGHT AND BECOME MIXED PRECIPITATION DURING THE DAY AND CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY EVENING.
* IMPACTS...ROADS WILL BECOME SLIPPERY AND SNOW COVERED.
* WINDS...EAST 10 TO 20 MPH.
* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER TO MID 30S.

Awesome. Glad I took my snow tires off last weekend. I should know better...

[ishoot308]

Well if I'm not mistaken that sure looks like all open water 50 yds in front of my dock all the way to Lockes Island!...

Patiently waiting!

Dan

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Paugus Bay looking south. If you look at the Paugus Bay web cam it shows the large area of ice that is quickly breaking apart. Most of the shorelines are wide open as are the coves. Could be ice free this weekend!

[dt5150]

Woohooo!!!!

[Slickcraft]

It is mostly open from Lincoln Park out to Welch. There is still ice to the north as well as between Welch and 40 Islands. Also a lot of ice south of Welch and maybe east of Welch. Tomorrow's wind forecast of east changing to NE may bring some ice back in.

Smith Cove is open enough to get out from Fay's right now but that could change with a south east air flow.

[IslandRadio]

Originally Posted by Diver Vince

Thanks for posting the graph. Trends? Well I see from the years 1886 through 1946 the temps appear to be getting warmer. Than it reverses from 1946 to 1962 where the trends were getting cooler. From 1962 to 2012 the trends have been warmer. Looks to be like it may start another cooling cycle in 2013. Especially with the weather they're predicting for tomorrow.

I don't notice a strong trend, however there was a major cold snap during the mid 1800s. I believe this was due to volcanic activity, although I'd have to do more research.

The graph shows ice outs, and a 10 year moving average. It's interesting.

[Broken Glass]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

Paugus Bay looking south. If you look at the Paugus Bay web cam it shows the large area of ice that is quickly breaking apart. Most of the shorelines are wide open as are the coves. Could be ice free this weekend!

Hey Paugus Bay Firefighter,
This is Dan and that Overlook Camera is mine. Obviously I am at Overlook. I keep my bots at Lakeport. I am on the fence whether or not to bring the fishing boat up this weekend. I was in the water and fishing April 1st last year so I am really chomping at the bit to get up there and get a line wet.
Do yuo think Paugus will break up by Saturday?

[Island Girl]

Parts of the lake may look socked in, but do not be discouraged. Take a look at these videos of ice out in the middle of Alton Bay... my favorite is the next to the last one.

http://www.winnipesaukeecam.com/videos.php

Thanks to the WinnipesaukeeCam owner.

IG

[Steveo]

Still some ice in Alton Bay but very porous. This is a shot from Loon Cove looking north:

[Bear Island South]

Open water is almost over to Mark Island.

[gillygirl]

Originally Posted by IslandRadio

I don't notice a strong trend, however there was a major cold snap during the mid 1800s. I believe this was due to volcanic activity, although I'd have to do more research.

The graph shows ice outs, and a 10 year moving average. It's interesting.

So do we know what the definition for ice out was back in the 1800's?

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Broken Glass

Hey Paugus Bay Firefighter,
This is Dan and that Overlook Camera is mine. Obviously I am at Overlook. I keep my bots at Lakeport. I am on the fence whether or not to bring the fishing boat up this weekend. I was in the water and fishing April 1st last year so I am really chomping at the bit to get up there and get a line wet.
Do yuo think Paugus will break up by Saturday?

Hey Dan...I will update what it looks like tomorrow.

[Belmont Resident]

I was down that way yesterday and it looked like the exit from Irwins was blocked by a huge chunk of ice. Paugus still had a lot of ice on it from what I could see.

[fatlazyless]

Yesterday, Thursday, April 11, most all of the ice disappeared from the area between FL-3, Gov Isl, Timber Isl, Mark Isl & Bear Isl. On Wednesday, it was all a pretty solid, big gray slushy mess, and yesterday it was about 90% open water, save for the shorelines along Mark & Timber Islands.

It is now time to replace all those popped & disappeared aluminum rivets on my antique aluminum dock with about 100 1 1/4" x #10 stainless pan head, sheet metal screws..........game-on........and, oh yeah.....to power-wash the old mess because that never got done either!

What I could have for a nice new dock if my great big stinky property tax was not paying the pensions for all the "retired" town, school & county former employees so's they can be driv'n around in gas-guzzl'n, late-model pickup trucks!


In Lake Winnipesaukee, olde aluminum docks from the 1950's never rust, they just loose their rivets and go to pieces!

So, when did aluminum first show up on the local scene? Could be it had something to do with World War II and Grumman airplanes?

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Yesterday, Thursday, April 11, most all of the ice disappeared from the area between FL-3, Gov Isl, Timber Isl, Mark Isl & Bear Isl. On Wednesday, it was all a pretty solid big grey slushy mess, and yesterday it was about 90% open water, save for the shorelines along Mark & Timber.

You are correct, pictures from yesterday show Cattle Landing to Bear open and heading south towards Mark a lot of grey ice.

[Bear Island South]

Today the ice flows are moving, it looks like open water over towards Mark and Mink Islands.

[ishoot308]

We came up to Gilford last night around 7:00 P.M. and all the areas you see in the pics below were completely free of ice. With the wind changing direction this morning this ice has blown in from the Southeast.

These pics were taken from my deck. Kind of a dreary and foggy day out there today so the pics are a little dark.

The first pic is Welch Island, the second the broads with Welch on the far left.

Dan

[JMR]

Attempt to get to Broads by a friend. Western tip of Rattlesnake Island in Pic. I hope it uploads. Water full of shards. Will Try again Sat/Sun

[Jeanzb1]

Yesterday was quite a day! In the morning we saw a pair of loons and two mergansers swimming together in our cove in West Alton. Then in the afternoon I thought I was hallucinating, but, no, there was a bowrider with two fishermen! Two firsts of the season! Summer is coming!

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Belmont Resident

I was down that way yesterday and it looked like the exit from Irwins was blocked by a huge chunk of ice. Paugus still had a lot of ice on it from what I could see.

The north end of Paugus Bay from Langley Cove to the channel is wide open. I can't speak for the west side but the ice has receeded about 100 yards off the docks along the whole east side. There are two large masses of black ice around Big and Little Islands. Once you go south of Little Island the ice turns to chunks of floating ice that ends just before open water behind T-Bones.
There's another log jam of floating ice behind Irwins. Lakeport is clear.

Dan, if you are launching from Lakeport you will have a lot of trouble getting through behind Irwins. Once through there you could easily navigate to your dock. My worry would be the mass of ice 100 yards off your dock that is breaking up. There is a large piece of ice that has floated into your dock area as I type.

I'm lucky to be able to fish from the wide open area near Christmas Island. The ice has receded far enough to get to some areas of deep water and drop offs. I'll be floating around this weekend. Hoping to get my first pre-spawn bass.

[Island Girl]

Here is the broads a few minutes ago.... it is going fast!!

[Winnisquamguy]

From his FaceBook page a few hours ago.

Emerson Aviation · 511 like this
2 hours ago ·

Thumbs UP if you think ICE OUT will be next week

[Broken Glass]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

The north end of Paugus Bay from Langley Cove to the channel is wide open. I can't speak for the west side but the ice has receeded about 100 yards off the docks along the whole east side. There are two large masses of black ice around Big and Little Islands. Once you go south of Little Island the ice turns to chunks of floating ice that ends just before open water behind T-Bones.
There's another log jam of floating ice behind Irwins. Lakeport is clear.

Dan, if you are launching from Lakeport you will have a lot of trouble getting through behind Irwins. Once through there you could easily navigate to your dock. My worry would be the mass of ice 100 yards off your dock that is breaking up. There is a large piece of ice that has floated into your dock area as I type.

I'm lucky to be able to fish from the wide open area near Christmas Island. The ice has receded far enough to get to some areas of deep water and drop offs. I'll be floating around this weekend. Hoping to get my first pre-spawn bass.

My guess is with today's weather, there won't be a whole lot of improvement on the south end of the bay today. I don't keep my boats at Overlook (too rough!). I dock them at Lakeport, so I still may bring up the fishing boat and at least get it on the dock.
Thank you for the update. "Eyes on" is always better than trying to look around the corner through a camera.
Good luck fishing!
Dan

[Island Girl]

the ice is really on the move out there... Woo Hoo!! The top left image is the latest.

[MikeF-NH]

so I'm guessing all that ice is blowing north toward center harbor yet none of the cams seem to show where the ice sheets are gathering.

I haven't seen ice moving quickly out of the west alton cam either....are those sheets being protected by the shoreline or are they moving also?

Does anyone know if West alton marina is open (not iced it)?

[Island Girl]

The wind says ENE yet Snake Eyes shows ESE movement as I have been watching it all day. It appears that the ice behind Rattlesnake on the West Alton shore has not moved much at all. Go to Echo Shore web site (echoshorescam.com) and there is a daily time lapse view.

The broads is pretty open now... but was really socked in an hour or so ago. It would be nicer if it was 70 degrees and a nice NW wind... but we get what we get...

Happy Ice Melting!
IG

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by MikeF-NH

so I'm guessing all that ice is blowing north toward center harbor yet none of the cams seem to show where the ice sheets are gathering.

I haven't seen ice moving quickly out of the west alton cam either....are those sheets being protected by the shoreline or are they moving also?

Does anyone know if West alton marina is open (not iced it)?

Hi Mike;

I can't answer all your questions but I can tell you that last night and most of the day today the wind has been blowing in a north-westerly direction. I watched a lot of ice move from the rattlesnake area across the broads towards Governors.

As I look out over the broads right now from Locke's island all the way as far as I can see and at least to diamond island the lake is ice free. I haven't seen any moving ice in a couple hours now. I do not believe there are any more "ice sheets" in the broads or around Welch, whatever was there has either melted or been blown into slush.

Glendale docks are wide open and Smith cove was slightly locked in with slush two hours ago. I would assume it's all clear now. Fay's has started dropping boats in the water as of yesterday and put mine in so I am hoping to get a line wet sometime this weekend.

I do not know about West Alton but I may take a ride in that direction a little later on and will stop by and check for you.

Hope this helps;

Dan

[Steveo]

Originally Posted by MikeF-NH

so I'm guessing all that ice is blowing north toward center harbor yet none of the cams seem to show where the ice sheets are gathering.

I haven't seen ice moving quickly out of the west alton cam either....are those sheets being protected by the shoreline or are they moving also?

Does anyone know if West alton marina is open (not iced it)?

Open water in lower bay up to Sandy Point. Lots of sheets of ice in the rest of bay. Winds are calm so not much movement. Took picture at scenic view but didn't come out good. I thought I could see some open water past Moose Island but no closer.

[codeman671]

Just got back from Gilford. There was a bit of broken ice tucked in behind Lockes, but other than that it was clear all the way down to Diamond and Rattlesnake.

I was going to launch today but chickened out. It was nasty out! Sleet and freezing rain. The plows were out clearing the roads. Sunday it is!

Ames Farm had a lot of debris packed in as everything blew into the bay.

Heading down Woodlands road and 11D there was still a fair amount on the move. Alton bay was looking pretty good, the following picture was taken from Loon Cove looking towards Little Mark, as well as 2 pictures from Lincoln Park.

[SplendidSplinter9]

Looking to get out tomorrow. Is the thought that the launch near Fays will be open tomorrow?

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by SplendidSplinter9

Looking to get out tomorrow. Is the thought that the launch near Fays will be open tomorrow?

Near Fay's or at Fay's? Glendale is fine now. I think Fay's will be as well. There was a bit blown in today but that should dissipate fast.

[SplendidSplinter9]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Near Fay's or at Fay's? Glendale is fine now. I think Fay's will be as well. There was a bit blown in today but that should dissipate fast.

Either is fine. I was told that Meredith is iced in again, so Ill probably head in that direction. Thanks for the info.

[tis]

I don't think it is very smart to put any boat in until the ice is gone. You'd be surprised how it can blow around and how destructive it can be. I actually say what looked to be a thin piece of ice blow into my neighbor's dock and smash it. There is a lot of power in that ice when the wind blows it. I guess if you just go in the open parts and take the boat out when you are done for the day, it would be ok. But I would never go where there are still ice sheets. Please be careful!!

[Wetbiker]

Meredith is I sent again it looks. I drove by Center Harbor hand it is wide open. By the looks of it the ice did a toll on the docks in Meredith.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Wetbiker]

From the weirs
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Merrymeeting]

This is depressing! It's snowing hard in New Durham, ice is REFORMING on the lake, and the winds promised for today, that we hoped would break up some of the ice, have never materialized.

Come on Spring... please?

[SplendidSplinter9]

Originally Posted by tis

I don't think it is very smart to put any boat in until the ice is gone. You'd be surprised how it can blow around and how destructive it can be. I actually say what looked to be a thin piece of ice blow into my neighbor's dock and smash it. There is a lot of power in that ice when the wind blows it. I guess if you just go in the open parts and take the boat out when you are done for the day, it would be ok. But I would never go where there are still ice sheets. Please be careful!!

Yes its a day trip. Boat comes out after we are done. Safety first

[RLW]

SplendidSplinter9, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

Best of luck with your endeavor to launch and have some fun on the lake.

[SplendidSplinter9]

Originally Posted by RLW

SplendidSplinter9, I just noticed that you are fairly new to posting on the forum and glad you have joined us. Have fun and enjoy the Winni Forum while making many new friends.

Best of luck with your endeavor to launch and have some fun on the lake.

Thanks RLW. Looking forward to it.

[tis]

Oh good, Splendid. I am glad you are taking the boat out. Be careful!

[ishoot308]

Woke up this morning to see three fishing boats trolling the broads! From what I can see off my deck, the lake is ice free. Whatever ice / slush I saw yesterday is gone. That is not to say areas I can't see do not have some ice so use common sense if you decide to go out.

Heading to the island in a little bit to open up the camp, what a great birthday present for me!!

Be safe!

Dan

[upthesaukee]

Drop a line in on your way over to the camp...may be a bonus day .

[Steveo]

I was bored this morning and decided to take a ride from Alton to Meredith to check out the ice. I was REALLY bored and ended up going around the entire lake and here is what I saw:

Alton Bay: open water from end of bay past Sandy Point. Ice sheets from there past Moose Island.

Ames Farm: open in the bay and out to Broads. Build up of ice right in front of Ames

Ellacoya: totally open from park to Glendale and the Broads

Glendale: Totally open, launching boats

Smith Cove: some ice at end of cove, Fay's is open and launching boats

Saunders Bay: ice sheets in the middle of bay, open around the coastline

Governor's Island Bay:all open and on both side of bridge

Weirs Bay: ice sheets in middle of bay out to Eagle

Meredith Bay: ice sheets through most of bay(from Weirs to Meredith), ice around docks, can't launch

Center Harbor: ice sheets way out, open water for quite a ways,boats launching

Trexler's: open water, both sides of bridge, launching boats

Melvin Bay: ice sheets

20-mile Bay: ice sheets

19-mile Bay: ice sheets but dock clear, launching boats

Libby Museum: ice sheets

Wolfeboro Bay: Ice sheets a ways out, docks clear, launching boats


Every port that Mount goes has ice but all ice is very porous and thin. A good stiff wind could wipe it out in a couple of hours. Very calm now so very little movement. My guess of April 16th still has a shot.

[Slickcraft]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Woke up this morning to see three fishing boats trolling the broads! From what I can see off my deck, the lake is ice free. Whatever ice / slush I saw yesterday is gone. That is not to say areas I can't see do not have some ice so use common sense if you decide to go out.

Heading to the island in a little bit to open up the camp, what a great birthday present for me!!

Be safe!

Dan

Happy Birthday! We are heading south today for a birthday party for my granddaughter who was 16 on Wed. Looks like you will beat us to Welch this year, finally.

[JMR]

Friends just called from the Broadside of island. They went from Ames Farm to other side of Rattlesnake with little trouble. Slush in many dock areas, but otherwise navigatable. Pics later

Yahoo

[Bear Island South]

South Bear to Mark and Mink is ice free.
Anyone know if you can launch and get out of Shep Browns?

[Winnisquamguy]

Ice out update: Reports from pilots this morning were for patchy areas of ice yet on the lake. We have an aircraft about to go for a check. We'll keep you updated! @ 2:45 PM

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Winnisquamguy

Ice out update: Reports from pilots this morning were for patchy areas of ice yet on the lake. We have an aircraft about to go for a check. We'll keep you updated! @ 2:45 PM

Just saw this on Emerson's FB page.
"All Major ports are Iced in. About 60% of the lake is gone, but with a day of wind, that just might do it. Tomorrow's forecast high of 51 degrees F and W-NW wind about 12 MPH."
He has some great photos of the ice on Paugus Bay.

There's a loon just of our docks and there's a boat trolling a few hundred yards out. It was great seeing and hearing wake crashing into our docks and shoreline. The little things....

[Broken Glass]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

Just saw this on Emerson's FB page.
"All Major ports are Iced in. About 60% of the lake is gone, but with a day of wind, that just might do it. Tomorrow's forecast high of 51 degrees F and W-NW wind about 12 MPH."
He has some great photos of the ice on Paugus Bay.

There's a loon just of our docks and there's a boat trolling a few hundred yards out. It was great seeing and hearing wake crashing into our docks and shoreline. The little things....

I got the boat our there and fished Paugus open water for a while in "Good Stuff". Made my way out through the channel and fished Meridith for a while. No luck but it was "reel" nice to get back on the water/ice. It was a real squeeze getting back into Lakeport, but off to Fratelos for a great plate of Sofia and the first day on the water is in the book!!
Don't you just love it here??

[Just Sold]

Smith Cove still has an area of ice blocking the channel, Ames Farm down to the Alton Line has ice pushed up to the shoreline, Alton Bay is open to just past Sandy Point and there are large areas ice all the way out to Ship & Moose Islands. Note in the last picture the long slice into the ice from the left. That was made by a boat.

[PaugusBayFireFighter]

Originally Posted by Broken Glass

I got the boat our there and fished Paugus open water for a while in "Good Stuff". Made my way out through the channel and fished Meridith for a while. No luck but it was "reel" nice to get back on the water/ice. It was a real squeeze getting back into Lakeport, but off to Fratelos for a great plate of Sofia and the first day on the water is in the book!!
Don't you just love it here??

I thought that might be you Dan!
I saw you do a couple laps from the channel to Christmas Island past the front of my dock. It must have been nice cruising the lake and getting those lines in. I am sure next weekend will have more boats taking their first ride of the season!

[MikeF-NH]

Center harbor and Moultonboro/Melvin Bays both are pretty much wide open as the ice flows have been blocked at their entrance points. Merideth Docks had some floating slush around them but the bay itself seems navigable. 19 mile seems mostly open though floating slush seems to be present out past Chases Island...might be some solid sheets out there too.

Doesn't mean some ice wont drift in as it breaks up but launching and getting out seems fine. The Not many boats trying it at any of these bays. Water temps still lingering at 39. We are at a point where a good windy day should open most areas up. Seems by the pictures that many more southern areas are holding floating slush or light sheets of ice and need some wind to push it out.

Be careful of floating debris....we encountered lots of it yesterday.

My guess is ice out will be declared late tomorrow or Tuesday.

[SteveA]

Originally Posted by PaugusBayFireFighter

There's a loon just of our docks and there's a boat trolling a few hundred yards out. ...

This Loon was all around Ellacoya on 4-10-13. I sent a few pictures off to the folks at the Loon Center and got back a nice series of emails from several of the Biplogists from the the Loon Center.



From Tiffany Grade (Loon Center Biologist)
"I'm copying our Senior Biologist, John Cooley, on this message, as he will
certainly want to hear about this first arrival on Winni!


Hi Steve,

"Echoing Tiffany's thanks for your sighting, interest, and report, the first
confirmed loon sighting in the Lakes Region! We compile the early season
reports and provide them to our field biologist for the lake, who begins her
regular surveys in mid-May."

Best,
John Cooley, Jr… (Loon Center Chief Biologist)

[SplendidSplinter9]

Decided on Alton Bay yesterday. Unfortunately we couldnt get out to the main lake. Trolled the bay and came up with 2 nice salmon. Here is a pic of ice blocking us.

[Bodhi]

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

Nice to see open water again, next Friday will be our opening day.

Thanks for that VERY encouraging shot form Cattle landing- we hope to open the cabin on East side of Bear Saturday 19th & stay through school vacaiton week- keep us posted!

[Gatto Nero]

I just posted this video of the ice breaking up on my breakwater in another section but it's probably more appropriate here.The wind is picking up and driving the ice south at a pretty good clip.

[Island Girl]

Terrific video, Gatto Nero. For anyone who has not witnesses ice-out first hand, you have to watch this.

A few years ago I had the unique opportunity to be on Rattlesnake Island for the first part of ice-out through the generosity of good friends. It is amazing to see the power of te ice moving. Late one afternoon we heard what sounded like gunshots.... A very loud cracking. We went next door to see their dock destroyed.

Thanks again GN

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by Bodhi

Thanks for that VERY encouraging shot form Cattle landing- we hope to open the cabin on East side of Bear Saturday 19th & stay through school vacaiton week- keep us posted!

We launched from Shep Browns this morning and made it over to south Bear.
There was a big ice sheet along the west side of Bear from the Mail Dock to Cattle Landing.

Trying to get the dock in today the weather is not the best though.

[Bear247]

Originally Posted by Bear Island South

South Bear to Mark and Mink is ice free.
Anyone know if you can launch and get out of Shep Browns?

I would say yes. CR just posted they were having lunch on the island...

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by Bear247

I would say yes. CR just posted they were having lunch on the island...

Us too, just finshed our lunch...Quesadillas from the Wineing Butcher.

[JMR]

Went to the lake this afternoon for something to do. Here are pics of Rattlesnake Landing. A bit of slush at the edge, but totally open after that. Cove to the right of landing all filled in with windblown ice. Cove to left open. Open all the way to Rattlesnake according to friends who spent the night out there.

Most of Alton Bay open. Some sheets of ice moved by wind.

Lots of ice towards Wolfeboro. WAM open and putting boats on the water.