It would take weeks for the amount of ice we have in central Ohio to melt with 40 degree temps, especially with it getting below freezing at night. What ever melts during the day will refreeze at night. I wouldn't be surprised if we are fishing in march.

I wouldn't get too close there is current.

Plan on getting up early and dissecting another area that to my knowledge hasn't been fished yet. I don't know if it will be the spot I've been searching out for the last two years or not, but you never know till you try. The area looks promising, lots of different depths, couple of humps, and a nice inside bend on a descent drop off, with deep water close by. I've put together a small group of guys to fish with, so we can really spread out and attack the area, and give them a variety of lures and colors to choose from. I will post how we end up doing sat. night, the way things have been going it'll probably be another 13 hour day with a couple of whiskered fish. We recently have stuck a camera down and notice a lot of dead and dying shad, I wonder if this is the reason we can't get the eyes to commit to our offerings, are they gorging themselves on these shad? Good luck and be safe.

Is it the camp ground lake, if so its full of catfish, I've camped there with the family. I'm pretty sure it's called candlewood.

I have been ice fishing Alum for a number of years, and believe in order to be successful you have to look at maps, find a potential area and drill A LOT of holes in different depths. On a typical day my fishing partners and I drill 50 to 100 holes, and tie just as many lures and different colors on our lines. It's a hard lake to figure out, but when you do the pay off is quite rewarding. I have caught a number of nice eyes and crappie from the lake, Recently I read an article from odnr saying they shocked the lake and pulled the record breaking eye from the lake, that fish is still swimming in alum. You might not catch a lot from alum, but you might just catch the next record. Sorry to hear guys are getting skunked, believe me I've been skunked more times than not, but don't give up on it, it is a great fishery, it just takes time to figure out. Hope this helps, good luck and be safe.

Check with Judy at the old Dutchman, I know she sharpens them.

Between the marina and the boat ramp there is a crack 70 yards out, running parallel with the shore line that is covered with snow, it is about a foot wide, with less than a 1/4 inch of ice, I stepped on it and my foot went right threw. Ice on both sides of it was 8 to 9 inches, be careful if you try to cross it. It really doesn't look like a crack. 

Finally our efforts paid off, fished from 6:30am till 7pm. Caught 4 keeper eyes, threw back 4 shorts, had a hog break off, missed several hits, and had about 5 tip up misses, even Dave came out for 2 hrs and caught a keeper, if Dave can catch one anyone can . Most fish came in 16fow on black/gold raps and clown vibes, but I did catch one keeper on a tip up in 8fow. They hit hard but your really had to finesse them to get them to commit. Besides the fish catching what a day, we had 16 deer, 2 coyotes cross the ice, and a bald eagle fly above us about 20ft, we don't get the pleasure of seeing eagles in this area, so when we do it's a treat. The best part of the day was proving to Dave the spot I picked had fish, always a doubter.  Good luck and be safe. P.s. When I fished the mouth of Cheshire cove last week I was standing on 6" of solid clear ice and spudded every step.