Countdown to Go Time Part 2

n.pike, I call BS on the El Nino thing. Last year was a raging La Nina and it was the same story. It just is what it is now, regardless of the cause. 10 straight warm Decembers is more than a coincidence. 

I'll be up in Forest County on Dec 14-16...hopefully the ice will be fishable by then! Let us know how it goes for you this weekend. 

Climate change, people can have different views about. However, I will say whenever there’s an El Niño, this is kind of what we get. Thankfully, up north here, most of the small lakes have locked up and enough where we can withstand highs in the mid 30s with Lows still in the 20s.  But it does seem like the temperatures are creeping up in the ten-day forecast a little bit each day.
Heading out for the first time this weekend, but I do know there’s a few few people that have fished up here already this year…

Come on, Perch. Water doesn't instantly freeze just because the air temperature is low. With the extremely warm November we had up until now, water temps were warmer than they would normally be so it will take a LOT of cold weather to lock us up. And unfortunately December looks to be very warm, as usual. We aren't going to be on the ice down here until January. 

Walked onto ice in southern Wisconsin near Madison today. Ice was made from the snow we had recently which froze into the ice and it was not very sturdy.  Inch a half thick and went thru with one super hard hit. Someone drilled one hole out there but it didn't look like they fished out there.

Local early ice spot will be ready by tomorrow morning, it was close this morning. I won't be able to get out until Saturday and things should be ​pretty solid by then! Fingers crossed no major snow in the forecast!

Ice couple tip ups out.

More pics.

Drove around quite a bit today within Vilas county. Lots of thin ice out there on small lakes. Didn’t check the big lakes, but I’m sure they’re open water for the most part. Lost Lake was a frozen/open mix..Here are some pictures. Each one is a different body of water. Very difficult to not get excited after seeing ice start to form once again!

Our Bay iced up last night but main lake wide open in Oneida county.

Nice pics.
 Here’s Maple Lake in Three Lakes today. 

Out in the boat in Oneida County but ice is coming quick. 

I think some will be out on Sunday on very small shallow lakes or waters… but by next weekend, it’ll be go time for “first icers”  on quite a few watets-, just not the  deep or big lakes. 

Up by lady smith rusk county all week deer hunting, small lakes starting to skim but no where near fish able ice yet junkie, fyi

When ya thinking people will be venturing out up there pike? Are you guys getting ice to last all day or is it melting by the afternoon? I was all set on giving it until the first weekend in December, but lakes are clearly ready to freeze and even getting down into the low 30's a lot of bays and ponds have been icing over overnight in central WI. Might need to take a ride up north on Sunday to scratch the itch.

Northern Wisconsin. It’s in the view! When you have a number of days that are below freezing with Lows around 12, it doesn’t take long on small lakes and shallow bays. Starting Wednesday. Cold. Cold. Cold.