We've finally got a bit over three inches of ice on a local pond, and I've taken advantage of it.  Last night was amazing, not for the quantity of fish, but the quality...

I scouted many locations on the pond, as some homeowners thought there was a drop-off and deeper water toward the western end.  They were wrong, but I'm glad I checked.

Several holes into the search, I dropped the underwater camera in to see what was there.  The bluegill were swarming, mostly the 3 and 4-inch variety, and then they vanished.  I turned the camera about 180^o and saw why.  There was a mad bass coming toward the camera.  Not only was he headed right for it, he attacked it!  The strike was fast, but I saw and felt it!  WOW!  After he knocked it, he turned sideways and kept bumping it.  Any of you that have an underwater camera know that the weight is roughly a pound.  He gave up after a few seconds, but never left the area.

We tried to get him to hit, and he did, but we never got the hook-up.  I think if we would have had some larger lures handy it would have changed the outcome.

Has anyone else used the underwater camera and had a fish of any species attack it?

3 inches, you're nuts!!  

I second that......!

3 inches, you're nuts!!

'nother week and you'll be driving 4 wheelers on that ice! This december we played on 2" ;D

The holes I drilled/used last night had 2 new inches of ice in them today when I got there.  We gained an inch of ice in about 2 days.  With single-digit temps at night, the ice is thickening nicely.  Pulled 2 bass out tonight, although they were both under 15".  Big bluegill were really active and hungry, too.

  Just  a thought, But what is the rule for ice thickness? 3 inchs sounds thin to me to.

But I'v never even walked on a ice ring. dose it depend on the temp the regone or what

  sorry for the high jack  :-[    

Straight from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.

4" of new clear ice is the minimum thickness for travel on foot

5" is minimum for snowmobiles and ATVs

8"- 12" for cars or small trucks

(Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.)

 

Yeah, 3 inches sounds thin, but it usually holds one or two people.  Wisconsin DNR says 3 inches for a couple of people, 4 for several.  Opinions vary, so you have to do what you think is right/safe.  I don't get nuts like Iaconelli out there on 3 inches, believe me!  

I see people out on our lake already with their shantys and half the lake isn't even frozen. They are literally within 500 yards of open water, but still out their with the shantys.

I seem to usally see 3 inches to walk on and 4inches to ice fish on. Ice fishermen are pretty nuts heres a pick of someguys ice fishing on the river down the street from my house. There is about 4-5 inches of ice. Today i looked and there was 6 huts and about 8 others without huts around the same distance from open water.

The current seen in the bottom corner of the picture is the dam.

This is the dam.

The DNR website has a good recommendation for people that don't want to fall through. YOu aren't going to fall through on 4" of ice. I will start ice fishing around here when we have 2" of solid clear ice. 6" of deteriorating Ice can be more dangerous than 2" of forming ice. Take an ice cube, set it outside on an 85 degree day for 10 minutes. Take another one out of the freezer. See which one breaks easier..

The DNR does not want to tell people that 2" is safe ice because It's not. If the ice is clear and hard, many people will fish on it. However, Ice conditions are so variable, the DNR would be out of their mind to tell people to go on 2" of ice..they'd be looking at a lot of law suits!

I was reading last night that this guy was ice skating on Donner lake. Well he fall though and they recoverd his body at 185 feet of a 220 deep lake. I don't think I would risk it.

Ice and me don't mix. a ft of ice, okay, 3 inches.........not a chance!

gezz i thought 18 degrees was cold here and georgia but i feel sorry for all you northern folks lol ;D