Ice-Out 2012

The Hairy Beast · 03-08-2012, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclaker

In the last 12 years, I don't remember any year when there was no ice on the opening day of salmon fishing April 1st on Alton Bay. One year we had to climb over waist high snow piles to get to the dock. Another year they shut off the bubblers the night before and the previously open water was glazed over. Fish and Game officers kicked off guys who were using various means to break up the ice. Fishing is only allowed on natural openings. Hope no one tells them that openings caused by bubblers are not natural. Some years we have fished with down jackets, vests and sweaters and others just a sweater. I don't anticipate any problems getting onto the dock or finding open water this year.

Not last spring but the year before (2010) I think there was no ice in Alton bay for opening day. I went up to fish the Merrymeeting side of the stone bridge a few times in March (for rainbows) and the salmon were already in. Opening day that year was superb! I think I caught 12 off the docks at Downing's landing. I've been following those web cams daily and I note we have at least as much open water off the gas dock as we did on opening day last year (which was a snowstorm) and there's current. My buddy Trav actually braved the snow on April 1st last year, got there at first light and fished what he described as a "White-out Blizzard" for an hour in gale force winds. Then at one point he started toppling over for no apparent reason, only to discover that the driving wind had caused so much snow to build up on one side of his body that it tipped him over. He went home. The next day (April 2nd 2011) was sunny and clear but frigid and windy with very little open water. Out at the end of the dock I tried to cast into the wind (whipping straight off the lake) and the fly line would make it ten feet or so then the wind would catch it and trow it back around my ears.We still managed to find salmon and I got 9 that day.

Here's some video from that day:

I'm guessing opening day this year will be awesome. F&G has been stocking the heck out of the lake and also dropping salmon back into the Merrymeeting instead of along the shoreline. That's got lots more fish showing up in Alton the past few years.

Island Girl · 03-08-2012, 03:18 PM

The current temps from CLA's weather station.... 3:14 pm

Water Temperature at 2 ft: 37.7 °F
Water Temperature at 10 ft: 39.2 °F

Notice that the 10 ft temp is now over 39 degrees... ice is being eaten from the bottom as well as the top!

All the snow melted in my yard today. This morning I could have run a snowmobile around it...

Barney Bear · 03-08-2012, 04:53 PM

We opened our cottage on East Bear Island on April 1, 2010 [our earliest opening ever in 43 years]. Ice-out was about a week earlier [earliest ever for the Big Lake].

Kerk · 03-09-2012, 08:35 AM

I would assume that yesterdays weather probably had a large change in the ice conditions. Wondering how things look today? Thanks.

DRH · 03-09-2012, 09:15 AM

Yesterday's 60 degree temperature and full sun, followed by rain and gusty winds overnight, have created a massive area of open water from the Parker Island area all the way southwest to Treasure Island. From there it extends to the southeast considerably past Ship Island and has almost reached Moose Island. It's working its way toward Alton Bay. The area is so large there are whitecaps on it this morning as a result of the continuing strong wind. It appears from our vantage point that an area of the Broads between Rattlesnake and the mainland is open water now too.

I'll take some photos later this morning and add them to this post.

Webbsatwinni · 03-09-2012, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRH

I'll take some photos later this morning and add them to this post.

Please! Please! Please!

JMR · 03-09-2012, 11:31 AM

We wait is killing us! Can't wait to see new photos

Massasauga · 03-09-2012, 11:59 AM

The wind is chipping away...

DRH · 03-09-2012, 01:11 PM

I will post more photos later this afternoon, but this will get you started.

The first photo shows a very large area of open water just north of Diamond Island. The area of open water is larger than the island itself. That's the northwest end of Diamond Island at the far right side of the shot:

The second photo is a long telephoto shot looking over Diamond and Rattlesnake Islands to the Broads on the northeast side of Rattlesnake.

More to come later!

Slickcraft · 03-09-2012, 02:25 PM

The Glendale docks are still iced in. As can be seen from the photo from Belknap point posted by Massasauga today, there is open water from light #26 out to Welch. However it is mostly unbroken ice from the town docks out to #26

DRH · 03-09-2012, 05:26 PM

Here some additional photos taken today:

This shot was taken at Ames Farm showing the large area of open water along the shoreline:

This shot was taken at Lincoln Park showing the large area of open water stretching from the Light #26 area out to Welch Island, which is just off the right side of the picture:

Another shot of the open water on the northwest side of Welch Island taken from a higher elevation:

This shot was taken from Glidden Rd. in Gilford showing a portion of the large area of open water to the southeast of Rattlesnake Island:

Here is a panorama shot taken this afternoon from just west of Minge Cove showing another view of the large area of the open water to the southeast of Rattlesnake Island:

Click HERE for a larger version of the panorama.

Lakesrider · 03-09-2012, 05:42 PM

Temps n the 50's all next week should do some serious melting. any rain or wind will help as well. 10 day forecast shows a little of both. Gonna be early this year as well.

JB Long Island · 03-09-2012, 08:29 PM

Wow won't be long now ...

Pineedles · 03-09-2012, 08:41 PM

Don,
With all this snapping you have been doing, its a wonder you ever have a chance to squeeze.

Great pictures Don.

Chris Exley · 03-09-2012, 10:22 PM

Is it too late? oy!

dippasan · 03-10-2012, 10:28 AM

Got back late last night from a week in the Caribbean with the wife and kids. Now I'm watching ship shape TV. Had to get on line immediately to see the ice out progress. So excited to kick off the season on Sleeper Isl. Weather this coming week looks in the mid to upper 50's and should wipe out a lot of ice.

Thanks to those of you that make the effort to post photos for the rest of us. Keep 'em coming..............

Gavia immer · 03-11-2012, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Exley

Is it too late? oy!

If this had been a month later -- instead of March, my guess for this Thursday would have been "in play".

Blue Thunder · 03-11-2012, 02:18 PM

Today's MODIS pic show the large opening near Rattlesnake very clearly.
The predicted temps of 60+ this week and much above normal 70s for the following week should make for ideal melting......

Merrymeeting · 03-11-2012, 02:32 PM

The WeatherCam 10 ft probe is showing temps above 40 for the first time. The water body is warming...

Dave R · 03-12-2012, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

Today's MODIS pic show the large opening near Rattlesnake very clearly.
The predicted temps of 60+ this week and much above normal 70s for the following week should make for ideal melting......

Is Sebago really free of ice?

pam.in.ny · 03-12-2012, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

Today's MODIS pic show the large opening near Rattlesnake very clearly.
The predicted temps of 60+ this week and much above normal 70s for the following week should make for ideal melting......

Is the lake in the center of the photo, where it is mostly white and then a dark spot in the lower left of the white area?

I love these photos. Thank you for posting them.

MAXUM · 03-09-2012, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hairy Beast

I'm guessing opening day this year will be awesome. F&G has been stocking the heck out of the lake and also dropping salmon back into the Merrymeeting instead of along the shoreline. That's got lots more fish showing up in Alton the past few years.

That's because the salmon population has shown signs of not being in very good shape when the F&G does the annual fall netting/stripping. That's why they have tightened the rules a little bit and asked anglers to take it easy especially on the salmon. I had either heard or read somewhere that the combination of increased fishing pressure and stocking fish that were to small really hurt.

Last couple years I have noticed the salmon I've caught quality wise have gone down hill. Last year it was really noticeable most barely if at all legal so all were thrown back. Lake Trout on the other hand were typically nice.

03-08-2012, 04:53 PM	#3
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 495 Thanked 273 Times in 174 Posts	Ice-Out 2010 We opened our cottage on East Bear Island on April 1, 2010 [our earliest opening ever in 43 years]. Ice-out was about a week earlier [earliest ever for the Big Lake].

03-09-2012, 08:35 AM	#4
Kerk Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 87 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Ice conditions afterThursdays wind & temp. ? I would assume that yesterdays weather probably had a large change in the ice conditions. Wondering how things look today? Thanks.

03-09-2012, 09:15 AM	#5
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 1,687 Thanks: 1,203 Thanked 677 Times in 179 Posts	Open Water! Yesterday's 60 degree temperature and full sun, followed by rain and gusty winds overnight, have created a massive area of open water from the Parker Island area all the way southwest to Treasure Island. From there it extends to the southeast considerably past Ship Island and has almost reached Moose Island. It's working its way toward Alton Bay. The area is so large there are whitecaps on it this morning as a result of the continuing strong wind. It appears from our vantage point that an area of the Broads between Rattlesnake and the mainland is open water now too. I'll take some photos later this morning and add them to this post. __________________ DRH

03-09-2012, 11:31 AM	#7
JMR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampton & Rattlesnake Island Posts: 175 Thanks: 33 Thanked 70 Times in 32 Posts	Photos We wait is killing us! Can't wait to see new photos

03-09-2012, 11:59 AM	#8
Massasauga Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Winter=Gilford / Summer=Rattlesnake Posts: 25 Thanks: 0 Thanked 39 Times in 9 Posts	Photo from Belknap Pt The wind is chipping away... Attached Images

03-08-2012, 03:18 PM	#2
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Warm, warmer and ...... liquid lake coming The current temps from CLA's weather station.... 3:14 pm Water Temperature at 2 ft: 37.7 °F Water Temperature at 10 ft: 39.2 °F Notice that the 10 ft temp is now over 39 degrees... ice is being eaten from the bottom as well as the top! All the snow melted in my yard today. This morning I could have run a snowmobile around it... __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

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03-09-2012, 01:11 PM	#9
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 1,687 Thanks: 1,203 Thanked 677 Times in 179 Posts	Couple Photos I will post more photos later this afternoon, but this will get you started. The first photo shows a very large area of open water just north of Diamond Island. The area of open water is larger than the island itself. That's the northwest end of Diamond Island at the far right side of the shot: The second photo is a long telephoto shot looking over Diamond and Rattlesnake Islands to the Broads on the northeast side of Rattlesnake. More to come later! __________________ DRH Last edited by DRH; 03-10-2012 at 12:07 PM.

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03-09-2012, 02:25 PM	#10
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,310 Thanks: 1,228 Thanked 2,098 Times in 957 Posts	Glendale The Glendale docks are still iced in. As can be seen from the photo from Belknap point posted by Massasauga today, there is open water from light #26 out to Welch. However it is mostly unbroken ice from the town docks out to #26

03-09-2012, 05:26 PM	#11
DRH Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 1,687 Thanks: 1,203 Thanked 677 Times in 179 Posts	More Photos Here some additional photos taken today: This shot was taken at Ames Farm showing the large area of open water along the shoreline: This shot was taken at Lincoln Park showing the large area of open water stretching from the Light #26 area out to Welch Island, which is just off the right side of the picture: Another shot of the open water on the northwest side of Welch Island taken from a higher elevation: This shot was taken from Glidden Rd. in Gilford showing a portion of the large area of open water to the southeast of Rattlesnake Island: Here is a panorama shot taken this afternoon from just west of Minge Cove showing another view of the large area of the open water to the southeast of Rattlesnake Island: Click HERE for a larger version of the panorama. __________________ DRH

The Following 13 Users Say Thank You to DRH For This Useful Post:
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03-09-2012, 05:42 PM	#12
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Temps n the 50's all next week should do some serious melting. any rain or wind will help as well. 10 day forecast shows a little of both. Gonna be early this year as well.

03-09-2012, 08:29 PM	#13
JB Long Island Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 29 Thanks: 8 Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts	Wow won't be long now ...

03-09-2012, 08:41 PM	#14
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,545 Thanks: 1,072 Thanked 668 Times in 367 Posts	Don, With all this snapping you have been doing, its a wonder you ever have a chance to squeeze. Great pictures Don.

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03-09-2012, 10:22 PM	#15
Chris Exley Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mirror Lake, NH and Royersford, PA Posts: 134 Thanks: 26 Thanked 15 Times in 7 Posts	Can I change my Ice Out guess? Is it too late? oy!

03-10-2012, 10:28 AM	#16
dippasan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Hooksett NH and Sleepers Isl Posts: 392 Thanks: 288 Thanked 190 Times in 83 Posts	Gettin' itchy Got back late last night from a week in the Caribbean with the wife and kids. Now I'm watching ship shape TV. Had to get on line immediately to see the ice out progress. So excited to kick off the season on Sleeper Isl. Weather this coming week looks in the mid to upper 50's and should wipe out a lot of ice. Thanks to those of you that make the effort to post photos for the rest of us. Keep 'em coming..............

03-11-2012, 02:18 PM	#18
Blue Thunder Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Eastern MA & Frye Island/Sebago Lake, Maine Posts: 951 Thanks: 252 Thanked 351 Times in 158 Posts	Today's MODIS pic show the large opening near Rattlesnake very clearly. The predicted temps of 60+ this week and much above normal 70s for the following week should make for ideal melting...... Attached Images __________________ " Live for today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come"

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03-11-2012, 02:32 PM	#19
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	The WeatherCam 10 ft probe is showing temps above 40 for the first time. The water body is warming...