What's new
Forums
Members
Resources
Whopper Club
Politics
Pics
Videos
Fishing Reports
Classifieds
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Members
Resources
Whopper Club
Politics
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Fishing
Ice Fishing
Ice Fishing MYTHS that never die.
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Allen" data-source="post: 314518" data-attributes="member: 389"><p>While ice does indeed float, there's also what's called ice bridging. Basically, it happens when a reservoir is lowered after ice cover is developed, the ice in the middle of the lake is floating on top of the water, but as you get close to shore, thick ice will sometimes "bridge" from the shoreline to where it is floating on top of the water some distance from shore. Now, 5-6 ft would be an awful lot of bridging, certainly more than I have ever witnessed and would only ever be seen next to a very steep drop off on a reservoir that has been lowered by at LEAST 5-6 ft since ice cover developed. Nonetheless, the ice surface would likely be so steep as to give you a clue that something is amiss. In general, the water in the hole should be down about 10% of the overall ice thickness for it to be properly floating on the water. So if the ice is 10 inches thick and without a heavy snow cover on the lake, the water level should be about an inch below the surface of a freshly drilled fishing hole. If the water level is more than 10% of the ice thickness below the surface of the ice, it is being bridged to some extent.</p><p></p><p>This was the primary reason Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs had their access restricted during the 2019-2020 winter. </p><p></p><p>We often see the unlevel ice at access points on our bigger reservoirs (Sak and Oahe), but don't really think much about it as we drive down the boat ramps to get on the lake. Needless to say, the transition from unlevel ice to that floating on the water is the danger point as ice without water support isn't very strong for its thickness as it requires its buoyancy to help hold vehicles up and keep them from falling through. </p><p></p><p>Thankfully, it is very rare that we see reservoirs needing to be lowered 5-6 ft over the course of a winter. Most tend to go into winter with 3 ft or less of water that needs to be discharged over the course of winter.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Allen, post: 314518, member: 389"] While ice does indeed float, there's also what's called ice bridging. Basically, it happens when a reservoir is lowered after ice cover is developed, the ice in the middle of the lake is floating on top of the water, but as you get close to shore, thick ice will sometimes "bridge" from the shoreline to where it is floating on top of the water some distance from shore. Now, 5-6 ft would be an awful lot of bridging, certainly more than I have ever witnessed and would only ever be seen next to a very steep drop off on a reservoir that has been lowered by at LEAST 5-6 ft since ice cover developed. Nonetheless, the ice surface would likely be so steep as to give you a clue that something is amiss. In general, the water in the hole should be down about 10% of the overall ice thickness for it to be properly floating on the water. So if the ice is 10 inches thick and without a heavy snow cover on the lake, the water level should be about an inch below the surface of a freshly drilled fishing hole. If the water level is more than 10% of the ice thickness below the surface of the ice, it is being bridged to some extent. This was the primary reason Jamestown and Pipestem reservoirs had their access restricted during the 2019-2020 winter. We often see the unlevel ice at access points on our bigger reservoirs (Sak and Oahe), but don't really think much about it as we drive down the boat ramps to get on the lake. Needless to say, the transition from unlevel ice to that floating on the water is the danger point as ice without water support isn't very strong for its thickness as it requires its buoyancy to help hold vehicles up and keep them from falling through. Thankfully, it is very rare that we see reservoirs needing to be lowered 5-6 ft over the course of a winter. Most tend to go into winter with 3 ft or less of water that needs to be discharged over the course of winter. [/QUOTE]
Verification
What is the most common fish caught on this site?
Post reply
Recent Posts
NFL News (Vikings)
Latest: Obi-Wan
20 minutes ago
Quiet Pellet Gun
Latest: 3Roosters
Today at 5:26 PM
Bismarck roads and driving
Latest: SDMF
Today at 5:19 PM
Answer me this
Latest: BrokenBackJack
Today at 3:28 PM
More CWD NE ND
Latest: Fritz the Cat
Today at 12:57 PM
Coffee and sweet beaver
Latest: Maddog
Today at 10:59 AM
Riddle Me This.....
Latest: Maddog
Today at 10:55 AM
N
I Love This Bar (NDA)
Latest: NG3067
Today at 7:30 AM
Presidents who added the most
Latest: grumster
Today at 12:01 AM
F
Drotto adjustment?
Latest: Fester
Yesterday at 8:41 PM
Check your bags boys
Latest: svnmag
Yesterday at 8:27 PM
Tractors
Latest: Davey Crockett
Yesterday at 11:15 AM
8
Spring snows 24
Latest: 870XPRS
Thursday at 10:14 PM
R
Tract Optics
Latest: rodcontrol
Thursday at 2:22 PM
S
Israel
Latest: snow2
Thursday at 10:35 AM
Any Birders here?
Latest: svnmag
Wednesday at 8:59 PM
Prairie ghost
Latest: johnr
Wednesday at 4:20 PM
S
Mega Live
Latest: SLE
Wednesday at 2:12 PM
G
A good movie
Latest: gillraker
Wednesday at 9:53 AM
Skinwalker Ranch
Latest: svnmag
Tuesday at 10:16 PM
Friends of NDA
Forums
Fishing
Ice Fishing
Ice Fishing MYTHS that never die.
Top
Bottom