Ice thickness ?

[Lucky1]

If you are thinking of going out on the lake please be careful. The weather keeps having warm spells and this pattern is just not good for the ice formation.

[donnamatrix]

The water flow from Waukewan into Winni (in front of Lago) has already been slowed a bit . .. I believe the town intends to slow it further,

[NHgirl]

Hope the derby is still on for next weekend, and hoping for more SNOW.

[HomeWood]

My neighbor in Moult-Neck reported 10" the other day. We don't really venture far from home or places we aren't familiar with. I'm siked to be there on Monday!

[Lake Fan]

We hiked out to Whortleberry Island from 19 Mile Bay over the weekend. There are vehicles and bob houses all over the bay out to Chase Point and The Graveyard area. There's a long pressure ridge extending from Chase Point all the way over to Whortleberry with open water several feet across in many areas. We had to go up onto the island to get around it. Ice thickness in most areas was 8"-10", but along the shore and near shallow rocks the ice is very thin. We're heading up for the derby next weekend but caution will be in order. Have fun, be safe. Photo was taken Sunday 2/5/12 in 19 Mile Bay.

[SIKSUKR]

Is that plowed area to show where the safe route by truck would be?

[Lakewinn09]

Hi guys first time poster... Ive never ice fished on lake winn.. I usually just go there during the summer months.. Anyways we are heading up for the derby next week. We are trying to figure out the safest access points and safet places on the lake?? If i could get a little help would be great.. Our fat asses dont want to take a swim this weekend lol... We were thinking Alton bay was the safest?? any input would be great... thanks

[nightrider]

ice is 3 to 4 inches on winter harbor opposite the opening to the broads. Ice ridge from the Osseo dock all the way across the bay. don't usually see one in that location. thicker ice by Libby but 2 feet open water at the ramp (they never should have redirected the drainage outlet right next to the ramp). NO snow on the ice on Winter Harbor. Good for skating, not so much for sled lube/cooling. Ice was singing all day yesterday. You could actually watch the ice ridge building.

[Lakewinn09]

Thanks nightrider. Would you guys say alton bay is the thickest? Basically looking for the safest area. Thanks

[DRH]

There was still an area of open water near the Gilford shoreline today. I took this photo from Lincoln Park this morning, which is just west of Belknap Point:

[Mink Islander]

Well, I drove up this morning to check things out personally. Unfortunately, not only is the Cattle Landing dock area a complete mess thanks to Island Services' airboat (cmon guys how about just a little common courtesy - you greatly contributed to destroying an important access point to the lake and should have known better) and still impassable but that entire shoreline has lots of open water in both directions. In short, no easy access point. I checked Sheps and the usual access area around from the showroom is completely open water out 20 ft or more. I also ducked into the Y Landing marina but figured that was likely unpassable too. I saw zero activity between y landing and cattle landing.

Meredith was very quiet for the Friday of the Derby. A bit more activity further out in the bay, but we're talking a handful of people. This was around 8AM.

Oh well, add me to the list of those hoping for an early ice out.

[DueSouth]

Originally Posted by Mink Islander

... Unfortunately, not only is the Cattle Landing dock area a complete mess thanks to Island Services' airboat (cmon guys how about just a little common courtesy - you greatly contributed to destroying an important access point to the lake and should have known better) ....

while I appreciate the fact that the IS guys are a trying to make a living, I share the sentiment - they should know better.

[fatlazyless]

The first tip-off to me was that there's no cars or trailers or people or anything happening at the Cattle Landing town dock and parking lot. It was totally empty.

What was there was a nicely designed sign from the Ice Fishing Derby that warned people to be carefull about setting out on the ice, and gave a list of ten helpfull ice safety practices. So's apparently, what with the open water along the shoreline, thin ice, nearby water circulators, warm sun, and left-over shattered ice from possibly an air boat, nobody seems to be trusting the ice in the area of the Cattle Landing dock.

Just for my own curiosity, I set my 200-lb weight on the ice while bracing my hands down on the edge of the new concrete and lumber dock and jumping up and down to test the ice, and it started to crack up and looked to be maybe 1/2" thick immediately next to the dock. Determining the thickness and safety of the ice can be very challenging even when you are looking at it closely......probably just drilling a test hole is about the only way to inspect it.....and as already mentioned the parking lot and dock were both totally empty of any vehicles or people.....so's no one wanted to trust the unknown safety of the ice in that area. Most years they do, but not this year so far?

[Sully]

Just saw a low flying helicopter near the Long Island bridge. I hope the first tragedy hasn't happened. Unfortunately, there will be serious accidents on Lake Winni this weekend simply because the Meredith Rotary lacks the same common sense as that of Mr. Scott Crowder and the Pond Hockey Tournament.

[Jonas Pilot]

I just came off the ice in Wolfeboro Bay. It's a solid 8" with some pressure ridges to deal with. Only one car. Nice to see a lot of families enjoying this mild winter day. I saw quite a few rescue rings and throwable cushions. Lots of flags up but mostly salmon caught including one I was told was about 7 or so pounds. A tagged rainbow trout was caught yesterday out off the beach.

[Sully]

Rescue Rings? Throwable Cushions? Families enjoying a mind winter day? Ahh yes....this is the lack of common sense that leads to tragedy! The only questions are ...Where will it happen? How many times will it happen? and..... Will there be rescue rings or throwable cushions?

[Jonas Pilot]

I couldn't get the little rascal in the middle to smile no matter what I did.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Sully

Rescue Rings? Throwable Cushions? Families enjoying a mind winter day? Ahh yes....this is the lack of common sense that leads to tragedy! The only questions are ...Where will it happen? How many times will it happen? and..... Will there be rescue rings or throwable cushions?

I have already heard a report of someone losing a jiffy auger through the ice on winnisquam today. They slammed it down to dig a hole and it went right through...1-2"...