any safe ice on A1??

[e-sea-e]

thinking about a pike ice fishing trip, but I'm guessing the ice is either unsafe or not there.

any recent observations?

[Bob Parsons]

I have some free time on saturday and will swing over there. post report later.

[e-sea-e]

thanks Bob!!

[bdowning]

FWIW, Hopkinton Res and Whitehall Lake were mostly open water as of yesterday. The little ice that is on both is too rotted for safe ice fishing. That said, there's been a group that's been camped on what's left of the ice at Hop. Res. for the last few days. Although there's plenty of help around if they get in trouble, they've been living a charmed life so far (#$119) .

Maybe this Arctic shot will firm things up enough for a Monday outing though.

-bd

[albacized]

FWIW, Hopkinton Res and Whitehall Lake were mostly open water as of yesterday. The little ice that is on both is too rotted for safe ice fishing. That said, there's been a group that's been camped on what's left of the ice at Hop. Res. for the last few days. Although there's plenty of help around if they get in trouble, they've been living a charmed life so far (#$119) .

Maybe this Arctic shot will firm things up enough for a Monday outing though.

-bd

Are you talking about the group of guys fishing in that cove just off RT 85? They've been fishing that area for more than a few days and I'm actually suprised that haven't heard of one of them drowning yet. Last time I drove by there, that small cove was about 50/50 open and those fishermen were walking to some very suspiciously thin looking spots.

[Bob Parsons]

Forget it or get a boat.

A little ice the wind blew by the ramp. Despite cold the wind was keeping the surface churned up so it was not freezing.

[notime]

I was surprised as well by those guys at Hopkinton.

Stopped by Lake Winthrop and same story as A1. No ice but lots of wind.

[haguebrook]

Chauncy Lake had about 20' of ice all around the shore and totally windswept open water in the rest of the lake. NOBODY was even thinking about attempting to do anything there.

I did see a decent area of hard ice with lots of activity, but that was at the hockey rink down the street!

[Markymark]

Forget about it this year,it's not going to happen. I was hoping to get out this season for a few trips but, --124-3 . Before you know it ,the stripers will be here,...not SOON enough!

[bdowning]

Yep, those are the guys. They are probably out there again today, now that we have a whole inch of new ice laid down overnight :rolleyes: .

Had a very cold night single-digit last night and will have one again tonight with relatively little wind, so it's conceivable there could be several inches of black ice on some ponds by Monday AM. Not enough for me, but YMMV.

For relatively safe ice, I'd be inclined to head west of Worcester (CT river valley or Berkshires).

-bd

Are you talking about the group of guys fishing in that cove just off RT 85? They've been fishing that area for more than a few days and I'm actually suprised that haven't heard of one of them drowning yet. Last time I drove by there, that small cove was about 50/50 open and those fishermen were walking to some very suspiciously thin looking spots.

[BobG]

The pond across from my Mom house in Auburn (Camp Gleason) is about 1/2 open, with the other half covered by a thin, hazy grey layer of not so safe looking ice. (#$119)
Eddy's Pond had ice which looked to be in the same condition, but with less open water.

[teflon_jones]

What are those guys on Hopkinton thinking? There can't be any safe ice around the area.

[bdowning]

I think A-1 may get a second wind with this big cold snap. It was mostly covered with ice as of yesterday, but still thin and no one was out there. I can envision several more inches getting laid down by midweek though. I'll be driving by this afternoon so I'll take a look.

-bd

[e-sea-e]

thanks! I may head down there next weekend if the ice is safe. Anyone want to join me?

[Slappy]

thanks! I may head down there next weekend if the ice is safe. Anyone want to join me?

Maybe.

Found safe ice today!

[bdowning]

As of 2-26:

A-1 - For the first time in a couple of weeks I saw a few guys ice fishing here. Walked out off the boat landing and chiseled test holes 30 ft out and 150 ft out. About 3 inches of black ice in both spots. No open water that I could see.

Chauncey (westboro) - Still about 50 % open water in middle but some of the protected coves look like they have some ice cover. I say "look" because I couldn't access the boat ramp due to some water rescue? practice drill in progress. There was one guy fishing on the east side of the lake.

North Pond (Hopkinton) - Maybe about 30 % open water near bridges, and 2 or 3 inches of black ice in protected coves.

-bd