Normal winters, the freighters will run all winter. Last winter the thick ice stopped them . Playing the wind on a normal winter such as this one is your best bet . Plenty of guys out yesterday at Perry and Catawba with machines. Not saying all the ice is safe but we were on pretty much 7-10 inches out of Perry where we fished. Yes the fish were snapping as well. Can't give exact location as I was out with a friend.

Dale