All area lakes have come way up after the big melt down and rain , the edges are floating rafts and now with the new snow cover I cant see where the risky areas are. I got on one yesturday and was fine untill I got past center and it started to tip and move. Going to have to wait awhile I guess.

Onondaga lake is all cut up from the streams and warm temps.
Oneida lake ice is good if you can get to it. Edges are soft , broken or just plain open water , but it's changing fast , warm temps this week will have all the cracks loose so it will be a mass of floating rafts.
Looks like we might be all done around Syracuse.

Mark is right, this winter has been crap.

We have wicked good surface here. 1" cream corn on top of plastic. Good cruising ice but going fast in some locations. Lots of holes opening up and after the warm and rain this weekend places like the broads on Winnepesaukee will be done for the season. We were out there last week and there was only about 4 inches of good ice.

We've found some candle ice in some locations. If your winter has been as lame as ours then keep an eye out for candle ice. Looks solid as hell until you touch it.

COMING SOON TO A LAKE NEAR YOU! Will be reported on asap and that most certainly will not be soon enough.

With the weather we've been having it will be a looong time before the lakes here freeze.

The Yahoo group Ice Reports has ice information for New England . Lots of eyes looking for and scouting ice conditions mainly for the ice boat crowd. Their needs are the same as ours,
except we can deal with snow cover! That being said, it's 55 degrees here in Portland Me.
On a trip to the northern kingdom of Vermont over Thanksgiving, there wasn't any evidence
of freeze up, but there was up to 12-18' of snow inland. That may be a lot thinner now as we have had warmth.

I checked out a small lake just west of rt 81 , exit 41 at Adams NY. Route 178 west about 5miles is Crystal lake , also known as little stoney or sixtown pond, shallow , 168acre lake ,should freeze up early. perfect allignment for any variation of west wind. There is a state boat launch sign on 178 , hopefully its plowed out in winter. I'm ready , the boys are ready , the kites , skis and buggies are ready , come on winter!

This is #@%$#!, snow melted , what little ice was forming just got super dangerous , the park is sloppy goose poop and mud ,predicted west winds at 15mph are turning into southwest winds at 5mph. I think I'll put on my Sponge Bob shorts , crank up the tunes and clean the house. I'm taking the chains off the buggy and flying Southwick tomorrow!
Thats the "locations and conditons" report for Syracuse NY , mid-winter January 7 2012

Just flew back from Scotland yesterday afternoon and I had a good look down at Lake Simcoe as the plane came south over Ontario - a good 85-90% open water, just the shallower south end has ice. No snow around here and doesn't sound like anyone has been able to get out at all this year so far. A handful of friends from this area are heading to Tug Hill next weekend hoping to ride some snow.

Ice fishermen are reporting Big Bay at the west end of Oneida lake is 3" and getting thicker by the hour. Entire bays on the south shore lost ice to a big wind a couple days ago.
Tug Hill predicted to get dumped on tonight. The little pond next door has got that hard hazy white ice on it , I felt like going over and giving it a big hug!

Flew Big Bay Oneida lake last w/e with 6" smooth black ice, should continue smooth this w/e but may be wet. Ice fishing reports indicate 4-6" on the ponds and lakes arround Albany NY. Great Sacondaga 6-10". I check Iceshanty .com there's a bazillion guys on ice everywhere drilling holes.

There were four of us kiting on Simcoe Cooks Bay on Sunday. Lots of ice as far north to Innisfil Beach Road but not safe north of that or on Kempenfelt Bay yet. Couchitching lots of ice as was there two weekends ago. However the rain on Monday got rid of the little snow that was on the ice. Spitting out tonight so not looking good here for weekend.
Headed to Rice Lake Sat and Sun - Elmhirst, and if conditions hold will have kiting there. Winds are doable both Sat aft and Sun morning.
Soon as it snows on lake will let you know.
There was about 600 people fishing Perch on Cooks Bay last Sun.

a bunch of us are heading to Elmhirst tomorrow for the weekend on Rice lake. I'm going to bring an ice buggy just in case the rain tonight smooths out the surface and makes it icy - high gusty winds in the forecast for friday afternoon so we'll see what it's like when we arrive. there were probably be a posting on the Chkn Loop about conditions at Elmhirst friday afternoon.... now where is that GPS....

Fast flying to all of you. This weekend look slippery!

So here's a turn of events. How often does it turn from rain to snow, but it did. There is now 2-3 inches of heavy powder on the lake. The wind is just starting to pick up...

http://www.thechickenloop.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard...

Good to go, 2-3 inches fresh snow.

Sylan beach Onieda lake 5" smooth black ice with a dusting of sleet 1mile by 2miles skate-able. The ice fisherman were out in force so there are areas with gofer holes and little mounds of ice that can rough you up if taken by surprise. But eveything in between is just soooo smoooth. Home made buggy blades are getting pretty well tested.

Oneida Lake CAUTION. Cracks and fishing holes that were wet are now 3"-5" frozen mounds. ALSO the areas that were open water floated 1"-2" slabs up onto the existing ice , they lay flat and are the same coloring as the older ice. At speed you may not have time to stop , up and over may be the best option. Quit a patch work of smooth ice and hardpack drifted snow and the above issues at Sylvan beach at this time.

So yesterday I met Jan, Jackie, Cesar and Diane(I think, if I got it wrong, sorry) on Chaumont Bay, which according to the sign is the largest fresh water bay in the world. Being it was a weekday, there were not so many ice fisherpeople, but some, as it is mid winter break for the schools up here. I brought my buggy, which I have fitted with bike chains around the wheels. Wind was 15 G-30!, but with all that space, it didnt matter! The chains worked quite well, but I threw off both back chains after a few powerslides, so I continued without. Apart from some sliding out issues without the rear chains, I had a blast anyway. Jan had several runs in the 30's, and our last run of the day, he was 'precision sailing, with his 6M access parked just above my 3.4M NPW9, he said we came close! No matter I've still got the grin! Video will follow.

Can't wait to see the video Bobby. Alway fun to watch. I'm hoping to figure my camera out soon!!

So here's that promised video. It doesen't come close to showing the fun we had! :roll:

Cool beaners Bob! My favorite ice buggy location floated away yesturday on Oneida lake. The Sylvan Beach end of the lake 3miles x 1 mile (approx) slab of ice broke free from the shore and floated west. Check the news reports or Iceshanty.com, a bunch of guys on the ice got off just before it entered deeper water. I may head north this w/e , wind conditions look good.

Ice fishing guys on Iceshanty.com are reporting Sandy pond and Chaumont bay (NY ,lake Ontario) have 3" or more black ice with 2"or more white ice and misc slush cover, this week could see warm temps smooth everything out. Big bay on Onieda still thin and soft.

I was hoping the Berkshires would have ice this next week. But looks like it will be warm there too. Maybe skiing next week.

Made it to Great Sacandaga Lake today but the rain and 40mph gusty wind kept me from trying to fly. Ice conditions look good. 1-2 inches of sticky snow with lots of small patches of ice , 4 wheeler and sled tracks every where but no ruts. Where does any one get on the ice? I got on in Northville , parked where they store all the buoys (village dpw?) , really bad spot for bringing stuff down to the lake and flying out of. Is there any public access that is down at lake level somewhere else.

I flew Oneida Lake at Sylvan Beach + North Bay today ,ice is 6-8 inches with 2-5 inches of semihard pack snow , scattered bare ice that is like cobblestone(big cobblestone). Except where the canal comes in and beyond the ice ridge 2 miles out , this end of the lake is good to go. The rest of the lake had misc. open areas Sunday 1-20-13 that will quite possibly be good ice by this w/e because of the severe cold and very thin snow cover on those areas. A bassilion ice fishermen will be on the lake this w/e and should indicate "safe areas".

Still building.. some limited usable ice now near me in my town...getting thicker.

What's good in NH?

How's Chocorua lake...parts of Winnepesauke ....Sunnapee?

:puzzled:

Our lake here "Lake Pokatipog" seems to be ready. I may try it out on Sunday if the cold holds out.

carry rescue ice picks around neck? Best not to wear any cotton.

Chocorua is is good shape. Variable surface conditions. Stay clear of the swamp at the west side, the inlet at the north and the outlet in the south and the riding is good.

Melvin Village has been good. Center Harbor, Meredith Bay etc...

Haven't been down to check other parts of Winne since this last freeze but I bet a lot of stuff is now in play if you have sharp edges.

Winds are supposed to be good this weekend. Mostly NW and WNW. Makes for punchy riding on Choco. Watch out for dead pickeral on Choco. The ice fisherman leave em out and they freeze onto the ice. Wicked knee blowers.

Why they leave dead fish?

Snow surface, mixed or just ice?

I like to use Hockey skates if it's good ice..... or skis if there's snow.