Indian Lake, Oh Ice...

[Raybob]

Today the main lake was about 95% covered in skim ice & snow...

This evenings forecast--

OHZ026-034-035-043-044-111015- HARDIN-MERCER-AUGLAIZE-SHELBY-LOGAN- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENTON...CELINA...WAPAKONETA...SIDNEY... BELLEFONTAINE 357 PM EST THU DEC 10 2009

TONIGHT CLEAR AND BRISK. LOWS 5 TO 10 ABOVE. WEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH. WIND CHILL AS LOW AS 9 BELOW. FRIDAY MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH. WIND CHILL AS LOW AS 5 BELOW IN THE MORNING. FRIDAY NIGHT MOSTLY CLEAR. LOWS 15 TO 20. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.

[Raybob]

I might check-out the WBI (way-back-in) NE channels this afternoon for activity ~ I crossed my channel yesterday afternoon on foot to the cross-channel neighbors.

[Raybob]

2-3 pm--

-Seen 4 Icers out from lake shores (north-end backwaters), About a dozen and a half parked at the north end of Long Isle fishing the Bear Wallow side in the channel & backwaters ~ didn't see anyone on the NF side of Long Isle...

BTW ~ I seen a lil' open water just off Sport point & the mouth of the bay was filled w/frozen 'push Ice... Main lake still 95% frozen w/the Ducks n' Geese keeeping many pot-holes & current areas open...

[Javelin360]

Any idea how thick of ice they are fishing on? I would love to come up...!

[Raybob]

Any idea how thick of ice they are fishing on? I would love to come up...!

No, I was in the 'Burb this afternoon for the Ice-check drive ~ But I did drill & measure my Chippewa channel Ice around noon today - 4.1"es - Remember that we are the highest/coldest spot in Ohio with our water flowing downhill to both Erie & to the Ohio river from here... ever try Skiing at Mad River Mountain 15 miles SW of Indian Lake ...Fun!!! :)

[Raybob]

BTW ~ w/last Sunday's thaw the shad were in spin-cycle & the air was thick with Sea-Gulls here in the Chippewa State boat basins... Also the bottom of my dead-end channel was covered in chrome from the dead shad... Took about 10-15 minutes to cull a (6) limit of 19-20" Saugeye eaters from the East Chippewa dredge channel break Sunday eve w/jigs...

[Raybob]

Well, we "had" 3 dayz of fishable channel & backwater Ice Thursday, Friday & Saturday ...the forecast looks poor for another spell--

OHZ026-034-035-043-044-130915-
HARDIN-MERCER-AUGLAIZE-SHELBY-LOGAN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENTON...CELINA...WAPAKONETA...SIDNEY...
BELLEFONTAINE
927 PM EST SAT DEC 12 2009

TONIGHT
OCCASIONAL RAIN SHOWERS. THE RAIN MAY MIX WITH FREEZING
RAIN AT TIMES THROUGH EARLY MORNING. LITTLE IF ANY ICE
ACCUMULATION. LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S. SOUTH WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 90 PERCENT.

SUNDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. RAIN SHOWERS...MAINLY IN THE MORNING.
HIGHS IN THE LOWER 40S. SOUTH WINDS AROUND 15 MPH...BECOMING
SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF RAIN 80 PERCENT.

SUNDAY NIGHT
PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE LOWER 30S. WEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH...BECOMING SOUTH AFTER MIDNIGHT.

MONDAY
PARTLY SUNNY IN THE MORNING...THEN BECOMING MOSTLY
CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 40S. SOUTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH...
INCREASING TO AROUND 15 MPH IN THE AFTERNOON.

MONDAY NIGHT
MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF
SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.

TUESDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS IN
THE MORNING. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S. TEMPERATURES FALLING INTO
THE UPPER 20S IN THE AFTERNOON. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION
30 PERCENT.

[Raybob]

-with the ice thickness from skim to 4" yesterday & with last nights temp increase w/rain even my channel looks unsafe this morn'...

[Javelin360]

No, I was in the 'Burb this afternoon for the Ice-check drive ~ But I did drill & measure my Chippewa channel Ice around noon today - 4.1"es - Remember that we are the highest/coldest spot in Ohio with our water flowing downhill to both Erie & to the Ohio river from here... ever try Skiing at Mad River Mountain 15 miles SW of Indian Lake ...Fun!!! :)

Raybob, thanks for the info! However, with today's rain it kind of puts it out of question now. Looks like colder temps towards the end of the week

:rock-on:

[Raybob]

Ice Forecast
Posted on December 15, 2009 at 06:07:21 PM by ratherbefishing (kerns.85@buckeyemail.osu.edu)

I know that this doesn't sound too good to the waterfowl folks, but the forecast for the next 10 days leading up to Christmas looks to give us good fishng ice by that weekend if it stays on track.
I averaged out the daily temperatures and the ice will be forming strong with an average of 23.2 degrees for the next 10 days.Haaay -sounds good! :bigsmile:

Ice-check drives gives the old fart something to do between family xmas visits when I'm in the mood!

I know it's supposed to cool off again starting with this afternoon - some sleet & snow late this afternoon. Also the ice cover remains on the main lake as far as I can see from Chippewa...

-the local weather guesser site I use--
http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:ohz044

[Raybob]

Re: Indian Lake Ice (http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=74563.msg1221948#msg1221948)
« Reply #102 on: Today at 01:59 PM »

I just came home from a Northside Ice-check drive...

-One Icer on Barnes dredge slot - didn't see any Icers on the Big V

-Acheson's Resort has at least two Ice-breakers out from both the dock & ramp into A-bay today & didn't drive the rest of the way out to Turkeyfoot point for a channel check

-No one on Bishops Cove or the channel over to North channel today so far

-13 parked at both pull-offs on the road to Long Isle, I could see one Icer on the NF side channel & the rest in the backwaters, channels & the back of the bay on the Pony Isle side of the road...

No, I didn't drill any holes today & stayed in the warm truck w/the Bi-Nocs
Be safe & have fun this weekend ~ supposed to thaw a lil' this afternoon & 40's on Friday w/some snow at night, so check for thin ice edges that reformed over nite...

[Raybob]

fyi ~ At least 2"es of new snow on the ground & snowing hard at present. Looking out the window my Chippewa Channel Ice has water & snow slush on it... coffee-time/shower-time before visits...

later Gators--

[fire_line]

thanks for the info raybob keep us posted

[Raybob]

-yesterday's 2"+ of snow melted by eve yesterday & this mornings 1" of new snow is now melted on the roads w/a inch on the ground. My channel is frozen slush over ice w/a few wet spots...

-a friend said he did well yesterday on P-fish & to stay outta sight from the noise makers back in the channels ~ before long it will be the dreaded snow-bikes n' 4-wheelers that 'spook the shallow/active fish...

I 'might make a ice-check drive M/T/W if the forecast is for colder temps.

[Raybob]

-with the daytime temps of mid 30s & nitetime temps of mid 20s, by the forecast, it doesn't look like the ice making machine will be turned-on until next Saturday.

ZONE FORECAST PRODUCT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
922 AM EST MON DEC 21 2009

OHZ026-034-035-043-044-052-212115-
HARDIN-MERCER-AUGLAIZE-SHELBY-LOGAN-CHAMPAIGN-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...KENTON...CELINA...WAPAKONETA...SIDNEY...
BELLEFONTAINE...URBANA
922 AM EST MON DEC 21 2009

TODAY
CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF FLURRIES AND FREEZING DRIZZLE.
HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.

TONIGHT
MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF FLURRIES AFTER MIDNIGHT.
LOWS IN THE MID 20S. NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 5 MPH.

TUESDAY
CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF FLURRIES IN THE MORNING. HIGHS IN
THE LOWER 30S. EAST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.

TUESDAY NIGHT
MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE MID 20S. EAST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.

WEDNESDAY
MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 30S. EAST WINDS
10 TO 15 MPH.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT
MOSTLY CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF FREEZING RAIN AND
SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT. LOWS IN THE UPPER 20S. CHANCE OF
PRECIPITATION 40 PERCENT.

THURSDAY
CLOUDY. A CHANCE OF FREEZING RAIN...SNOW AND RAIN IN
THE MORNING...THEN A CHANCE OF RAIN IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN
THE UPPER 30S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 50 PERCENT.

THURSDAY NIGHT
RAIN. WINDY WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S. CHANCE
OF RAIN 80 PERCENT.

CHRISTMAS DAY
CLOUDY. RAIN LIKELY WITH A CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE
MORNING...THEN A CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN THE
UPPER 30S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 60 PERCENT.

FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY
CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF
SNOW SHOWERS. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S.

SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY
CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF
SNOW SHOWERS. BRISK. LOWS AROUND 20. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S.

[Raybob]

-no Icers on Big V in front of Avondale

-the ice-breakers were out from Acheson's resort into A-bay

-no Icers back in Bishops cove

-the ice-breakers had the channel split back in lake shores

-16 Icers parked in the south pull-off along the road to Long Isle, IMHO on rotten ice.

-then had a good lunch in Russels Point & returned home...

[rebs]

Raybob
do you ice fish on Indian Lake ?
You are very lucky to live on such a beautiful lake, I would love to live there myself.

[Raybob]

Raybob
do you ice fish on Indian Lake ?


Yes ~ I scout around in the daytime & if I'm in the mood I nail the active shallow Eyes after dark on breaks (GPS) with plenty of elbow room :)

-I also hit the wooden post docks from time-to-time for P-fish - ice thickness doesn't matter

***Tip ~ if the temp is above freezing punch 15-20 docks for P-fish & then work the docks w/the long-pole n' jigs...

[Raybob]

12-22-09 post

Quote from: chevy hillbilly
hey Ray, whats the odds of safe ice(4" or more for me) sunday after x-mas at indian? Have never been to indian, but kinda going stir crazy, thinkin about makin a road trip.

HB http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/Smileys/default/cool.gif



HB ... I can only look to the weather guessers for a guide & what mother nature 'decides for your Sunday trip http://weather.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iwszone?Sites=:ohz044

The forecast looks poorer than what I posted about the ice-machine firing back up this Saturday by a prior forecast if you check above. The limited early channel/backwater ice here is only for skilled Icers that know the lake & this week that means major risktakers at present.

I/myself would not drive any distance just to make a lake check ~ what I seen yesterday looked like the end of round two here at Indian lake. When-ever the weather turns cold again & we get 3-4"es of solid ice the game will be back on.

Myself, I would like to see that(3-4" of solid ice) on the main lake cuz it's only been about 90% covered w/many pot-holes in the ice cover...

That's about the best I can do for you other than to say that 1st timers to IL for early ice bite 'should probably arrive/meet w/a friend that knows the lake & the places that have the least risk... also myself, more than one is a crowd if you are into a slam catch for the easy to spook shallow early bite. (I like to drill a series of holes then let them settle before working them)

[Raybob]

fyi, the main lake is open and has white caps. The old northside ski area is also open. The Big V is still ice covered at near noon today, with the strong winds out of the SE push ice is stacked in front of the State Park area to Blackhawk.

[Raybob]

Icers -2" of snow last night & cold today w/a good ice forecast. Be carefull on the early areas that had melted thin ice w/the now snow cover!

BTW ... 2 'risktakers were working the island around the bishops cove channel yesterday & my bi-nocs said they were doing very well

[Raybob]

Raybob
IceShanty Rookie
**
Posts: 82
Location: Shores of Indian Lake
Re: Indian Lake Ice
Dec 28, 2009, 12:49 PM

Quote from: GOTICE? on Dec 28, 2009, 11:54 AM
Is Bishops cove also called Cranberries?

No Gotice ~ it is off Rt# 235 on the Northside next to Geronimo's camp (on the eastside channel) at the end of north channel...

[Raybob]

Quote from: GOTICE?
Thanks for the info Raybob. I think I know where you are talking about. Didn't they take all the trees of that island right by the boatdock?
Also looking for an ice report. I am off work tomorrow and would like to get on the ice somewhere. I know its only been a couple days but it has been cold.


Gotice ...the Eastside channels around the island back to bishop's (I like the docks in front of the homes between Geronimo's camp and Bishops cove the best)

the old ice areas that still had 3" of rotten ice sat/sun have firmed back up & maybe added near a inch more ~ w/the snow cover make sure you pick a good spot from the shore to get to the thicker old ice after tonite should be no problem in getting to the old ice(maybe even today)

As always, my main interest is in the main, which is frozen slush covered again this morn' everywhere I could see on a southside grocery trip...

IMHO ~ the numerous wooden docks all around the lake are much much better than the usual hi-traffic old ice area that gets pounded hard ...just ask permission to fish from dock owners cuz I'm usually on da bank w/the long pole hitting my dock punched holes...

[Raybob]

Lots of Icers out today all around the lake ...I even drove back toward Long Isle to check those guyz out -both pull-offs were maxed-out w/a few icers working the NF pads, one skinny guy crossing the NF trap from the Eastside even -eek!

-gonna be a reader as round three is under way :cheers:

[fire_line]

any new reports on indian lake raybob ??

[Raybob]

Tim ~ the nite-bite has been very good when I'm in the mood to rodbend, but I'm just under 7 lb for a top-dog Eye along w/easy limits of Gals over 4 lb :)

[T.N.R.]

Raybob,
I tried saugeye fishing through the ice at Indian a couple of years ago without any sucess. Caught lots of bluegills and crappies but never the first saugeye. Do you have any tips on baits, water depth, general areas, etc..? I am only about 30 minutes from the lake and am itching to give it a try again. Thanks in advance.
T.N.R.

[Raybob]

I post Ice conditions for the early season Icers to help them out ...myself, I'm a one-on-one sUMo 'Chaser (over 8 lb Eyes) who luvs his elbow room to do his 'thingy & rod-bends mostly after dark w/his best friend GPS all year long. I don't care to eat fish period and C n' R all of them except for a few for family & close friends (but they have to clean them).

Here is 77 IL tips n' such to help get you started on a short-cut learning curve--
http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145021

I simply do not bait hooks for the clue-less, but I have tried to provide some usefull IL info above, if you want to get started on the path to becoming a Ex-Basser IL I-Guy :)

Probably the best winter tip I have read is --
"In some saugeye lakes experiencing high siltation due to agricultural run-off, a 6-inch taper in a hundred yards might be all it takes to focus fish movement across a 4- or 5-foot-deep basin with 8 inches of ice cover. Hard to believe? Believe it. To a 4- or 5-inch tall fish, a 6-inch difference in depth may be more significant than we realize, especially in such shallow water. Think cattle grazing across the plains, following the bottom of a gentle gully, and you're on the right track"

The above complete tip is no longer available on In-fisherman, just checked.
http://www.in-fisherman.com/walleye_insider/exclusives/wi0802_SaugeyeSecret/

[Raybob]

Predictable Positions and Behaviors

Saugeye Secrets -- Ice versus Open Water

By In-Fisherman (http://www.in-fisherman.com/articles/all/by-in-fisherman)

http://www.in-fisherman.com/content/saugeye-secrets-ice-versus-open-water

[Raybob]

-Bunch of In-fisherman Ice tips-

http://www.in-fisherman.com/category/basic-technique/ice-fishing

[Raybob]

-another good piece of info...

-The below overall MO has worked on both Erie & Inland waters for over 50 years for me for heavyweight bass and eyes, along w/growing increased 'skills over the same time period...


try night fishing! Especially when the water is clear (also warm water & high traffic), you are going to have success–especially if you scout out areas in the daytime, so you can determine where it is that the baitfish are hanging out (then think the closest shallow break around midnight). This will be the area you want to concentrate upon during the night when it is harder to see the baitfish.

http://www.askwalleyefishing.com/looking-for-walleye-in-the-detroit-river-and-in-lake-st-clair.html

[Raybob]

Noon today/1-15-10

My IL channel ...I have 2"+ of water on the bare ice spots & slush everywhere else...

[Raybob]

Ice conditions on the Northside
Posted on January 29, 2010 at 12:00:32 PM by lake rat

I noticed that today my chippewa channel has once again froze up from the warm water run-off in the state (http://iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?PHPSESSID=5c8c6f94846fbb14635156604b118b 2f&topic=74563.msg1368143#)ditch.

Also yesterday the East chippewa channel was still open & also the open lake out a couple of hundred feet along the shore toward the moose.

Also be carefull around any road salt run-off areas... looks like the temps are back to winter norms again.

Re(1): Ice conditions on the Northside
Posted on January 29, 2010 at 08:42:48 PM by lake rat

Drove back to Dunn's in the mid-afternoon ...1 guy on the South-end, 1 guy in the middle & 2 guys plus a blue shanty on the north-end.

Didn't see any caught in the Bi-nocs while I was back in Dunn's

Re(3): Ice conditions on the Northside
Posted on January 30, 2010 at 04:29:09 AM by lake rat

-just woke-up ~ heck, we have power again & even cable is back on

I fired up the generator from 8-10 pm to warm the whole house, pump water, run the freezers & surf the net for a spell ...cable was out then...

It's 13 degrees at present in Chippewa, so I hope that the new ice added enough thickness last nite so no-one gets wet getting on the thicker ice this weekend... just be carefull in flow areas.

[Raybob]

Re(1): week of daytime temps above 30
IP: 74.5.50.215
Posted on February 2, 2010 at 07:47:58 AM by Laker

-daytime temps above 30 degrees makes for a great week of no-line freeze below the IL dam/GMR in the afternoons & a easier time above the dam for the vert-jiggers...


Re(2): week of daytime temps above 30
IP: 74.5.61.47
Posted on February 4, 2010 at 10:54:09 AM by GMR toothy critters

GMR Muskie, Pike & Saugeye this week

http://www.bing.com/maps/explore/#5003/o=&a=&s=w/5872/style=auto&lat=qqhczm&lon=802m0x&alt=258.774872&z=18&pid=5874

[Raybob]

Re(2): WINTER STORM WARNING
IP: 74.5.56.171
Posted on February 6, 2010 at 10:00:14 AM by NWS

-lots of muddy yellow wet snow drifts on the ice from what I can see this morning. The truck is buried upto the windows and we are under a level three conditions anyway.

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EST THIS
EVENING
SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA EARLY THIS
MORNING. THE SNOW WILL GRADUALLY TAPER OFF BY NOON. ADDITIONAL
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE FOR A STORM TOTAL
OF 10 TO 14 INCHES. IN ADDITION TO THE SNOW...NORTHEAST WINDS OF
15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH WILL OCCUR TODAY. THESE
WINDS WILL CAUSE BLOWING AND DRIFTING SNOW WHICH MAY RESULT IN
LOCAL WHITEOUT CONDITIONS. SOME DRIFTS MAY BE SEVERAL FEET HIGH.
HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED. THOSE WITH TRAVEL
PLANS IN THE WARNING AREA ARE ADVISED TO CHOOSE AN ALTERNATE
ROUTE. USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVEL IS UNAVOIDABLE. STAY
TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR YOUR FAVORITE SOURCE OF WEATHER
INFORMATION FOR THE LATEST UPDATES. ADDITIONAL DETAILS CAN ALSO BE
FOUND AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/ILN.