ssayre - 25-2-2014 at 04:15 PM
We have had a good winter this year and the lakes were / are frozen over. My question is I've never done anything on a frozen lake and not sure how
to tell if conditions are right and which lakes I could possibly use. Obviously the easiest thing to do would be to find someone with knowledge of
the lakes. I haven't worked on that very hard so that's probably a possibility. As for the locations, we have several state parks with reservoirs.
Are they good to use? Do state parks generally allow people on the lake? It seems like a waste not to at least try it out especially after seeing
the last thread with the studded tires.
Feyd - 25-2-2014 at 05:56 PM
Lakes by and large are free game. Some reservoirs are off limits due to public water supply concerns. Here we ride almost exclusively on lakes.
Best winds, most space. Did a 53 mile tour today.
If you are unfamiliar with the lake always track down someone who is and get some local knowledge. Get more than one local's input if you can. Bait
shops are a good source for ice conditions. Knowledge of the weather leading up to the day you want to access the lake is good to have. Ice is
extremely dynamic and can change rapidly, the more you know about all the factors the better.
A decent rule of thumb is if the snowmobiles are on it, you have a better than average chance of not going through. If there has been zero activity,
that's a red flag.
State land access is your best bet. The biggest problem with a lot of lakes is having legal access. The lake is open to the public but the land
surrounding it may be all private.
For more info check our website. http://www.hardwaterkiter.com/ice-safety-information.html gives you some food for thought.
Good luck.
PrairieWind - 26-2-2014 at 11:33 AM
this site has indiana ice fishing forum links
there would be ice condition information for your area.
http://indianaicefishing.com/
ssayre - 26-2-2014 at 11:46 AM
Thanks for the tips. That website looks like a good place to start. We had a brief warm up so I'm not sure I'll try and get on the ice this year. I
hope we have another cold winter next year to try it out.
ice kiter - 26-2-2014 at 01:15 PM
on the ice ... we grew up beside lakes. we know the given area generally. (already we broke in with child head several times) we know it to a glance
from the colour of the ice his solidity ,- we look at his thickness every day , when we may be go on him already. we wander over the ice by ice-skate
first, and as the icebound part increases it is..when there is not a wind we play hockey....and we talk with the anglers ,- in order to know it their
wife when she is alone WE LIVE THERE
No people or past activity signs in sight..
skimtwashington - 26-2-2014 at 09:12 PM
If you have no clue you should chop test holes on a lake and see thickness. Always start right near shore and make more tests as you go further out.
Wear ice picks for emergency self rescue....always.
Yes unlike land, most lakes are free public access 
kitesleder - 26-2-2014 at 09:25 PM
I use an ice climbing screw to anchor my kites..........It will bore a 3/4" test hole and if you run an 8" screw all the way down and no water rises
to the top you know you have at minimum 8"..if there is water at the top I run a wire down with a hook on the end to catch the bottom of the ice to
gauge thickness. Yes I also start near the shore and at least 3 times going out a couple hundred feet. If on unfamiliar ice I may take the screw with
me for peace of mind .... to do more testing
Chrisz - 27-2-2014 at 05:48 AM
Up here in Minnesota typically we will wait for 5 nights of below zero temperatures, this typically produces about an inch of ice a night.
If you have had enough cold weather put on your life jacket use your ice screw to measure the ice as you walk out. You will need about 4 inches of
good clear ice to support your weight, 6 inches will hold a atv or snowmobile an 12 inches will hold a vehicle.
I live on a resivor lake and am out on it just about everyday, stay away from the river and the dam area. In the spring stay off any ice that has
started to crystalize it is not safe at that time.
What kind of temperatures have you been having? Up here we have about 3 feet of ice I am willing to bet our fishing opener will be delayed again this
year, we will have ice untill mid may again this year. I love my winter sports but I am really getting tired of 25 below zero temps!
Chrisz - 27-2-2014 at 05:50 AM
Up here in Minnesota typically we will wait for 5 nights of below zero temperatures, this typically produces about an inch of ice a night.
If you have had enough cold weather put on your life jacket use your ice screw to measure the ice as you walk out. You will need about 4 inches of
good clear ice to support your weight, 6 inches will hold a atv or snowmobile an 12 inches will hold a vehicle.
I live on a resivor lake and am out on it just about everyday, stay away from the river and the dam area. In the spring stay off any ice that has
started to crystalize it is not safe at that time.
What kind of temperatures have you been having? Up here we have about 3 feet of ice I am willing to bet our fishing opener will be delayed again this
year, we will have ice untill mid may again this year. I love my winter sports but I am really getting tired of 25 below zero temps!
ice kiter - 27-2-2014 at 11:48 AM
- That's good idea, I use too an climber ice screw for fix the kite .
But do not forget it that, under one minute you go 800-900 yards. Wander over the area before .. Wear ice-skate, because if the ice breaks in a shoe
there is not a chance of you . If you ride buggy watch out the holes of anglers, they until all of them thin the ice. If they used net they cut a big
window. I broke my old DN bridge so (and mast). It broked in with the rear ice-skate under the wind side, there was him and broked down . I had good
big one falled full length. I was 16 or 17 never forget it I believe it ,my dad was very scared.
ice kiter - 27-2-2014 at 11:52 AM
- That's good idea, I use too an climber ice screw for fix the kite .
But do not forget it that, under one minute you go 800-900 yards. Wander over the area before .. Wear ice-skate, because if the ice breaks in a shoe
there is not a chance of you . If you ride buggy watch out the holes of anglers, they until all of them thin the ice. If they used net they cut a big
window. I broke my old DN bridge so (and mast). It broked in with the rear ice-skate under the wind side, there was him and broked down . I had good
big one falled full length. I was 16 or 17 never forget it I believe it ,my dad was very scared.