Ice Out Contest?

Pineedles · 03-07-2026, 10:57 AM

Haven’t been on line since January, but is there an ice out contest this year?

webmaster · 03-07-2026, 03:04 PM

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/index.php?pageid=iceout

garysanfran · 03-08-2026, 03:41 AM

August 5th...2:59am.

8gv · 03-08-2026, 07:08 AM

April 63rd 10 am.

MeredithMan · 03-08-2026, 09:16 AM

Interestingly, there are only a few bobhouses left in Meredith Bay

ishoot308 · 03-08-2026, 10:43 AM

There is not as much ice as everyone thinks. The early snow really insulated the ice from the cold and slowed it down from thickening especially in the broads. The ice only got to be 10” thick around Welch and in the broads. When it goes, it’s gonna go quick. I am anticipating fishing April 1st…while this may not be ice out I feel we will have enough open water on the south side of the lake to drop the boat in and hopefully make it out to Welch.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Dan

John Mercier · 03-08-2026, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8gv

April 63rd 10 am.

63rd? is that sometime in May?

Descant · 03-08-2026, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

There is not as much ice as everyone thinks. The early snow really insulated the ice from the cold and slowed it down from thickening especially in the broads. The ice only got to be 10” thick around Welch and in the broads. When it goes, it’s gonna go quick. I am anticipating fishing April 1st…while this may not be ice out I feel we will have enough open water on the south side of the lake to drop the boat in and hopefully make it out to Welch.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Dan

I thought the snow would also protect the ice from the sun, extending ice out to April 18th.

ishoot308 · 03-08-2026, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

I thought the snow would also protect the ice from the sun, extending ice out to April 18th.

Last year we had a few inches more ice and I was on the water April 6th. After this weeks warm weather, the snow that’s left will turn to water and help with the melt….I hope!

I’ve been wrong before however…just ask my wife!

Dan

Trail Goer · 03-09-2026, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Mercier

63rd? is that sometime in May?

That would be June 2nd

Bear Guy · 03-09-2026, 10:25 AM

This year's statistics, with the two guesses for ice out to happen in years past (2025 and 2020!) corrected.

BillTex · 03-09-2026, 07:28 PM

I see some single digit nites in the forecast. This will freeze any top layer from this thaw. Ice-out may be later then you think!

retired · 03-10-2026, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Last year we had a few inches more ice and I was on the water April 6th. After this weeks warm weather, the snow that’s left will turn to water and help with the melt….I hope!

I’ve been wrong before however…just ask my wife!

Dan

If you ever get into an argument with your wife, go out and buy a new fishing pole. You'll lose the argument, but you'll have a new fishing pole.

SAB1 · 03-10-2026, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillTex

I see some single digit nites in the forecast. This will freeze any top layer from this thaw. Ice-out may be later then you think!

I don’t see single digits in any forecast and hope not. That stops the sap from flowing!

TomC · 03-10-2026, 04:01 PM

Next Tue/Wed are forecasted to have overnight temps 7-9 degrees.. of course forecasts that far out often change...

BillTex · 03-10-2026, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAB1

I don’t see single digits in any forecast and hope not. That stops the sap from flowing!

Next Tuesday + Wed

rscalzo · 03-11-2026, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pineedles

Haven’t been on line since January, but is there an ice out contest this year?

Yes, but the date to enter is now closed..

The 2026 winnipesaukee.com Ice-Out Guess Contest
only accepted guesses from February 1, 2026 through February 28, 2026.

ishoot308 · 03-17-2026, 06:48 PM

There was a nice section of open water today on Winnisquam happening right along route 3!

Dan

SAB1 · 03-17-2026, 07:39 PM

Plenty of ice in Tuftonboro. Still solid and 22 inches

03-07-2026, 10:57 AM	#1
Pineedles Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Moultonborough & CT Posts: 2,550 Thanks: 1,071 Thanked 672 Times in 369 Posts	Ice Out Contest? Haven’t been on line since January, but is there an ice out contest this year?

03-08-2026, 03:41 AM	#3
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,639 Thanks: 727 Thanked 705 Times in 363 Posts	August 5th...2:59am. __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

03-08-2026, 10:43 AM	#6
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,531 Thanks: 2,453 Thanked 5,465 Times in 2,142 Posts	There is not as much ice as everyone thinks. The early snow really insulated the ice from the cold and slowed it down from thickening especially in the broads. The ice only got to be 10” thick around Welch and in the broads. When it goes, it’s gonna go quick. I am anticipating fishing April 1st…while this may not be ice out I feel we will have enough open water on the south side of the lake to drop the boat in and hopefully make it out to Welch. Keeping my fingers crossed! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

03-09-2026, 10:25 AM	#11
Bear Guy Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: FL, Bear Is. Posts: 193 Thanks: 52 Thanked 75 Times in 46 Posts	This year's statistics, with the two guesses for ice out to happen in years past (2025 and 2020!) corrected. Attached Images

03-17-2026, 06:48 PM	#18
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,531 Thanks: 2,453 Thanked 5,465 Times in 2,142 Posts	Winnisquam There was a nice section of open water today on Winnisquam happening right along route 3! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

03-07-2026, 03:04 PM	#2
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,494 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 467 Thanked 4,031 Times in 864 Posts	https://www.winnipesaukee.com/index.php?pageid=iceout

The Following User Says Thank You to garysanfran For This Useful Post:
pjard (03-08-2026)

03-08-2026, 07:08 AM	#4
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,191 Thanks: 63 Thanked 764 Times in 497 Posts	April 63rd 10 am.

03-08-2026, 09:16 AM	#5
MeredithMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH Posts: 1,006 Thanks: 264 Thanked 830 Times in 347 Posts	Interestingly, there are only a few bobhouses left in Meredith Bay

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
FlyingScot (03-08-2026), garysanfran (03-08-2026)

The Following User Says Thank You to Bear Guy For This Useful Post:
webmaster (03-09-2026)

03-09-2026, 07:28 PM	#12
BillTex Senior Member Join Date: May 2024 Location: Freedom (state of mind) Posts: 147 Thanks: 30 Thanked 50 Times in 36 Posts	I see some single digit nites in the forecast. This will freeze any top layer from this thaw. Ice-out may be later then you think!

03-10-2026, 04:01 PM	#15
TomC Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Lakes Region Posts: 816 Thanks: 42 Thanked 185 Times in 116 Posts	Next Tue/Wed are forecasted to have overnight temps 7-9 degrees.. of course forecasts that far out often change...

03-17-2026, 07:39 PM	#19
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,275 Thanks: 196 Thanked 336 Times in 244 Posts	Plenty of ice in Tuftonboro. Still solid and 22 inches