Ice Update

[Rick]

How is the ice looking in your area and what area are you from???

[Captain Ken]

The ice is terrible. It was BARELY adequate in a few spots this weekend. Today's warm snap did nothing good for us. We had 47 degrees according to the thermometer in the truck. I saw much water on the ice on several ponds, lots of grey spots and what looked almost like open spots on a few others. It almost seems that the best thing that could happen now is for all the ice to melt off and we begin again.

I'm in Lake County, IL

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[Guest]

Ice is ok here. weve been fishin since Saturday. but now im getting mad because its starting to back into the 40s during the day and 20s in night. hopefully the ice wont melt/mush up to much. i think the 20 at night will keep it ok. we have about 4-5 inches so far. average of 4 - 4 1/2. i live in Naperville, IL. we had a nice cold week last week and weekend but im mad now that its getting warmer but the ice should be fine. so far weve only caught one little bluegill so far on a mealworm. well got to ill keep the ice post going and ill update soon talk to yall later.
ryan

[varmntguy]

I was out today on the Braidwood Recreation Club and all the pits are covered. The one pit I fished had 4 inches of good ice. Checked some of the oters and didnt see anything less than 3 1/2 inches. Considering the past 3 days of 40 degree temps I was surprised at how good the ice was doing. I was out at about noon till dark and saw no water on top From any kind of melting. I think the freezing temps at night are keeping everything in good shape (for now). I'm heading out in the morning to hit it again will post any changes.
Dan

[varmntguy]

I spoke to soon, Just got back from the stripmine pits and ice conditions are terrible. I think it must have rained during the night. I went out anyway but didnt go out on the ice, Looked really bad. I don't think it got below 40 degrees during the night. Watched the extended forecast and it don't look good.
Dan

[Captain Ken]

I thought this would be the year that we'd actually get some nice ice in December. Every night I watch the weather and see them all hopping around with glee talking about how WARM it will be. Don't they realize some of us like it cold?

Oh well, it'll come....meanwhile my friends on Lake Vermilion are probably driving their trucks on their ice by now.

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[JAR JAR]

well in northern wisc we have close to a foot on most lakes and i talked to a customer of mine in Cook Mn.and he said that there staring to put the sleeper house out on Vermillion
I flew over the chain on Wednesday and it looked pretty bad well at least from the air it did
I hope u guys down there get some cold stuff so u can get out
We've been out on the ice for close to four weeks

Good Luck
Jar Jar
Poplar Wi.

[Captain Ken]

Jar Jar:

Stop! You're killing me...

I just checked the Vermilion board and they are driving their pick ups on the ice there.

I decided to put the ice rods aside for a bit. Instead, tomorrow we are going to take the boat out on Lake Michigan and chase down a few browns or lakers. Might even see if we can find a few perch.

The ice looks really bad all over Lake County IL right now. You will not find me out on the ice until we get some significantly colder weather.

Hopefully, Lake Michigan will keep me occupied till then.

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[Guest]

Hello captain, I think it's open water walleye time in the rivers. I figure in a couple more weeks things cold change. The pearch fishing sounds good. Did you ever check out the ice fishing at burnham in chicago?

[Captain Ken]

Hi Grinched,

I have not been to Burnum--has always been on my list but ice was always crappy whenever I got around to it. By the looks of things if it stays this warm and rainy we may have open water walleyes on the lakes too.

Unless we get some really cold weather, I'm not sure how the ICe Team Tourney will go off in January on Channel Lake. We'll just have to see!

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[Guest]

Hello captain, Channel Lake is pretty nice and so is marie and several others over there.There is some new stocking program for walleye. I'll be greatful to get ice. One year a few years ago there was good ice in march at Marie and we hit them pretty good. Do you know what happened to all of the yellow bass up there? Dave

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[varmntguy]

I hope the weatherman was right today, calling for some freezing weather starting this weekend.

[Guest]

The weather is looking better. Maybe we'll be out on hard water before you know it.

[Captain Ken]

Grinched:

You are right. Those are some good lakes--may family has had a cottage on Marie for about 50 years now. Channel and Catherine are two of my favorites.

The Yellow Bass, as I understand them, increase and decrease in numbers depending on the year. There are occasionally large die offs which I understand to be natural (for lack of a better word). In otherwords, it's not that they were poisoned etc. It's been a while since I've fished for them but there were years we'd kill em and others where we'd only see a few. When the areator was in Catherine, we'd nail the crappies and stripers there--lots of numbers but not very big ones. Fun to catch.

Hoping for some ice soon.... seeing alot of open water by me in Mundelein.

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[Guest]

Captain, Thanks for your info on the yellow bass. The white bass and crappie seemed to take the place of all the yellow action there. Hey I think the hard water is real close everybody.

[This message has been edited by grinched (edited 12-22-2002).]

[Rick]

See how last year was from page 1.....

How is the ice this year?
Can you keep us updated for your area please.

How is the open water fishing going???

[This message has been edited by Rick (edited 12-06-2003).]

[Bob Horn]

Ice is paper thin if there at all. WE are getting rain over the next 2 days up 2inches. Thursday we are finally suppose to get the cold weather we need. Fish On

[Rick]

Keep us posted on the ice bhorn.

Anyone open water fishing?

[Captain Ken]

No ice at all to speak of. It'll will take a good deal of solid cold to get some at this point. Most everything is open. I have not been out 'cause now that I have commercial insurance I have to lay the boat up from November 15 - April 1 or something like that. I have the little boat that I tried to sell, but have been fiddling with snowmobile to get it running fine (just got it used). The Chain has been let down quite a bit. Lake Michigan is pretty quiet for salmon/trout from what I hear. Perch may be an option. I would need to call Salmon Stop hotline to find out. Will try to do that tomorrow and post something as to what they have to say. Second hand info, but better than zero!

Ken

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Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[Illinois]

Hello, I'm new to this forum. Does anyone have information on the ice conditions on the Chain of Lakes in Lake County?

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Paul

[BLUESHARP]

guys were fishing nielsens channel on the fox river sat. dont forget your spud bar to check ice.