March Ice Fishing--My favorite Time of Year!!! Yours too?

Only a matter of time before we can retitle this "May ice fishing...."

Sure is going to be interesting to see how long it actually lasts. As each day passes, nothing is really melting. In fact, some nights are cold enough to firm things up quite a bit. Lots of cloudy days in the mid to upper 30s too, which don't seem to be affecting things one way or the other. All it takes is an extended warm up, but I don't see one on the horizon and there's a lot of ice out there yet. Hard to say for sure how long it will last, but we're good for a while yet. And I hear ya Bugle about all that slush. That was brutal for a while there.

Well March and even April used to be my favorite panfishing time of the year but last year's heavy snow followed by the rapid ice-off and this year's crappy conditions, it hasn't been possible or feasible for me to take any time off and get up north. I'm hoping that maybe I can get out on Saturday but I see that there's anywhere from 4-12" of snow predicted up there over the next couple of days. If another foot falls, I'll just be cleaning up the cabin for the Opener.

I want to come up to Minocqua the first saturday in May and ice fish,what are the chances of that actually happening. Also how often in the past has that happened.

Yeah, could you imagine that? Fishing on the ice in May? That would be the ultimate.

I would have to think that even north of 70, this will end up being a pretty long season. I guess, in comparision to winters of late...but I'm new to Vilas Co. and have only my years in the south to compare it to. Maybe this is typical up here. But, even the southerners are enjoying a really long season, so I'm happy for my friends down there too. And I hope to usually be able to fish into April up here. I like that idea quite a bit.

n.pike,

You actually might have to change it to May. Now that would be incredible, although not unheard of.

Mapper

No, not really incredible..fairly common actually to ice fish in April north of 70.

If this holds up, I may have to change the name of this thread to April ice fishing....

No warm up in sight. This is incredible.

I missed fishing the ice in Kenosha/Walworth Co in the month of April by I figure 1 day, work really messes things up sometimes but i still had my latest ever outings onto the ice in this area.Maybe, I'll get a chance at it again sometime in my lifetime.Just waiting for boat channels and lakes to open now or off to pond fishing. I did however get the unfortunate chance to see an older gent go thru this afternoon,Fortunately he made it out colder,but none the worse for wear.Be safe out there as the bad ice will only continue to move northwards from here on out.

Wow. Not even close to quitting time yet up north. 2013 might be the year when I can walk on ice during 7 different months. Jan-May then Nov and Dec! Not saying I'll be able to fish the ice in May, but if I can take a step onto the ice, it counts!

The fish were jumping out of the holes yesterday afternoon.

Pretty cool to be out on ice in April. Pretty slow but I got a few crappie. Might try again this weekend but I'm getting the boat ready first.

I don't think I've ever ice fished in April. Well dag gone it, I'm going tomorrow to set some records.

Well, gonna head out with JB tomorrow afternoon as the sun cooks the ice. Going down to the southern part of the state. Haven't seen the ice there in a long time, but heard things are going ok.

Looks like a warm up now, but thankfully a cold front early next week. Will be below normal again. Every day is a bonus for me at this point. Been fun to be on the ice so long.