Adirondack Ice Conditions

Man, was that Al Gore ever right!!! The temperatures here in the Adirondacks are up and down like a yo-yo. It can be way below zero one day and raining in the 40's the next. Living right on a lake, I get to see what this does to the ice conditions on a daily basis. As recent as yesterday I have seen big holes in the ice..open water. Tonight with cooler temperatures these holes will ice over and be covered with snow. Now, as recent as 2 days ago, I saw an ice fisherman out on the lake with a 4 wheeler!!!
I'm writing to send out a big New Year's Warning. I don't care if the ice looks safe..it is NOT. You can auger to test how thick it is...4" and safe...but 10' away from that spot it could be 1/2". No fish is worth taking the chance. I love ice fishing and I haven't been fishing once this season yet. Last year at this time, my freezer contained several large splake. Of course, with these drastic temperature changes we are getting strong winds. Happy New Year!!!

I will be at my lakefront home on Piseco Lake
tomorrow. The locals tell me that the ice seems to have "set up". I watch for the snowmobiles. If they are about the lake in force then I can generally trust the ice. Looks like the temperature is dropping and Winter has established a firmer grip. Lets hope so. I would like to to ice fish with my kids...safely.