When does ice-in start? When are agitators needed?

daveschappell · 11-09-2019, 07:14 AM

We’re new to lakefront living. Wondering when we need to start thinking about ice and getting the agitator going. Early December?

winterh · 11-09-2019, 07:34 AM

It can vary but generally ice forms for good end of December into early January. Quiet coves freeze before wide open areas. I would recommend a thermostat for your bubbler. It won't be wasting electricity and running if we get a warm snap. Also understand that dock bubblers will not save your dock if the ice starts moving in the spring. I use 2 on my big permanent dock but I question the need every year. I guess they can't hurt. Previous owner was there for 40 years and never used one.

webmaster · 11-09-2019, 07:35 AM

Last year's Ice-In was declared by Emerson Aviation on January 14th although there was some skimming in late November and December because of the frigid November temps.

This thread from last year tracks the progress:

https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ad.php?t=24020

tis · 11-09-2019, 07:45 AM

Generally the broads are not solidly frozen until the third week of January.

Lakegeezer · 11-09-2019, 01:30 PM

The start time depends on where you are on the lake. In coves and northeastern areas, the freeze can come mid-December but it varies. It is important to keep the bubbler going when the new ice is thin. It can move and will move a dock with it if frozen to it. Once the ice is thick, running the bubbler a few hours a day is enough, and only when its below freezing, because the ice isn't moving laterally. In the spring, when the melt starts, you want the posts free from the ice so that the ice doesn't lift your dock up as the water level rises. Then, as winterh said, once the ice is on its way out, there is not much you can do but hope. One theory is that you should still keep bubbling to a minimum, so the ice can't get up momentum. Another theory is that you should bubble 24x7 around mid-April, so the open water is as large as possible. I've see both methods work and not work. Every year is an experiment.

chaseisland · 11-09-2019, 02:05 PM

Ice in started in September when I spilled my burbon on the rocks into the lake. Yes, I did cry over spilled burbon.

Descant · 11-09-2019, 02:17 PM

The nature of the OP leads me to think perhaps a new owner? Then the question is, how old is the dock, how constructed and what did the previous owner do? If you're off site for an extended time, there red services hat ill atch your property and take care of things after power loss, etc as needed, install and remove the bubblers. You can store them in the water under the dock. Note the new law that you cannot keep an area clear that prevents an abutter from accessing the ice from his property.

CooperS7777 · 11-09-2019, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winterh

I use 2 on my big permanent dock but I question the need every year. I guess they can't hurt. Previous owner was there for 40 years and never used one.

As Lakegeezer mentioned below, the circulators provide more protection from the ice heaving pilings and or posts posts as water levels change, and as the ice and associated weight build around the pilings and or posts.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lakegeezer

In the spring, when the melt starts, you want the posts free from the ice so that the ice doesn't lift your dock up as the water level rises.

barefootbay · 11-09-2019, 06:12 PM

I think total ice in is going to become a rare event in the coming years .

JADAQ · 11-10-2019, 12:46 AM

I was placing my bobhouse on Alton Bay at noontime on December 31st this year.....8” of fishable ice!

chipj29 · 11-11-2019, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefootbay

I think total ice in is going to become a rare event in the coming years .

What makes you think that?
And how would you define "the coming years"?

LFODMatt · 11-11-2019, 11:29 AM

This is kind of a related topic...

Is there some reason that the majority of island docks (nearly all without a breakwater) have retractable docks, and a majority of the mainland docks look to be permanent? Is it safety issue, is it that the mainland residences have their permanent docking system grandfathered, or something else entirely?

barefootbay · 11-11-2019, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipj29

What makes you think that?
And how would you define "the coming years"?

I believe that it is a combination of the hundreds of agitators plus warmer winters that makes ice in increasingly tenuous.

Descant · 11-17-2019, 12:09 PM

Do the bubblers also extend the growing season for milfoil and other invasives? What's the impact on aquatic animals? Why don'tr I see crayfish and sunfish anymore? Horned pout also seem to have disappeared.

Lakeboater · 11-17-2019, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JADAQ

I was placing my bobhouse on Alton Bay at noontime on December 31st this year.....8” of fishable ice!

How did you do that? It’s only November. LOL

Dhamma · 11-17-2019, 02:50 PM

Isn't "Ice in" or "Iced in" considered when the Mount cant sail to any of its ports?
"Ice in" doesnt actually mean that its safe to walk on, yet. Personally I'm scared stiff to walk on any frozen pond or lake. I dont care if its got 10ft thick ice. Some day its all going to let go and a lot of people are going to go swimmin. But I wont be one of them.

garysanfran · 11-17-2019, 04:51 PM

" Personally I'm scared stiff to walk on any frozen pond or lake. I dont care if its got 10ft thick ice"

This was near Stonedam...

When it's really cold and the ice is thick...The noise of the expansion cracks travelling up to several miles in a second is quite loud!

Dhamma · 11-17-2019, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garysanfran

" Personally I'm scared stiff to walk on any frozen pond or lake. I dont care if its got 10ft thick ice"

This was near Stonedam...

When it's really cold and the ice is thick...The noise of the expansion cracks travelling up to several miles in a second is quite loud!

A couple of years ago we had a decent earthquake, but it happened in the summer. First time that I felt like I was living in a rubber house.
If it happens on a weekend in the winter, it will be a disaster.

garysanfran · 11-17-2019, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dhamma

A couple of years ago we had a decent earthquake, but it happened in the summer. First time that I felt like I was living in a rubber house.
If it happens on a weekend in the winter, it will be a disaster.

The noise from that earthquake is something I will never forget. It was like hearing the bowels of the earth regurgitate.

An earthquake like that in the east, would be very devastating. All those brick factory buildings?

San Fran had a few shakers while I was in The Lakes Region a couple months ago.

Returning, I found plaster damage and damage to exterior wooden siding that split at certain junctions of pressure. Not sure how much damage, because it is four stories high and will need scaffolding to get to. The openings are large enough to be a moisture concern in the rains.

sum-r breeze · 11-18-2019, 09:47 AM

Lily Pond was completely frozen over as of Friday 11/15

rsmlp · 11-18-2019, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Descant

Do the bubblers also extend the growing season for milfoil and other invasives? What's the impact on aquatic animals? Why don'tr I see crayfish and sunfish anymore? Horned pout also seem to have disappeared.

Much more likely the prevalence of rockbass.

Phantom · 11-18-2019, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sum-r breeze

Lily Pond was completely frozen over as of Friday 11/15

The slip area at MVYC had a skim coat of ice this weekend

RUGMAN · 11-18-2019, 07:14 PM

Is it to early to talk about the fishing Derby dates and pond Hockey dates.

11-09-2019, 07:14 AM	#1
daveschappell Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Wolfeboro, NH Posts: 50 Thanks: 28 Thanked 21 Times in 12 Posts	When does ice-in start? When are agitators needed? We’re new to lakefront living. Wondering when we need to start thinking about ice and getting the agitator going. Early December?

11-09-2019, 01:30 PM	#5
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,677 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 354 Thanked 639 Times in 290 Posts	Start time varies... The start time depends on where you are on the lake. In coves and northeastern areas, the freeze can come mid-December but it varies. It is important to keep the bubbler going when the new ice is thin. It can move and will move a dock with it if frozen to it. Once the ice is thick, running the bubbler a few hours a day is enough, and only when its below freezing, because the ice isn't moving laterally. In the spring, when the melt starts, you want the posts free from the ice so that the ice doesn't lift your dock up as the water level rises. Then, as winterh said, once the ice is on its way out, there is not much you can do but hope. One theory is that you should still keep bubbling to a minimum, so the ice can't get up momentum. Another theory is that you should bubble 24x7 around mid-April, so the open water is as large as possible. I've see both methods work and not work. Every year is an experiment. __________________ -lg

11-09-2019, 02:05 PM	#6
chaseisland Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Concord, NH Posts: 157 Thanks: 17 Thanked 68 Times in 44 Posts	Ice Ice in started in September when I spilled my burbon on the rocks into the lake. Yes, I did cry over spilled burbon. Last edited by chaseisland; 11-11-2019 at 07:07 AM.

11-09-2019, 02:17 PM	#7
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,339 Thanks: 1,339 Thanked 1,621 Times in 1,053 Posts	To Bubble or not? The nature of the OP leads me to think perhaps a new owner? Then the question is, how old is the dock, how constructed and what did the previous owner do? If you're off site for an extended time, there red services hat ill atch your property and take care of things after power loss, etc as needed, install and remove the bubblers. You can store them in the water under the dock. Note the new law that you cannot keep an area clear that prevents an abutter from accessing the ice from his property.

11-17-2019, 12:09 PM	#14
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,339 Thanks: 1,339 Thanked 1,621 Times in 1,053 Posts	Milfoil Do the bubblers also extend the growing season for milfoil and other invasives? What's the impact on aquatic animals? Why don'tr I see crayfish and sunfish anymore? Horned pout also seem to have disappeared.

11-09-2019, 07:34 AM	#2
winterh Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 248 Thanks: 26 Thanked 134 Times in 61 Posts	It can vary but generally ice forms for good end of December into early January. Quiet coves freeze before wide open areas. I would recommend a thermostat for your bubbler. It won't be wasting electricity and running if we get a warm snap. Also understand that dock bubblers will not save your dock if the ice starts moving in the spring. I use 2 on my big permanent dock but I question the need every year. I guess they can't hurt. Previous owner was there for 40 years and never used one.

11-09-2019, 07:35 AM	#3
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,453 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 456 Thanked 3,819 Times in 839 Posts	Last year's Ice-In was declared by Emerson Aviation on January 14th although there was some skimming in late November and December because of the frigid November temps. This thread from last year tracks the progress: https://www.winnipesaukee.com/forums...ad.php?t=24020

11-09-2019, 07:45 AM	#4
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,702 Thanks: 751 Thanked 1,454 Times in 1,011 Posts	Generally the broads are not solidly frozen until the third week of January.

The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to chaseisland For This Useful Post:
FlyingScot (11-18-2019), ishoot308 (11-09-2019), LFODMatt (11-11-2019)

11-09-2019, 06:12 PM	#9
barefootbay Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 383 Thanks: 69 Thanked 97 Times in 70 Posts	I think total ice in is going to become a rare event in the coming years .

11-10-2019, 12:46 AM	#10
JADAQ Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 198 Thanks: 4 Thanked 66 Times in 43 Posts	I was placing my bobhouse on Alton Bay at noontime on December 31st this year.....8” of fishable ice!

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to chipj29 For This Useful Post:
CooperS7777 (11-11-2019), TiltonBB (11-11-2019)

11-11-2019, 11:29 AM	#12
LFODMatt Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 7 Thanks: 14 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	This is kind of a related topic... Is there some reason that the majority of island docks (nearly all without a breakwater) have retractable docks, and a majority of the mainland docks look to be permanent? Is it safety issue, is it that the mainland residences have their permanent docking system grandfathered, or something else entirely?

The Following User Says Thank You to Lakeboater For This Useful Post:
Dhamma (11-17-2019)

11-17-2019, 02:50 PM	#16
Dhamma Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Posts: 21 Thanks: 1 Thanked 14 Times in 5 Posts	Isn't "Ice in" or "Iced in" considered when the Mount cant sail to any of its ports? "Ice in" doesnt actually mean that its safe to walk on, yet. Personally I'm scared stiff to walk on any frozen pond or lake. I dont care if its got 10ft thick ice. Some day its all going to let go and a lot of people are going to go swimmin. But I wont be one of them.

11-17-2019, 04:51 PM	#17
garysanfran Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: San Francisco/Meredith Posts: 1,563 Thanks: 660 Thanked 670 Times in 344 Posts	What if it's this thick... " Personally I'm scared stiff to walk on any frozen pond or lake. I dont care if its got 10ft thick ice" This was near Stonedam... When it's really cold and the ice is thick...The noise of the expansion cracks travelling up to several miles in a second is quite loud! Attached Images __________________ Gary ~~~~_/) ~~~ ~~~~~~~~

11-18-2019, 09:47 AM	#20
sum-r breeze Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Burlington Ma / Laconia NH Posts: 396 Thanks: 155 Thanked 201 Times in 97 Posts	Lily Pond Lily Pond was completely frozen over as of Friday 11/15 __________________ Wave cuz I'll be wavin' back

The Following User Says Thank You to Phantom For This Useful Post:
moose tracks (11-18-2019)

11-18-2019, 07:14 PM	#23
RUGMAN Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: weirs beach, Posts: 300 Thanks: 39 Thanked 39 Times in 32 Posts	Is it to early to talk about the fishing Derby dates and pond Hockey dates.