minimal weather conditions to make ice?

[CALVINIST]

OK, this weather sucks..BIG TIME! No ice, no ice fishing. Early next week in the cities the high will hover just above freezing, so my question is this...What percentage of a 24 hour day must be below freezing to make ice? I am sure there are various factors to consider, like what is the low temp in the 24 hour window, etc. So what do you think?

[Powerstroke]

As long as the temp is at or below freezing ice can form. The two biggest variables are the water temp and the wind. If its a still night and the water is already near freezing, you can get a skim of ice that night without it leaving the low 30's. It won't be great ice, but it will seal the lake off and hopefully prevent the wind form ruining it. The best and strongest ice forms when the temp is single digits or lower. It gets clear and rock hard.