Wow (Ice Crack)

[Chef]

I was on Traverse once on very early ice, about 4" of new clear ice. I drilled 2 holes about 3 ft. apart, sat down in the Otter and was setting my lines when the ice cracked, spearated my two holes with about 6" wide crack.

I moved to a new spot after I walked to shore to take a nervous [PoorWordUsage]!

[lakevet]

I know guys who fish the great lakes who carry an extra tipup. They put a large bell sinker on the line, nothing else. Adjust tip up so weight is on bottom and line is tight. If that tipup flag goes up, they immediately bail for the shore, as only a moving ice sheet will trip that tipup. They get checked for extra lines, but often get complimented by the CO's for the idea. Just be sure there are no hooks on that line, only the weight.

lakevet

[brd]

I fish the Saginaw Bay on lake Huron. On the 26th of this month all was normal on the 27th you go back to the same spot and you have miles of open water. It is very common to cross a 12" crack on the way out and the same crack is 6' on the way in. You throw corn down the hole if the corn moves you get moving.

[jeffreyd]

just reading these posts will keep me from ice fishing. there is no way i could be sitting there and hearing the popping and cracking from my perch. you fellas are bigger than me when it comes to this.

[gregg52]

that same guy that told me about the ice shifting so much

also said that this kinda weather is ice heaving weather about 1-3 in the afternoon real cold made more ice now it warms slighty and sunny days POP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jBohmer]

Popping and cracking is a welcoming sound when its about 10 degrees, but its a little unnerving when its up to 40 degrees in mid March. Funny how the same sound can mean such diferent things depending on the time of year. Great stories guys keep them coming, I am marking this thread.

[mabr]

How about the train coming across Mille Lacs in the middle of the night! Sure takes getting used to for sure! Sounds like it starts on the east and goes all the way to the west side. If youve heard it you dont forget it.

Never forget fishing around spirit Island, real early ice but extremely cold. Only about 5-6 six people within site. Heave starts and I am about to jump out of portable but grit and hope its not close. Only to hear sirens about an hour later. That night I had to haul the 4 whlr in the portable, turn sunflower directly on engine to warm up oil to get it started.

Then the next night I hear of a someone going through because of the heave I heard. Never knew if it was true or not but with some that I have experienced out there its a wonder more arent swallowed up.

[Zoob]

that same guy that told me about the ice shifting so much

also said that this kinda weather is ice heaving weather about 1-3 in the afternoon real cold made more ice now it warms slighty and sunny days POP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

When the sun starts hitting the ice and warming things up, I can really hear it -- also in the dark of the night when it's crazy-cold and growing more ice - and the lake feels the growing pains -- those are the two times I really hear the big boomers. With the ice being so solid this year, it really carries a crisp and clear sound that makes it sound like the ice is all but 1" thick and about to drop under you.

[spearchucker]

I was spearing on first ice of the year and had a crack come across the lake right under my portable. Water splashed in on the floor and the house bobbed up and down (about 5 inches of ice). When all was done the weeds were on the opposite side of my hole.

[Bob Clausen2]

I live on a lake. On really cold days or nights you can hear the popping and groaning of ice-making even over the TV. My "bride" is sometimes startled by the noise. I smile at her and tell her, "The fish are yelling at me to come see them." Now she says it to me.

[123fish]

Had a friend a number of years ago on LOTW sitting in a house by himself after a night of hard partying. One of those thunderous cracks went right through his house and scared the bejesus out of him. He threw the door open and flopped on the ice and started swimming. He thought he was in the drink for sure. There were witnesses and to this day we can't even start to tell that story without busting out laughing.

[jkjkoda]

Was on Osakis number of years ago in a sleeper when at about 4:00am the 2 mile heaved our house moved about a foot of there holes. woke everyone right now holly s--t scared all of us .