water

[perchguy]

Water needs to go down here before we get a good freeze.but I hope it's on the way.

[OldSailor]

Water needs to go down here before we get a good freeze.but I hope it's on the way.

Excuse me, but my crystal ball is in the shop! Where are you talking about

[jumpy]

Water temp is 39 @ SBI. It won't be long now.

[perchguy]

if it froze now you would have some ice than a pocket of air than water,NOT GOOD

[crv423]

I've herd of guys going through at hoover do to the air pocket between ice a water, not good not good at all.

[MDBuckeye]

I think it's going to go down before the freeze but who knows I guess.

[g]

it also needs to clear up before it freezes. dirty ice is very unsafe ice & it makes for tough fishing.

[MDBuckeye]

g - I don't understand what you mean by clear up?  Places like Indian and Buckeye are nearly always murky and lots dirtier than Alum.  Does that make the ice not as safe?  I know clear is the best but how much difference does it really make once it gets to freezing good?

[Banker]

Clear ice and clear water are two different things. black ice is typically seen during first ice regardless of the water clarity. It is black for the same reason that good diamonds are good diamonds no imperfections. Once Air gets mixed into the ice it becomes cloudy or "dirty" this happens as a result of ice melting and freezing again. Cloudy ice is less safe than black ice and the general rule of thumb is to stand on 4 inches of black ice. You can literally have 8 inches of white air pocketed cloudy ice and not be able to stand on it. (you will see that scenario towards late to last ice) with how the temps fluctuate here in Ohio it's very rare to have true black ice that you can see through for much longer than the first couple of weekends of ice fishing.

[slabslayer]

I'm afraid of the same thing at Berlin.  The water is incredibly high and if it froze now there would be a 2-4 foot air pocket in my favorite spots.  Not cool!  Hope it drains out after all the rain before it freezes up.

[g]

good expanation banker. i should have said cloudy colored ice instead of dirty ice. i don't mind murky or stained colored water, it's the chocolate colored water that makes it tough. moundwood gets a lot of cloudy ice from the duck hunters breaking paths to get to the main lake. sorry for the confusion & my poor choice of words.

[jumpy]

Water temp is 36 @ SBI

[perchguy]

I'd like to come up to Erie this year if I have the $$.some cold artic air would be good about now.