Safe Ice?

[Keepah]

I live in the plmouth area and was wondering if anyone has word on the ice conditions around here. I was curious if the rain weakened the surface or if the cold nights have been stabalizing it. If anyone knows of any safe ice on the south shore and cape please help me out. I am dying to get out somewhere and just see a fish at this point. Thanks.

[Bob Parsons]

Best way is to go to one of your locak ponds and do the check yourself. Take an ice chisel and go out a few feet and cut a hole. Keep in mine the shore line is often thinner than the ice further out on these sunny days.

Go to a popular ice fishing pond and see if there are others out there.

[teflon_jones]

The one thing to be really careful of right now is underwater springs. They can be anywhere in a pond, and when the weather has been warmer like it has been lately, there can be very little ice in these spots.

[bdowning]

Yep, that's especially true of the Cape kettehole ponds which are riddled with springs. Plus we're getting rain and mild temps for the next two days. Walk very softly and carry a long chisel (for probing) ;) . Planks may come in handy for making that last 5-10 feet to shore without going for a swim. :rolleyes:

-bd

The one thing to be really careful of right now is underwater springs. They can be anywhere in a pond, and when the weather has been warmer like it has been lately, there can be very little ice in these spots.

[Keepah]

I did make it out to a very large body of water in the middleboro area today. Although the ice was safe at 5-8 inches the noises it was making was almost haunting. You could also feel cracking under your feet but, I am assuming it was due to the stress of the cold night and weight we were putting on it. Anyways decent day on the water fo a short period out there. Not many fish but, all very large pickeral.