Ice-in Watch 2006 - Page 3

Weirs guy · 02-17-2006, 07:24 AM

My 2 cents for this weekends brave anglers:
I saw quite a few sleds last night out around spindle point and pitchwood island. Haven't been out there myself, but it looks like there may be some bobhouses too (could be houses on shore too, dang crappy binoculars

). I'd stay away from Weirs bay though, theres still that big hole that tends to move from time to time.
Good luck, and stay dry!

jaybat · 02-17-2006, 02:29 PM

Hello All,

Have a good time this wekend if you're fishing in the derby or just enjoying the Lake. Be carefull as other folks have indicated. In reviewing a past posted message from FLAG on 2-10-06 he had a good idea for keeping safe. All but the style of Sun Glasses

Just fooling around with you FLAG.

Anyway, be safe, have fun, good luck to all fishing and enjoy the Great Outdoors.

Jaybat
Centeral Mass

Cow Man · 02-18-2006, 03:15 PM

The plan is for my son and I to x-country ski towing a toboggan with provisions from Harilla to Cow (Ragged side) tomorrow. His mother kinda likes him. Does anyone know if the ice is safe out that way? I was up a few weeks ago and there were no snowmobile or other tracks out there.

Orion · 02-19-2006, 12:28 PM

Just watched someone skimming the water on snowmobile on Abakee Cottages web cam. What the heck are people thinking?

http://65.175.179.62/

KTO · 02-19-2006, 12:55 PM

It's funny how in just a few more weeks we will be discussing ice out versus the ice in...what a weird winter!

Mee-n-Mac · 02-19-2006, 02:20 PM

We did a tour of the lake, from Alton to Meredith this Sat. First thing to say is ... man was it ever COLD ! The wind was merciless as well and because of the two I'd have to say only the most intrepid fishing folk were out on the ice. Relatively few bobhouses to be seen wherever we went. Got a few pictures to post when I can get some free space. Second there was lots of open water, especially off the Samoset condos and btw the Weirs and Spindle Pt. White caps crashing on the ice ... an unusual sight. Lots of trees and branches down on Meredith neck.

Cow Man · 02-19-2006, 02:32 PM

I had my doubts about the wisdom of this trip. Based on previous posts I knew that the ice was thin in many areas around the lake. Still, I reasoned that the recent cold snap might have changed the situation and I had no information about the Harilla to Cow Island area.
We have been visiting our camp in winter for many years and have never had any trouble. We are experienced and well prepared. We discussed the prospect of falling through the ice, proper self rescue techniques and brought along the tools we would need to handle an emergency.
The ride to Harilla encouraged me as I saw many snowmobiles, cars and trucks often parked near to one another in Center Harbor as well as a few in the vicinity of Trexlers. A local shop owner told me he thought the ice was safe in the area and an ice fisherman reported the ice as eight-inches thick.
We loaded up the toboggan and set out from Harilla on foot. I do not doubt that the fisherman was sincere, there probably was 8” immediately offshore around Long Island. But the ice got increasingly thinner and cracked, and being white an exact thickness was hard to gauge.
Approximately 100 yards from our camp at the Ragged Island side of the Hole in the wall, the ice began to crack with each step and we realized we had to abort. We cautiously worked are way back to the landing.
In my opinion, barring several consecutive days of sub zero temperatures the ice is not and will not be safe to walk on in the area between Ragged and Cow and extending one quarter the distance back towards Harilla this year.

I expect I will be able to make the trip by boat by mid March.

spotsink · 02-19-2006, 05:18 PM

Sorry to hear you had to abort your adventure but also very glad you made it off the ice OK. It must have been very frustrating to be so close and not be able to reach your island.

We have been thinking about trying to get from 19 mile bay to Little Bear but have not tried it yet. 19 Mile Bay has numerous Bob houses on it along with trucks, ATV's and snow machines. I heard of a truck through the ice near Chase Point last week so I think the ice is questionable out that way...

I think you are correct in thinking you will be able to go by boat in the next four or five weeks... I think we will need to wait until then to check our place.

Island Girl · 02-19-2006, 08:31 PM

It is so good to be home here on Rattlesnake Island. The magnificient beauty of this place never ceases to awe me... and my most gracious hosts.

The ice is not safe. It is 1-6 inches in depth with open holes the size of a snowmobile.

There are a lot of rifts with water in them. Some areas are frozen nicely and others very thin... such as near the alligator on the Rattlesnake peninsula. The airboat went through the ice or made cracks along the way. There have been no snowmobiles or ATV out here on the broadside of the island... and with good reason.. The above freezing temps this week will not help things any either.

RG, your place looks fine after all that wind.

I am thinking early ice out as well... there will be a lot of debris as the ice is high against the docks and may pull them apart; ice houses have blown apart all around the lake as well.

I will try to post a picture or two..

IG

Weirs guy · 02-20-2006, 08:26 AM

All that wind on Friday pushed ice flows from the middle of Weirs bay into the docks by the peir, the open spot in the middle of the bay out towards Spindle point is huge. We saw a airboat Sunday morning, but other then that no ones been "brave" enough to venture out there, which is a very good thing. I expected at least one lost angler over the weekend. Looks like no ice in in the bay this year, but I'll be swimming in a month!

Lake Fan · 02-21-2006, 10:17 AM

This weekend we went from 19 Mile Bay to the south side of Whortleberry Island with a small snowmobile. There's a big pressure ridge from Chase Point all the way across to Whortleberry. OK to walk over. We found a safe spot get the sled across, but I don't think a truck could cross it. We had 14" of ice in most places. The ice was solid across to Little Bear and Cow. Very cold and windy for the weekend. Not may fisherman around out there. The fish must have been frozen also - we only got one 17" laker. Still had a lot of fun.

trfour · 02-21-2006, 02:34 PM

...even though we hav'nt had ice in on the lake this winter, I have never seen so many pressure ridges, thanks to all of the PhotoPosts and web cams here!

Weir'd Winter!!

Cow Man · 02-21-2006, 05:54 PM

Does anyone sell those things North of Florida? I like to use my camp year 'round. After this winter's thin ice I'm thinking I might convince myself I need one!

gtxrider · 02-22-2006, 10:02 AM

Any day now it will look like this:

Island Girl · 02-22-2006, 10:03 AM

.... I will unwrap the boat and get it ready!!

Grant · 02-22-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtxrider

Any day now it will look like this:

I can only hope so. I found MAJOR dock damage last week when I was up there. It's going to be expensive to repair. Time for a bigger bubbler.

trfour · 02-22-2006, 06:18 PM

... the potential for more severe dock and shoreline damage this year due to the large areas of open water, as wind driven wave action could brake up thicker and heavier chunks of ice that normally have a chance to melt down before brake up. Also for all early season boaters, there could be a greater risk of collision with said dibree!!

Over the many years here I have seen many boaters going full tilt on Paugus Bay before ice out, only later to come into shore and ask me where the nearest fiberglass or prop repair shop was.

Be careful out there!

Mee-n-Mac · 02-22-2006, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grant

I can only hope so. I found MAJOR dock damage last week when I was up there. It's going to be expensive to repair. Time for a bigger bubbler.

Yup, I think QL is correct. I noticed a few docks up and down the shore from ours had already sustained ice damage this year. With all the freezing and unfreezing and resultant shifting ice, I predict buying stock in dock repair companies might be a wise investment. With the way the weather has been this year I can only hope the ice melts before we see winds like we had recently. No bubbler is going to prevent damage from a big floe on the move.

Merrymeeting · 02-22-2006, 08:26 PM

If the 10-day forecasts are to be believed, looks like we will be seeing ice formation just about the time all the school vacations end and everyone begins to shift into Spring mentality.

Temps looking to stay in the low 20's and teens during most of a 24 hour day, with few days going above freezing, if that.

With no snow to insulate things, the ice should grow and thicken over the next few weeks rather than the other way around. Looks like those ice-out guesses are still safe.

Roche · 02-24-2006, 11:31 AM

Hello,

Anyone know if it's safe to walk across the lake from the Rattlesnake Island Asso. parking area to Copland's Cove on the Island? We'd like to do our usual winter cabin check. Any info would be much appreciated! Thanks much.

The "Roche"s

Island Girl · 03-05-2006, 08:12 AM

Ice is melting off Rattlesnake, broadside.. See photopost picture I just put up.. more later

Diamond Isle · 03-06-2006, 06:43 AM

Island Girl,
How did it look for a crossing from Ames to Diamond?
Thanks for running this string - it's a great way to check the island without actually being there!!

02-17-2006, 07:24 AM	#201
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My 2 cents for this weekends brave anglers: I saw quite a few sleds last night out around spindle point and pitchwood island. Haven't been out there myself, but it looks like there may be some bobhouses too (could be houses on shore too, dang crappy binoculars ). I'd stay away from Weirs bay though, theres still that big hole that tends to move from time to time. Good luck, and stay dry! __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

02-17-2006, 02:29 PM	#202
jaybat Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upton MA Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Lake Activities this Weekend Hello All, Have a good time this wekend if you're fishing in the derby or just enjoying the Lake. Be carefull as other folks have indicated. In reviewing a past posted message from FLAG on 2-10-06 he had a good idea for keeping safe. All but the style of Sun Glasses Just fooling around with you FLAG. Anyway, be safe, have fun, good luck to all fishing and enjoy the Great Outdoors. Jaybat Centeral Mass

02-18-2006, 03:15 PM	#203
Cow Man Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cow Island / Holderness, NH Posts: 46 Thanks: 4 Thanked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Harilla to Cow OK? The plan is for my son and I to x-country ski towing a toboggan with provisions from Harilla to Cow (Ragged side) tomorrow. His mother kinda likes him. Does anyone know if the ice is safe out that way? I was up a few weeks ago and there were no snowmobile or other tracks out there.

02-19-2006, 12:28 PM	#204
Orion Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cow Island Posts: 914 Thanks: 602 Thanked 193 Times in 91 Posts	The idiots are out there! Just watched someone skimming the water on snowmobile on Abakee Cottages web cam. What the heck are people thinking? http://65.175.179.62/

02-19-2006, 02:20 PM	#206
Mee-n-Mac Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,943 Thanks: 23 Thanked 111 Times in 51 Posts	Not fit for man or beast We did a tour of the lake, from Alton to Meredith this Sat. First thing to say is ... man was it ever COLD ! The wind was merciless as well and because of the two I'd have to say only the most intrepid fishing folk were out on the ice. Relatively few bobhouses to be seen wherever we went. Got a few pictures to post when I can get some free space. Second there was lots of open water, especially off the Samoset condos and btw the Weirs and Spindle Pt. White caps crashing on the ice ... an unusual sight. Lots of trees and branches down on Meredith neck. __________________ Mee'n'Mac "Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by simple stupidity or ignorance. The latter are a lot more common than the former." - RAH

02-19-2006, 12:55 PM	#205
KTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 391 Thanks: 30 Thanked 117 Times in 26 Posts	It's funny how in just a few more weeks we will be discussing ice out versus the ice in...what a weird winter!

02-19-2006, 02:32 PM	#207
Cow Man Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cow Island / Holderness, NH Posts: 46 Thanks: 4 Thanked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Harilla to Cow Not OK. I had my doubts about the wisdom of this trip. Based on previous posts I knew that the ice was thin in many areas around the lake. Still, I reasoned that the recent cold snap might have changed the situation and I had no information about the Harilla to Cow Island area. We have been visiting our camp in winter for many years and have never had any trouble. We are experienced and well prepared. We discussed the prospect of falling through the ice, proper self rescue techniques and brought along the tools we would need to handle an emergency. The ride to Harilla encouraged me as I saw many snowmobiles, cars and trucks often parked near to one another in Center Harbor as well as a few in the vicinity of Trexlers. A local shop owner told me he thought the ice was safe in the area and an ice fisherman reported the ice as eight-inches thick. We loaded up the toboggan and set out from Harilla on foot. I do not doubt that the fisherman was sincere, there probably was 8” immediately offshore around Long Island. But the ice got increasingly thinner and cracked, and being white an exact thickness was hard to gauge. Approximately 100 yards from our camp at the Ragged Island side of the Hole in the wall, the ice began to crack with each step and we realized we had to abort. We cautiously worked are way back to the landing. In my opinion, barring several consecutive days of sub zero temperatures the ice is not and will not be safe to walk on in the area between Ragged and Cow and extending one quarter the distance back towards Harilla this year. I expect I will be able to make the trip by boat by mid March.

02-19-2006, 05:18 PM	#208
spotsink Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 76 Thanks: 7 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cow Man: Thanks for the information Sorry to hear you had to abort your adventure but also very glad you made it off the ice OK. It must have been very frustrating to be so close and not be able to reach your island. We have been thinking about trying to get from 19 mile bay to Little Bear but have not tried it yet. 19 Mile Bay has numerous Bob houses on it along with trucks, ATV's and snow machines. I heard of a truck through the ice near Chase Point last week so I think the ice is questionable out that way... I think you are correct in thinking you will be able to go by boat in the next four or five weeks... I think we will need to wait until then to check our place.

02-19-2006, 08:31 PM	#209
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Report from Rattlesnake Island It is so good to be home here on Rattlesnake Island. The magnificient beauty of this place never ceases to awe me... and my most gracious hosts. The ice is not safe. It is 1-6 inches in depth with open holes the size of a snowmobile. There are a lot of rifts with water in them. Some areas are frozen nicely and others very thin... such as near the alligator on the Rattlesnake peninsula. The airboat went through the ice or made cracks along the way. There have been no snowmobiles or ATV out here on the broadside of the island... and with good reason.. The above freezing temps this week will not help things any either. RG, your place looks fine after all that wind. I am thinking early ice out as well... there will be a lot of debris as the ice is high against the docks and may pull them apart; ice houses have blown apart all around the lake as well. I will try to post a picture or two.. IG __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

02-20-2006, 08:26 AM	#210
Weirs guy Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Weirs Beach, NH Posts: 1,067 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Weirs Bay All that wind on Friday pushed ice flows from the middle of Weirs bay into the docks by the peir, the open spot in the middle of the bay out towards Spindle point is huge. We saw a airboat Sunday morning, but other then that no ones been "brave" enough to venture out there, which is a very good thing. I expected at least one lost angler over the weekend. Looks like no ice in in the bay this year, but I'll be swimming in a month! __________________ Is it bikeweek yet? Now?

02-21-2006, 10:17 AM	#211
Lake Fan Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Whortleberry Island Posts: 123 Thanks: 16 Thanked 52 Times in 30 Posts	This weekend we went from 19 Mile Bay to the south side of Whortleberry Island with a small snowmobile. There's a big pressure ridge from Chase Point all the way across to Whortleberry. OK to walk over. We found a safe spot get the sled across, but I don't think a truck could cross it. We had 14" of ice in most places. The ice was solid across to Little Bear and Cow. Very cold and windy for the weekend. Not may fisherman around out there. The fish must have been frozen also - we only got one 17" laker. Still had a lot of fun.

02-21-2006, 02:34 PM	#212
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Weir'd how... *...even though we hav'nt had ice in on the lake this winter, I have never seen so many pressure ridges, thanks to all of the PhotoPosts and web cams here!* *Weir'd Winter!!* __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

02-21-2006, 05:54 PM	#213
Cow Man Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cow Island / Holderness, NH Posts: 46 Thanks: 4 Thanked 19 Times in 8 Posts	Air Boats Does anyone sell those things North of Florida? I like to use my camp year 'round. After this winter's thin ice I'm thinking I might convince myself I need one!

02-22-2006, 10:02 AM	#214
gtxrider Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Piscataway, NJ Posts: 1,030 Thanks: 2 Thanked 46 Times in 24 Posts	And soon! Any day now it will look like this: Last edited by gtxrider; 02-20-2007 at 08:18 PM.

02-22-2006, 10:03 AM	#215
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Next Week .... I will unwrap the boat and get it ready!! __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

02-22-2006, 06:18 PM	#217
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,069 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	Everyone keep in mind... ... the potential for more severe dock and shoreline damage this year due to the large areas of open water, as wind driven wave action could brake up thicker and heavier chunks of ice that normally have a chance to melt down before brake up. Also for all early season boaters, there could be a greater risk of collision with said dibree!! Over the many years here I have seen many boaters going full tilt on Paugus Bay before ice out, only later to come into shore and ask me where the nearest fiberglass or prop repair shop was. Be careful out there! __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

02-22-2006, 08:26 PM	#219
Merrymeeting Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Merrymeeting Lake, New Durham Posts: 2,226 Thanks: 302 Thanked 800 Times in 368 Posts	New England weather strikes again If the 10-day forecasts are to be believed, looks like we will be seeing ice formation just about the time all the school vacations end and everyone begins to shift into Spring mentality. Temps looking to stay in the low 20's and teens during most of a 24 hour day, with few days going above freezing, if that. With no snow to insulate things, the ice should grow and thicken over the next few weeks rather than the other way around. Looks like those ice-out guesses are still safe.

02-24-2006, 11:31 AM	#220
Roche Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is it "ice-in" between RIA parking and Rattlesnake? Hello, Anyone know if it's safe to walk across the lake from the Rattlesnake Island Asso. parking area to Copland's Cove on the Island? We'd like to do our usual winter cabin check. Any info would be much appreciated! Thanks much. The "Roche"s

03-05-2006, 08:12 AM	#221
Island Girl Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Central MA Posts: 2,352 Thanks: 18 Thanked 535 Times in 179 Posts	Thining Ice Warning Ice is melting off Rattlesnake, broadside.. See photopost picture I just put up.. more later __________________ Island Girl ....... Make Lemonade

03-06-2006, 06:43 AM	#222
Diamond Isle Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Waterboro, ME & Diamond Island Posts: 5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Safe Crossing? Island Girl, How did it look for a crossing from Ames to Diamond? Thanks for running this string - it's a great way to check the island without actually being there!!