early ice report

[icebadger]

Originally Posted by Jigman13

Got 3 kids to take care of so 2" ain't happening. Plus I fractured my wrist 3 days ago so I'm shelved 4 to 6 weeks.

Dont be stupid guys. A 10" perch or 14" pickerel ain't worth the risk. You can fish central and south jersey open water and catch that shit from the bank without risking hospitalization or worse, death.

I always use common sense when look at the ice. I test it with a spud bar and then look at the cracks to see if they have air pockets or they are wet. Also the guys already out were bigger then i am. I had only the bare necessities a jig rod ,spud bar,pfd,and a bucket with rope in it. i did not venture far from shore. The deeper water did not have safe ice only the 3 to 5 fow had 4" and the further away from shore was thinner. Shade is good when you have pine trees growing near the shore the ice gets thick faster there. You always have to be aware of the danger ice presents no matter if it is early or late ice. The ice i chipped out of the hole was good black ice on Sunday.