[mangostenmaster]

I'm pretty sure that with the warm weather outside for the week and march coming very soon, that Lake Michigan is partially open. Do they bring down Gov Pier or when does it open??? :roll:

 

[toothdoc]

I am going to change my prediction to first week of March.

 

[mangostenmaster]

MMMM.... Here's my list.

Lake Michigan: Already iced-out, at least in highland park...
Des plains, Fox rivers: ~February 21st
Larger Lakes: (Chain, Fox, Indie, and Hippie Joints, jk lol): March 5th or so...
Community/smaller lakes: March 15th-24th I guess. The lake near my house with bass was half open during that "heat-wave" a few weekends ago.

These were all during the heat wave and this weekend during that warm spell, so it may be inaccurate.
Plus, it seems that the little creek next to my house which i have seen pike caught at before is already unfrozen.
You know I have this sudden craving to listen to madonna and michael jackson for the next half hour I guess i miss my infanthood bye.

 

[Culprit]

Looks like open water will be here sooner than we thought Rivers have been open for a few weeks already Mango

 

[mangostenmaster]

Looks like open water will be here sooner than we thought Rivers have been open for a few weeks already Mango

Yowza.

 

[red_mucilin]

Low was 17 high was 25 here . Ponds iced over from last thaw blew open today. Guess ice out already happened twice here.

 

[FishinMatt]

I still think it is going to be an earlier one. Accuweather has some decent temps in the 15 day with plenty of rain as well.

 

[jnapodano]

The difference from yesterday to today in the harbors was huge. Coming out of the south and west you could literally see the wind patterns cut a path in the remaining ice. After today the south ends were completely open and in the north ends there aren't any huge ice sheets anymore, it's all broken into smaller chunks and starting to flow. I agree with Matt. I think/hope things are going to start early this year as long as we don't get another week long blast of sub 10 degree temps.

Most rivers don't ice over if they have decent flowage. I don't remember a time on the Fox you can't find open water. Backwater stuff like the Depot "pond" will ice over and you get accumulation in the bends and backsides of islands and sometimes when it gets real cold deeper areas will ice over. The thing with that is anytime where the bottom contour rises it will weaken the ice by increasing the flowage underneath it, a lot of times with no visible difference from the surrounding ice. River ice is almost never safe to walk on.

 

[FishinMatt]

Driving home yesterday I noticed a difference in some of the ponds. Lots of shoreline ice was gone and receding. Its too bad that after today we are going to have another few days of colder weather. I really think all it would take would be a few more days of 50's to really open some of them up.

 

[BassCaster]

it's Febuary in Chicago Land :roll: ......Still winter weather for another 30 Days.

BUT

only 30 days or so till open water :lol: ....we have turned the cornor but
were not there just yet. :evil:

 

[WrenchingnFishing]

Lake Geneva still has 14-16"s of ice... still trucks on the ice on Sunday. But by me there is some open water I have to get out soon and pitch a few jigs around.

 

[RonG]

I just looked at the 10 day forecast and don't see any ice-destroying weather predicted thru March 8th. Actually ice will be the the making in the next few days. I wonder how much ice got killed by yesterday's rains. I guess there's one way to find out...

 

[toothdoc]

I drove by Lake Glenview today and there was a lot of open water. With the highs forcast for the 50's by the end of the week, I am thinking that we will be seeing some more open water reports soon.

 

[RonG]

Let me know what you find Ron.

My next three Mondays just opened up and i'll be looking for action :lol:

Even more ice than yesterday, over 7". Froze my fingers off with that north wind.

Even worse news is that the fish were still there. Nearly cleaned me out of bait. Now I have to find time to buy more.

 

[John]

haha ive had open water 4 a week now.

 

[Yami Master]

"NEVER"

 

[BASSPROMATUK]

This warmup should open things up real good around here... Geneva will still hold safe ice for a while but the rest of us can hopefully look forward to casting the rod and reel posibly next week... - BPM (the optimist)

 

[RonG]

I think a lot of places will be a slow and painful losing of ice - enough ice to ruin most casting for awhile, but too thin or crappy ice that you can't icefish on. Other than last ice, I don't fish much in March.

 

[Pk]

Last year the first day I fished was April 7th and I remember there being ice still on half the pond. Would be nice to get an extra month this year!

 

[Culprit]

Bill I think ur mind is going lol, I was catching fish by the 3rd week of March and the ice was gone .