The Official 2025 Ice-in Thread

Island Girl · 12-24-2025, 04:04 PM

Here we go… another winter season on Lake Winnipesaukee. Waiting for ice… so planes can land on Alton Bay, snow mobiles and four wheelers can traverse the lake and islanders can experience the quiet an beauty of waking up to a snow covered frozen lake. I look forward to your commentary and experiences as i enjoy the east coast of Florida.

codeman671 · 12-27-2025, 09:43 AM

We are skimmed over down by Rattlesnake this morning. Ice as far as I can see other than a hole at the southern end of Diamond. As
As long as the wind stays down this may be the start of it.

rsmlp · 12-27-2025, 10:38 AM

From South Point on LI it appears to be locked in right across to Jolly Island. Hard to tell further out but certainly halfway across it is.

ishoot308 · 12-27-2025, 12:30 PM

Glendale was iced in this morning for the first time and lots of thin floating ice out in the broads. She’s ready!!!

Dan

Slickcraft · 12-28-2025, 01:45 PM

Belknap Point and Glendale today.

Alan

Lakegeezer · 12-28-2025, 04:14 PM

Here's a link to a spherical panorama, from a drone at 350 feet AGL, near lower Moultonboro Bay. Look around by clicking the link, then on the round arrow in the upper right corner of the photo to get into Pano mode.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KSHx98QJQRihBoFHA

fatlazyless · 12-28-2025, 07:49 PM

Maybe the last barge out there? Today at about two o'clock, a small construction barge with a small pilot house crept through the ice, slowly passing along the shoreline from Timber Isl to Mark Isl, making a lot of ice smashing noise as it chewed through the ice. Traveling at 5-mph out front Timber Isl it had to slow down to 2.5-mph out front Mark Isl probably due to thicker ice.

Was maybe Island Service out working somewhere till the ice forced it to escape back home while the ice still thin enough to go. Crunch, crack, crunch, crack, crunch ...... no doubt the driver must have a cell phone in case something goes wrong ..... like it gets stuck or breaks the prop or something, unexpected.

....... helloooooo ........ hey, guess what ....... barge is stuck? .....

..... what do I do? ......

ishoot308 · 01-02-2026, 08:52 AM

She is very close to freezing over this morning! If we had one more calm and cold night like last night she would take. Unfortunately I think the wind we have coming in tonight and tomorrow won’t give it a chance to freeze over and will most likely blow this all away…

Dan

ishoot308 · 01-02-2026, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

Here's a link to a spherical panorama, from a drone at 350 feet AGL, near lower Moultonboro Bay. Look around by clicking the link, then on the round arrow in the upper right corner of the photo to get into Pano mode.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KSHx98QJQRihBoFHA

Great photo! Thanks for sharing!!

Dan

fatlazyless · 01-02-2026, 10:57 AM

No worries ..... this large Winnipesaukee water area between Welch Island and the Gilford mainland will definitely freeze up, tonight Jan 2-3, 2026 ...... I guarantee it!

Tomorrow morning, it should be a smooth solid sheet of ice, one to two inches, thick.

MeredithMan · 01-02-2026, 12:55 PM

...All of Meredith Bay is locked in. Several groups ice fishing yesterday in front of the town docks.

bellamaria · 01-02-2026, 09:12 PM

This morning Alton Bay had five or six ice tents with traps (jigs?) set up around them. Looked like cones were out to mark an area for planes to park later in the season.

Slickcraft · 01-03-2026, 01:27 PM

Today's view from Belknap Point. Lots of open water but with with sheets of skim ice interspersed, including the Broads.

bellamaria · 01-03-2026, 10:58 PM

A lot more ice fishing happening this morning, with some closer to being past Sandy Point! And the actual runway cones are out. Maybe I missed them yesterday, but I’m pretty sure they weren’t there yet. A couple side by sides doing donuts out there this afternoon on my return.

ishoot308 · 01-04-2026, 10:12 AM

I think tonight’s the night! While we still have quite a bit of open water in the broads and between Welch and Lake Shore Park, the single digit temps expected tonight along with the very calm and if any wind should lock everything up!

Dan

cowislander · 01-04-2026, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

Here's a link to a spherical panorama, from a drone at 350 feet AGL, near lower Moultonboro Bay. Look around by clicking the link, then on the round arrow in the upper right corner of the photo to get into Pano mode.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KSHx98QJQRihBoFHA

Very nice! What DJI drone are you using for this?

Slickcraft · 01-04-2026, 10:52 AM

Today some water but mostly skim ice seen from Belknap Point. 5 AM tomorrow it will be about 4 deg with a light wind. Snap!

Alan

ishoot308 · 01-04-2026, 04:28 PM

Another pic from this afternoon. A little bit wind came in and blew most of the skim ice away. Hopefully tonight things lock up!

ishoot308 · 01-05-2026, 09:13 AM

Close but not quite!

The "alien hot tub" area is refusing to give in...Maybe tomorrow...

Dan

Island Girl · 01-05-2026, 04:32 PM

Looks icy out there!

Slickcraft · 01-08-2026, 03:55 PM

Not quite there.

Alan

ishoot308 · 01-10-2026, 09:33 AM

The lake does look like it skimmed over completely last night…not sure how that happened with the mild temps. It will probably open back up today with the expected mild temps. There is a tiny bit of open water just east of round island that I can see but other than that….

Dan

ishoot308 · 01-12-2026, 09:08 AM

Very surprised ice in hasn't been declared yet. From my vantage point all the last areas of the lake to freeze have been iced over for a couple days now. I can see no open water at all. Yesterday we drove around the southern half the lake from Meredith to Alton and saw no open water. Haven't heard a peep out of Emerson in a couple weeks...

Does anyone know of any open water still out there??

Dan

camp guy · 01-12-2026, 12:37 PM

Maybe there is no "official" declaration of ice-in due to possibility that if somebody saw a declaration of ice-in, and went on the ice, went thru the ice, and sustained injury or property damage they might file suit against the person who "declared" ice-in, or this website for posting the information.
I am not legally trained, just a thought.

Slickcraft · 01-13-2026, 04:22 PM

And nice smooth ice as far as I can see. If the snow holds off with enough cold nights, the ice boats may show up at Ellacoya.

Alan

ishoot308 · 01-14-2026, 07:29 PM

Emerson just confirmed Ice In! He said it happened a couple days ago but was unable to fly and confirm….

Happy winter everyone!

Dan

12-24-2025, 04:04 PM	#1
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,358 Thanks: 18 Thanked 577 Times in 183 Posts	The Official 2025 Ice-in Thread Here we go… another winter season on Lake Winnipesaukee. Waiting for ice… so planes can land on Alton Bay, snow mobiles and four wheelers can traverse the lake and islanders can experience the quiet an beauty of waking up to a snow covered frozen lake. I look forward to your commentary and experiences as i enjoy the east coast of Florida. __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

12-27-2025, 10:38 AM	#3
rsmlp Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 504 Thanks: 5 Thanked 173 Times in 90 Posts	ice From South Point on LI it appears to be locked in right across to Jolly Island. Hard to tell further out but certainly halfway across it is.

12-27-2025, 12:30 PM	#4
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	Glendale was iced in this morning for the first time and lots of thin floating ice out in the broads. She’s ready!!! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

12-28-2025, 01:45 PM	#5
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,384 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	Belknap Point and Glendale today. Alan Attached Images

12-28-2025, 04:14 PM	#6
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,692 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 356 Thanked 646 Times in 294 Posts	M'boro Bay Iced In Here's a link to a spherical panorama, from a drone at 350 feet AGL, near lower Moultonboro Bay. Look around by clicking the link, then on the round arrow in the upper right corner of the photo to get into Pano mode. https://photos.app.goo.gl/KSHx98QJQRihBoFHA Attached Images __________________ -lg

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12-27-2025, 09:43 AM	#2
codeman671 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 3,603 Thanks: 223 Thanked 856 Times in 519 Posts	We are skimmed over down by Rattlesnake this morning. Ice as far as I can see other than a hole at the southern end of Diamond. As As long as the wind stays down this may be the start of it.

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12-28-2025, 07:49 PM	#7
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,168 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,102 Times in 811 Posts	...... last vessel out there heads back home Maybe the last barge out there? Today at about two o'clock, a small construction barge with a small pilot house crept through the ice, slowly passing along the shoreline from Timber Isl to Mark Isl, making a lot of ice smashing noise as it chewed through the ice. Traveling at 5-mph out front Timber Isl it had to slow down to 2.5-mph out front Mark Isl probably due to thicker ice. Was maybe Island Service out working somewhere till the ice forced it to escape back home while the ice still thin enough to go. Crunch, crack, crunch, crack, crunch ...... no doubt the driver must have a cell phone in case something goes wrong ..... like it gets stuck or breaks the prop or something, unexpected. ....... helloooooo ........ hey, guess what ....... barge is stuck? ..... ..... what do I do? ...... __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

01-02-2026, 08:52 AM	#8
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	Close She is very close to freezing over this morning! If we had one more calm and cold night like last night she would take. Unfortunately I think the wind we have coming in tonight and tomorrow won’t give it a chance to freeze over and will most likely blow this all away… Dan Attached Images __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

01-02-2026, 10:57 AM	#10
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 9,168 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 310 Thanked 1,102 Times in 811 Posts	No worries ..... this large Winnipesaukee water area between Welch Island and the Gilford mainland will definitely freeze up, tonight Jan 2-3, 2026 ...... I guarantee it! Tomorrow morning, it should be a smooth solid sheet of ice, one to two inches, thick. __________________ .... Banned for life from local thrift store!

01-02-2026, 12:55 PM	#11
MeredithMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH Posts: 1,006 Thanks: 264 Thanked 830 Times in 347 Posts	Meredith Bay locked in ...All of Meredith Bay is locked in. Several groups ice fishing yesterday in front of the town docks.

01-02-2026, 09:12 PM	#12
bellamaria Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Posts: 22 Thanks: 9 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	This morning Alton Bay had five or six ice tents with traps (jigs?) set up around them. Looked like cones were out to mark an area for planes to park later in the season.

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01-03-2026, 01:27 PM	#13
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,384 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	Today's view from Belknap Point. Lots of open water but with with sheets of skim ice interspersed, including the Broads. Attached Images

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01-03-2026, 10:58 PM	#14
bellamaria Member Join Date: Jun 2022 Posts: 22 Thanks: 9 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	A lot more ice fishing happening this morning, with some closer to being past Sandy Point! And the actual runway cones are out. Maybe I missed them yesterday, but I’m pretty sure they weren’t there yet. A couple side by sides doing donuts out there this afternoon on my return.

01-04-2026, 10:12 AM	#15
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	Tonight’s The Night I think tonight’s the night! While we still have quite a bit of open water in the broads and between Welch and Lake Shore Park, the single digit temps expected tonight along with the very calm and if any wind should lock everything up! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

01-04-2026, 10:52 AM	#17
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,384 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	Today some water but mostly skim ice seen from Belknap Point. 5 AM tomorrow it will be about 4 deg with a light wind. Snap! Alan Attached Images

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01-04-2026, 04:28 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	Pics Another pic from this afternoon. A little bit wind came in and blew most of the skim ice away. Hopefully tonight things lock up! Attached Images __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

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01-05-2026, 09:13 AM	#19
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	Close! Close but not quite! The "alien hot tub" area is refusing to give in...Maybe tomorrow... Dan Attached Images __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

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01-05-2026, 04:32 PM	#20
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,358 Thanks: 18 Thanked 577 Times in 183 Posts	Monday Jan 5, 2025 3:30 pm Looks icy out there! Attached Images __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade Last edited by Island Girl; 01-05-2026 at 04:33 PM. Reason: Changed comment

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01-08-2026, 03:55 PM	#21
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,384 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	Not quite there. Alan Attached Images

01-10-2026, 09:33 AM	#22
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	Ice The lake does look like it skimmed over completely last night…not sure how that happened with the mild temps. It will probably open back up today with the expected mild temps. There is a tiny bit of open water just east of round island that I can see but other than that…. Dan Attached Images __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

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01-12-2026, 09:08 AM	#23
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	Ice In? Very surprised ice in hasn't been declared yet. From my vantage point all the last areas of the lake to freeze have been iced over for a couple days now. I can see no open water at all. Yesterday we drove around the southern half the lake from Meredith to Alton and saw no open water. Haven't heard a peep out of Emerson in a couple weeks... Does anyone know of any open water still out there?? Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

01-12-2026, 12:37 PM	#24
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,224 Thanks: 317 Thanked 560 Times in 310 Posts	Ice In Maybe there is no "official" declaration of ice-in due to possibility that if somebody saw a declaration of ice-in, and went on the ice, went thru the ice, and sustained injury or property damage they might file suit against the person who "declared" ice-in, or this website for posting the information. I am not legally trained, just a thought.

01-13-2026, 04:22 PM	#25
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,384 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	And nice smooth ice as far as I can see. If the snow holds off with enough cold nights, the ice boats may show up at Ellacoya. Alan Attached Images

01-14-2026, 07:29 PM	#26
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	Ice In Emerson just confirmed Ice In! He said it happened a couple days ago but was unable to fly and confirm…. Happy winter everyone! Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!