It is that time of the year again! :)
Anyone want to test their psychic abilities by predicting the date of the first open water walleye report?
I'll go with April 6th
Printable View
It is that time of the year again! :)
Anyone want to test their psychic abilities by predicting the date of the first open water walleye report?
I'll go with April 6th
I'm going to say April 18th.....but I hope its sooner
Hoping the wind blows most of it out vs melting off.
APRIL 8
Memorial day.. lol... I hope very very soon... come on sun... The boats are ready and so is my team... I can't wait... but I will because this should be a great hatch with this cold winter...
I'll go will April 12th for an open water report but getting our boats into our docks may take longer.
Greg
Well I am not predicting when the lake will open enough to be safe for boats but I agree on the access part! Most boat ramps are in protected areas so they thaw and become safe for launching at a much slower pace, the wind and current do not affect them like they do the open lake. What makes for a safe harbor also makes for a slow thaw.Quote:
Originally Posted by walleye2go
Agree on the thought that hatch should be good this year, it seems that with the heavier the ice cover, the better the hatch has been in years past and there is data to support that fact.Quote:
Originally Posted by skipper9
I am going to go with my prediction of Friday, April 18th... that sounds like a good Friday? :D
Wow!
You guys with the ice fishing experience would know better than I, so I am growing concerned about being able to fish at all in April!
Guess I should check the ice rating on my aluminum hull... ;)
I know someone who's planning on fishing from their boat this weekend. Huron River is open and Mazurik's might be launchable this weekend too.
I think their nuts, but if they make it out then the first splash will be this coming Saturday (march 22nd).
With 17" of ice out there I'm going with May1st
That includes no ice bergs!!! Lol shooting for may 3rd for my 1st jigging party !
I would say first report will be April 10 but it won't be from me. My April calendar is packed full and unless something changes it may be first weekend of May for ReelTime.
April 21st it will be on like mad the crazy and brave will start the first week of April.
My first charter was scheduled for April 5th, but we'll see. I'm not cancelling yet.
I should add that I trailer my boat, and don't have to wait for a marina to thaw out. :)
I know people years (and years) past go out in smaller alluminums as soon as ice is away from shore. And sure they will this year, which is why I have No doubt as to what Jules is saying for this weekend. Also know people who didn't know what they were up against, who almost didn't make it to shore when wind changed, and ice came back in on them faster than what they thought. Can be just as or more dangerous than being ON the ice. Good luck and be safe!Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt Juls
I heard there were boats already out off of Catawba fishing near starve island. They put in off the beach by the Miller ferry. Small aluminum boats.
April is always famous for its notorious Northeast winds. Lets hope for some warm weather and winds out of the SW to melt this ice and not give it a chance to blow back when the NE winds do occur. I need warm weather the weekend of April 5 to wax mine. Lol! Boat is going in April 11 providing the ice is melted at the marina. All you early fisherman be careful of floating or partially submerged ice. Wish everyone an enjoyable season.
im going with dreamcatcher april 21 will be crazy busy! and to reply to capt juls I was up at mazuriks Monday after work there is chunked ice out about 150 yards to the open water and the harbor is still locked solid.
Unless something drastic happens? Looks like Sunday 4/6 will be the "Kickoff" for first lakers. Water temp 34 (as of friday) but river pumping..... it could change quickly. Look for trollers running deep to do best at .8 mph. Good Luck & Good Fishing
Unless it really warms quick I think my first trip will be 4-19
I assume that everyone looks at these, but just in case there are some who don't know about them... There weren't any good satellite images the past couple days due to clouds, but the last one on April 1st looked promising!
http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/web...egion=e&page=1
Mazurik's is open now...this pic was taken yesterday. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by FishOn205
Docks aren't in over there yet, but they are at Catawba ramp.
My first charter is tomorrow. The weather looks perfect for a fun day on the water. Looking forward to it. Woot! Woot!
Drove lakeshore on Friday April 04 from Marblehead to Port Clinton. Lake had a low fog on it about 2 miles out, especially around the islands. Made it look like ice around South Bass. Reminded me to put a friendly safety post on here, beware the early spring Lake fog! As many of you know the water / air temperature difference often creates a thick fog in calm or light wind conditions, and it can last for half a day or more.
I expect it will be very foggy tomorrow then. Wind forecast for less than 5mph in the morning. Good thing we don't have to go far for fish this early in the season. :)