fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Spent the day visiting my folks that live a few hours away and upon returning home was greeted with this clever sign message while stopping to top off with fuel at the local mini mart. It put a smile on my face as we patiently await safe ice once again for our Northern Michigan season.

After the recent blizzard, I thought that Winter had a good grip on us...but alas...a following thaw turned us right back to "bald earth" and nearly open waters. The punk ice we were left with should do well to form again as the current rains wash over it...and then become followed by the big freeze!

A fun message on the sign board at our local fuel stop.


Four days of snowmobile riding right after the big blizzard. Ice in our region was still not safe (in my opinion), so I figured I might as well burn up some petrol on the trails and scout some local lake conditions!


Some fish from a previous season...this is what we are waiting for...an opportunity to get out in 2023 and repeat the process!


So cold out the sun was nearly frozen as it tried to rise above the horizon....

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Dang buddy. That does look cold.

davedumont Loc: Oscoda, Michigan

fishyaker, good times! I swear almost every chance I get to ice fish it's windy and near or below zero but I usually manage to catch a few. Nice lakers!

Danger25 Loc: Philly/ Cape may New Jersey

How thick does the ice need to be before your safe with 2 snowmobiles on it?

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Thank you Saw1! That was a calm day...so being outside was not too bad if a person was dressed for it. Temps were in single digits.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Thank you Dave...yes indeed...I can hardly wait for things to get solid once again and reach the 7 inch mark. I like the "freeze/thaw" styled ice, mixed with snowmelt...to go beyond the "first ice" numbers of around 4 inches or so.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Single digits are still cold, even if you're dressed for it. Specially if you catch a fish and your hands get wet.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Good evening Danger! I like at least 10 inches of ice beneath the sleds. They were probably parked a little closer to each other than they should have been, but it was better than right next to each other. They weigh in at around 600 pounds each.

We were about a mile off shore fishing over some very deep water, and when the fog lifted I noticed what looked like a small village of fishermen about a half mile South of us...dozens upon dozens of snowmobiles and shanties galore! Glad we had our own space. We caught our limit of lake trout that day with ease.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

I'll stick with the ice in my glassFishyaker 👍🎣

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Nice 😊

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

You are the Man fishyaker. Great pics, good short narrative, but that sitting in the cold just makes me cold looking at it.

Stay safe out there.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Thank you Plumb! I think that the anticipation of getting the first bite...followed by what you hope to be a feeding frenzy...helps to take the edge off the chill. That being said...cold is cold. When the action is slow you tend to spend all your time trying to stay warm, and wondering why you came out at all!

A few years ago I invested in a pair of those USB powered hand warmers that are about the size of a cell phone and you get about 4 solid hours on a charge. They work great. For me, the hands are what feels the cold most.

If I plan to stay out more than a few hours I bring the shanty and portable heater on the outing, so that negates the cold factor by a huge degree!

These past few days have been so "nice" around here that I almost took a kayak out of storage to do some paddling/fishing... but the salt dust on the roads is corrosive...even on an aluminum trailer in terms of pitting and potentially causing harm to wiring and delicate parts (shocks, etc.). I decided to keep it cozy in the garage and just imagine what it might have been like! I've never kayaked in January...at least not in Michigan!

On top of that...when I told my wife what I was thinking...she promptly replied..."No way You're going to paddle at this time of year. I need you alive!" You have to know her sense of humor to get a chuckle out of that one!

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

One smart Gal there Fy.

My years in new home construction was enough cold for me. Spent many a lunch time with the heater of the truck running just to turn it off 30 minutes later and get 2 more hours in before calling it a day.

But i must admit sitting on a lake in a shack with a hole in the floor, that just may be doable.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Yes...I am a very lucky guy to have her keeping watch over me...just like a guardian angel!

I can understand your years of having spent time outdoors working in the cold. I think you definitely paid your "dues" to Mother Nature in terms of severe weather endurance!

Thought you might have a grin on this recent photo sent to me from a local buddy...taken a few weeks ago before the blizzard. We did have some fairly good ice at that time, but it was only in the 4" to 5" range and that is still a bit thin for my personal comfort.

Keeping one's feet toasty and warm is very important when on the ice, as this friend of mine will attest!

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

Reminds me of our living room just not to long ago when it was 2* outside and the heat pump sounding like a C-130 on take off.

But yes, if I were to ice fish that is the way to go.