Ice In

[meredith weekender]

Meredith bay is definitely opening up on the south side of Meredith marina. The appears to have moved out about 100' from shore and is now clear at least 500' down from the marina.

[Mink Islander]

FLL, i see what looks like a bob house on the Governor's Island cam half way between the tip of Meredith Neck and Mark/Timber Islands. There's usually one in that area most winters. Just wanting to confirm. My plans changed for this weekend when the kid's car died..... Plan to be up Friday to check things out.

[Bear Island South]

I couldn't make out the one on Governor's, there is definately activity on the Weirs cam

[tpabrad]

Bear I saw them out there yesterday too. Seems like things should hold up for next weekend. I'll be on town on Thursday and cant wait. Was hoping for some snow but I'll be happy there is ice!

[fatlazyless]

No, there's no ice fishing bob houses or any ice fisherman anywhere to be seen between Cattle Landing, Buoy 3, Mark Island, Timber Island, or Governor's Island.

Earlier today, there was a large red johnboat style airboat with a huge propeller on the stern sliding around the ice off Dolly Island and Bear Island but that's about all.

45-degrees is what this website is reporting right now from the Weirs-Cam, plus it is sunny too.

www.weirsonline.com/fishingderby.htm

[Blue Thunder]

Today's image shows the darkish color of the ice on most of the lake compared to the brighter white color in the Moultonboro Bay area.

BT

[AC2717]

Sebago does not look like there is ice at all

so what does this say?

[meredith weekender]

Originally Posted by AC2717

Sebago does not look like there is ice at all

so what does this say?

It says "PARTY TIME", call the marina and ready the boat. LOL

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by AC2717

Sebago does not look like there is ice at all

so what does this say?

What is says is I CAN'T GET TO MY HOUSE AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT!!!

It is not uncommon for Sebago not to freeze and with a winter like this, it just didn't happen. The Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby scheduled for Feb 17-19 has already been cancelled. The $100K prize for a record touge is still up for grabs during the Statewide Derby in March. The major reason for no ice is Sebago is much deeper (315' at it's deepest) than Winnipesaukee. It takes a perfect set of circumstances for the water to reach its maximum density of 39 degrees prior to freezing. This phenomenon has been explained by CLA in the past. The wind "almost" never quits and any ice that forms is often blown off the lake during the next day. It's always a crap shoot that I get to use my place in the winter. I'm probably taking the aluminum over sometime this week just to get a look around.

BT

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

What is says is I CAN'T GET TO MY HOUSE AND I'M NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT!!!

It is not uncommon for Sebago not to freeze and with a winter like this, it just didn't happen. The Sebago Lake Rotary Ice Fishing Derby scheduled for Feb 17-19 has already been cancelled. The $100K prize for a record touge is still up for grabs during the Statewide Derby in March. The major reason for no ice is Sebago is much deeper (315' at it's deepest) than Winnipesaukee. It takes a perfect set of circumstances for the water to reach its maximum density of 39 degrees prior to freezing. This phenomenon has been explained by CLA in the past. The wind "almost" never quits and any ice that forms is often blown off the lake during the next day. It's always a crap shoot that I get to use my place in the winter. I'm probably taking the aluminum over sometime this week just to get a look around.

BT

Blue Thunder: If you live in Massachusetts and vacation in Maine why do you visit this site so often?

[Pineedles]

I was not aware that Sebago doesn't freeze some years, as well as it's depth of 315'. I know I was there in '86 or '88 staying a couple of days with some neighbors and the water temperature was close to 90 degrees. Real hot spell but at the time I assumed it was a shallow lake.

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Blue Thunder: If you live in Massachusetts and vacation in Maine why do you visit this site so often?

I have some ties to the area from my childhood, have boated the lake many times and feel that I make positive contributions to this site. For the record, I don't believe that I am the only one participating here on a regular basis that isn't from the Lakes Region of NH.

BT

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by Pineedles

I was not aware that Sebago doesn't freeze some years, as well as it's depth of 315'. I know I was there in '86 or '88 staying a couple of days with some neighbors and the water temperature was close to 90 degrees. Real hot spell but at the time I assumed it was a shallow lake.

The ten year average for not freezing is 3 out of every 10. In my 40+ years of visiting/owning I've never seen the water temp that high. In the hottest of summers it can get to 80, but thats about it.

BT

[SIKSUKR]

I'm surprized that some of those bays have not frozen on Sebago.I guess the the lake temp is to high?

[Blue Thunder]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I'm surprized that some of those bays have not frozen on Sebago.I guess the the lake temp is to high?

Correct. As stated earlier, the water has to reach a uniform 39 degrees for a depth of 10-20 feet. Water is most dense at this temp. Then, and only then, can the rapid cooling at the surface take place to start the freezing process. In a perfect world that would be several nights of zero or sub zero cold. Obviously, we haven't had but a few of those nights this winter and in the case of Sebago, it wasn't at a time when the wind was calm. There was some ice about 2 weeks ago that was about an inch thick. One NW day and it was history.

BT

[Merrymeeting]

Based only on the webcam views, it sure looks like the ice is getting thinner and open areas are widening. I'll be able to look myself later this week when I get back to the area.

[codeman671]

Between the Black Cat cam and the Weirs cam, things are looking ugly...I was up on Alton Mountain earlier today and saw ice everywhere, but it was very gray. Down in Wolfeboro off Gould Road I saw someone walking about between the Varney Islands.

Some of the coves are fine, but I would not want to be anywhere out in the open. We are going to start an office pool to see how many people and cars go through this weekend...

[Resident 2B]

The ice looks much more like March 7th than February 7th and the lake temp does as well. Look at today's Anchor Marine time-lapse, large pieces of moving ice.

Be extremely careful out there ice fishing! I have decided to pass this year.

R2B

[FLAG!]

Do I see an ice house out there in Wolfeboro bay?

[Jonas Pilot]

I heard there were two out in Wolfeboro Bay.

[adamkry]

Hi All-

I will be trying to get to my house on Sleeper's Island tomorrow. I will be heading off from rattlesnake landing and trying to cross directly across to the island. The ice is normally a little thinner as that channel sees a good amount of current. Does anyone have any good info as to the ice around there? It's an East North East approach from Glidden cove to Sleeper's Island.

Obviously, I'll check it myself as I go but it'd make me feel better, or worse, to have a little more information.

Thanks!

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Blue Thunder

I have some ties to the area from my childhood, have boated the lake many times and feel that I make positive contributions to this site. For the record, I don't believe that I am the only one participating here on a regular basis that isn't from the Lakes Region of NH.

BT

Thanks. I didn't mean to imply that you don't make positive contributions to the site. I was just trying to understand your connection and you explained it well.

[adamkry]

The path from Rattlesnake Landing to Sleeper's seemed fairly safe. We checked the ice thickness about every 100-200 ft or so and it was between 4 and 6 inches on a direct path to my place which is on the south west side of the island, just barely facing Diamond Island. However, there is a small current of open water between Rattlesnake Landing/Glidden Cove and the Castle on Sleeper's Island. This gash can be circumvented on either side but use caution when out in the middle between the southern point of Glidden Cove and the Castle.

There are a lot of reports as to how the ice is 'Bad Ice' and 4 in may not be as strong as the 4 in we are accustomed to so be careful if you are planning on snowmobiling or ATVing. I'm going to stick to foot travel and ice skating myself as the ice is beautiful and smooth for skating.

Adam

[Island Girl]

Cessnaair went for a little ride yesterday and took these pics.

[ghfromaltonbay]

Thanks for the aerial shots. I can see our place at Sandy Point on the 3rd picture. Can't wait to get there next week!

[FLAG!]

Anyone have any ice thickness reports for the Wolfeboro area?

[tpabrad]

Flag, buddy of mine was out there this afternoon in his shack and said it was plenty thick, but seems the wind is having its effect and opening cracks making it hard to navigate. I know the area we fished in over the weekend (not the bay) was perfect on Friday/Saturday but turned for the worse really quick on Sunday. We had perfect conditions those days, but found ourselves having to navigate big chunks that got broken free in various places.

[FLAG!]

Thanks a lot. This is crazy. We're hoping to ice fish the weekend of March 2nd and would like to go from wolfeboro to the varneys, but from what I hear that may not be a safe trip. We may have to stay real close to the camp.

[Hamiltony]

Anyone know if there is a safe (thick enough ice) way to get to Bear, ideally from Cattle landing? My brothers and I are planning to come up next weekend (the 25th), but we're not sure we'll be able to walk out to our house on bear. Also, any suggestions on testing the ice ourselves (beyond the current plan: tie a rope around the youngest brother and pull hard if he goes through the ice) safely?

Thanks for any info!

[Jonas Pilot]

I think that even the most experienced would be very cautious about that far of a trip. How many times have you been on lake ice?

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Hamiltony

Anyone know if there is a safe (thick enough ice) way to get to Bear, ideally from Cattle landing? My brothers and I are planning to come up next weekend (the 25th), but we're not sure we'll be able to walk out to our house on bear. Also, any suggestions on testing the ice ourselves (beyond the current plan: tie a rope around the youngest brother and pull hard if he goes through the ice) safely?

Thanks for any info!

Stay away! You are crazy to try it, especially a week from now. The ice is soaked, thin and it is it is 43 degrees out. The entire next week is high 30's to low 40's daily.

The reports from Mink Islander last week indicated that there was no real safe place to even get on the ice between Sheps and Cattle Landing.

Pool some money together and have one of the service companies take you out by airboat. Island Services has been working on Bear, you may be able to catch a ride for short $$$.

[crowsnest]

Originally Posted by Hamiltony

Anyone know if there is a safe (thick enough ice) way to get to Bear, ideally from Cattle landing? My brothers and I are planning to come up next weekend (the 25th), but we're not sure we'll be able to walk out to our house on bear. Also, any suggestions on testing the ice ourselves (beyond the current plan: tie a rope around the youngest brother and pull hard if he goes through the ice) safely?

Thanks for any info!

By next week ill bet you can take your boat over !

[meredith weekender]

Originally Posted by crowsnest

By next week ill bet you can take your boat over !

LOVE that statement from Crowsnest .

[Hamiltony]

We came out last year (in March), but we may have to find someplace else to stay if the ice is that bad.

[Island Girl]

The lake will be liquid in March this year! The ten ft. temp at Black Cat Island hit 38 degrees today. Ice out page going up tomorrow!

IG

[Merrymeeting]

Not to dampen spirits, as at this point I want Ice-out as much as anyone. But I spent several hours today walking on the ice. I don't want to encourage mindless access without knowledge of conditions, but in protected coves and non-moving water areas, we have a LONG way to go before the ice is gone.

The areas I walked on were a good, solid 6" at least, more often 8-12". I checked almost every fishing hole I passed, and the results were the same. It will take a while before ice goes out in these areas.

[Hamiltony]

How do you test ice thickness? Is there some sort of drill, or are you estimating by eye?

[Jonas Pilot]

I would use an ice chipper (chisel) and 'thunk' my way along the ice. I'd pay attention to the looks and sounds of the ice and every so often I would chip through the ice to measure the thickness. I would make that first chip a gentle one and make sure you have a strap around your wrist and connected to the chipper. If it punches trough retreat! Just incase, make sure you have an extra pair of underwear.

[Jonas Pilot]

Just incase the temperature drops.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

Not to dampen spirits, as at this point I want Ice-out as much as anyone. But I spent several hours today walking on the ice. I don't want to encourage mindless access without knowledge of conditions, but in protected coves and non-moving water areas, we have a LONG way to go before the ice is gone.

The areas I walked on were a good, solid 6" at least, more often 8-12". I checked almost every fishing hole I passed, and the results were the same. It will take a while before ice goes out in these areas.

I think we will see it go out the way it came in. The broads and most open areas will go out quickly, while sheltered bays and coves drag on for a while.

How is that big open spot off belknap point looking? We are not up this weekend.

[HomeWood]

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.

[Merrymeeting]

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.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by HomeWood

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.

Did you catch any fish?

[HomeWood]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

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.

[Merrymeeting]

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.

[snowflake]

Has ice-in been officially declared yet?

[Little Bear]

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.

[Bear Island South]

Originally Posted by snowflake

Has ice-in been officially declared yet?

Yes, I believe it was. See Post #157