Ok, everybody can start the ice out count down because I am back in NC.

Had a great two weeks at the house. I found ice 8-15" thick. The entrance to Lees Mills was 13-15". It was 8-10" just about everywhere else I fished. I wish there had been more snow, but the crust made for great walking and atv riding.

With 3 upcoming days close to 50, and nights not going below freezing, I suspect that today could be the last day to be reasonably safe on the ice.

Did you catch any fish?

I actually caught my first Rainbow trout ever! It was almost 3 pounds. Caught it in Moultonboro Bay. No tag in it and it wasn't even derby weekend. Took a pic and released it.

The rest of the fish were perch and pickeral.

Just back from what will be my last trip on the ice this year.

I was out walking on Merrymeeting on Friday and it was solid and I wasn't concerned about my safety in the areas I was traveling.

I was out there again today, about noon when the sun was high and the wind hadn't come up yet. Walking the same areas, I finally decided to get off the ice and walk along the shore. The ice was making all kinds of noises, but not the normal cracking and booming of a solid ice pack. It seemed to be more sagging at times. That is the point when I decided to get off. There is also a long ridge line that has a lot of water coming up along it's length.

If you watch today's time lapse videos of the WeirsCAM and the Anchor Marine cam, you will see noticable ice disappearing from the edge of the ice pack.

Time to start thinking of pulling things off the ice and staying off.

Ice-in
 

Has ice-in been officially declared yet?

Caution
 

Two large holes opened up yesterday on the northwest side of Diamond Island. I just saw people out in this same vicinity on Saturday, so they're lucky that they didn't fall through.

Yes, I believe it was. See Post #157