Ice Fish Ohio Forum

Ice Fishing => General Discussion => Topic started by: Minnowhead on January 21, 2012, 06:42:17 PM

Title: pond ice
Post by: Minnowhead on January 21, 2012, 06:42:17 PM
Found a skinny 3" of ice on a pit pond.  2" everywhere else around the pit ponds shoreline.  Basically took 3 turns of the auger to punch through.  My buddy ventured out 8-10 feet on the 3" area to drill and it started to stress crack.  He boogied back towards me.  He weighs a whopping 175lbs.  My porkchop arse weighs 225 not including boots, AA and gear.  I ventured exactly 16 inches out on the ice just to see if it would crack.  We have a metal grate that extends out into the pit.  We walked out on it approx 15 yards to test drill.  We figured it was 2 inches around the shoreline on average and maybe 3 inches dead center of the pond?  We are going back to check the ice again in the a.m. and possibly get a depth reading with the vexilar.  My buddy said he saw shanties set up at Nimisila today, but there is no way in hell I would even attempt that after what I saw on one of our pit ponds today.  I am anxious but still very cautious.
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: Bryan on January 21, 2012, 07:45:22 PM
I have to wonder...that ice held your buddy at a static step/walk. Now if he fell on his ass that could have the potential to imitate doubleing his weight at the moment just after impact. Anyone know if those recomended ice thickness charts factor in the possibility of falling on your ass?
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: Minnowhead on January 21, 2012, 08:01:01 PM
Didn't see an ass factor on the chart.  However, a pucker factor was in full effect.  ;D
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: ice phisher on January 22, 2012, 12:25:49 PM
That really had to be a giant "pucker factor" concidering these guys were well equipt wearing their Arctic Armour (float suits).....and minnowhead......don't forget to tell your buddy to wrap his new 22HD Vex in it's own flotation divice.....when you guy's get to the depth reading part again.........Besafe guy's........
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: mikeL on January 22, 2012, 08:30:21 PM
The vex would be an expensive soaking if you did go through
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: slabslayer on January 23, 2012, 01:00:01 PM
Agreed, I leave all my electronics in my sled if its that thin.  Then if I go thru, my gear stays on top.  I can use floatation device on my suit and picks to get back on the ice, but my gear would sink to the bottom.  Not fun and if you've fished with me you'd know that would be a very expensive trip.  ;D
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: HardWater Junkie on January 23, 2012, 01:21:01 PM
It would be the worst day of my life if I lost all my gear. As i lay hear in the hospital I have all the time in the world to think of ideas. What I came up with is a life preserver unit for your sled/shanty and your electronics. I know they make life vest that blow up once they come in contact with a certain amount of water. Why not make them to fit on your shanty or flasher. They would be super small and easily mounted. Your gear may get wet but would be saved. Especially your flasher or camera. It would get wet and may not work but you can send them in to get fixed for a lot cheaper then buying another one. To retrieve it out of the water all you would have to do is get a weighted treble hook and snag the unit or float line. I dont know if the idea would work or not but the meds the dr. has me makes my mind bounce around a lot.lol
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: davek on January 23, 2012, 02:02:34 PM
From what I've read a lot of guys need them for their cell phone LOL
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: ice phisher on January 23, 2012, 09:38:51 PM
Some of the greatest magnetic forces in the world are omitted from a hole cut in the ice, on a frozen lake and used for ice fishing purposes.......Just ask the sum of every ice fisherman that has had one (CELL PHONE) drop from his hand.....fall out of a pocket or get knocked off a seat in a shanty......Usually one bounce and KERPLUNK Bigtime....I've personally seen more than a couple "LONG FACES" with a bewildered gaze......staring in to that ice fishing hole...in the years that cell phones have become popular.....
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: mikeL on January 24, 2012, 09:54:38 PM
Had fun calling one and watching it light up each time we called it. 
In 20 feet of water
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: fishintechnician on January 25, 2012, 10:25:36 AM
It is kind of a murphys law thing......if something is dropped on th eice it is ultimatley drawn to the nearest ice hole!!!! Works like a charm every time
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: g on January 25, 2012, 12:21:06 PM
have seen lots of things disappear down ice holes. cell phones, car keyes & camera batteries. always funny when it's not mine.
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: futurestrader on January 25, 2012, 01:43:31 PM
My buddy and I were out on Erie three years ago and he kicked a $150 pair of sunglasses I borrowed from my brother down the hole.  Two hours later I end up catching them off the bottom in 32 feet of water and on the way up I'm like I think it is a perch it is just not that big.  He grabs the gaff and when I reeled up he screams oh my god you caught somebody's head.  Glasses were caught perfectly on the treble hook and we laughed for hours over that one.

Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: Bryan on January 25, 2012, 09:18:23 PM
Thats a helluva save!!! Did you tell your brother?
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: mikeL on January 25, 2012, 09:36:47 PM
Have caught poles, chairs, nets, and many outer things. Just never something I dropped in. That's pretty impressive.
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: HardWater Junkie on January 26, 2012, 03:05:26 AM
I have been lucky to never loose my phone down the hole yet. Ive had a several close calls but have been lucky. At some point I know my luck will run out.
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: erierider on January 26, 2012, 07:12:25 AM
I lost a fishing pole and two way radio down the hole. Almost lost a nice pair of sunglasses after I forgot they were ontop of my hat and I pulled it off but those ended up getting grabbed just before they made it completely in the hole.
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: ice phisher on January 26, 2012, 08:54:35 AM

Minnowhead.....Sorry that this pond report has taken a new twist ....but thanks for getting it started......It seems ( I guess ) that we are all trying to stay fixed on just how much of an ICE SEASON we are going to have......if we have one at all (meaning more than a day here and there every couple of weeks). The first of Feb. is closing in on us fast and it is a winter month that seems to fly by ( even on a more regular winter basis)......But I am still in total belief that it's still better to keep generating higher levels of interest in our ice fishing sport by talking about anything related ..... even if it has come to talking about what objects we have dropped down/ retrieved or just pulled off the bottom of a frozen lake........In a winter season that (at times) finds it hard enough to find enough "ICE" to keep a "JACK ON THE ROCKS" satisifying for all my friends.......I'll take all the support that you guys can keep adding to this.....that will help keep up spirits( no pun intended) that we will yet..........still have some "REAL SAFE FISHABLE ICE.....
Title: Re: pond ice
Post by: Minnowhead on January 26, 2012, 06:26:20 PM
Ha Ha, I don't mind at all.  If it pertains to ice fishing and promoting this website then hijack this thread anytime.  I firmly believe  we will get a chance to hit the ice in Feb.  It may be a short season, but it will be here no doubt.