ice out at 8th Lake

[troutman9]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and need some information.

I am planning to fish 8th Lake for surface feeding Lake Trout. I have never been to the lake in early spring. I normally go there during the summer for some camping.

I was wondering if anyone out there knew when ice out would occur on 8th Lake so I can plan a small vacation.

Thanks for any info you can give me.

[Hobbitling]

I'm guessing earlier than normal since its been the warmest winter on record, again.

[Gray Ghost]

Globally or nationally speaking, yes, but locally we have a had a cold couple of months. Record cold in some cases. There is a lot of ice on the ponds and lakes right now, and without a significant warmup, it will be later than it has been the last couple of years.

[Wldrns]

I'm guessing earlier than normal since its been the warmest winter on record, again.

hmmm, I don't understand that statement. In looking at the NOAA climatology data for Syracuse, it shows March to be 4.8 degrees below average so far, February was 6 degrees below average. February was the 2nd coldest and 5th snowiest on record. Granted January was up an average +4.5 degrees and December was up a whopping +8.8 degrees, still the total number of heating degree days since September is up (colder) than last year by more than 250.

Given that the last half of the winter has been far colder than the first half and indeed overall has been colder than average, I wouldn't bet on early ice out just yet.

[trouthunter]

Troutman9, Welcome to the forum! I think youll be looking at mid april before the ice on 8Th lake is out. Im planning on hitting it this spring also and have some locals keeping an eye out for me.Ill try to keep you updated. There are some nice Lakers in there. Good luck!

[Roy Wires]

I think you can expect the ice to go out of 8th Lake around April 25th, give or take a few days. Last spring, the 2nd week in May a camper in one of the campsites on the lake close to the boat ramp caught a 20 lb laker from shore in front of his campsite. If you're familiar with that particular area, it is a long shallow sandy bottom. Maybe only 3 feet of water 100 feet from shore. Anyway, he hooked this big laker while fishing from the bank, and wound up having to get into a boat to fight and land him. There are some awesome pictures at the campsite check-in building. I was there the last week of May, and the lakers had already moved into deep water. Gotta be there within 2 weeks of ice out. Good luck.

[trouthunter]

Yeah Roy aint lyin.Years back a employee of the campsite caught a huge Laker. Its now mounted above the door at Drakes Inn in Inlet. Stop and check it out, it can be very motivating.

[ken999]

I gotta agree with the later than normal ice out this year. I wouldn't expect to be in a canoe trolling for Brookies until the last week in April.

[St.Regis]

I just checked the Paul Smith's College weather station...granted PSC isn't Inlet, but it's in the ballpark.

Anyway, Here are the Jan. to March average temps for the past few years:

2003 - 17.0
2004 - 16.5
2005 - 18.1
2006 - 22.5

The four-year ('03 to '06) average is 18.5.

For 2007 (from 1/1 to 3/20) we are at 16.1. So right now we are 2.4 degrees below the four-year average for this time of year.

So what do these numbers mean. ABSOLUTELY NUTTIN' !!!!

Every year I drive myself crazy thinking, wondering, hoping..."When will it be off"? Sometimes I'm right on . Sometimes I missed it by a week . Sometimes she's socked in . And sometimes the bugs are already out .

But it's always a great time and I've never regretted any trips to the mountains .

[serotonin]

We've had such a weird Winter.
I saw grasshoppers on New Year's Eve.

Then we got several good Blasts of Snow and Cold.
I'm not making any predictions just yet, but it stands to reason that average ice-out will be a little late.

[Slamdog]

Ice Fishing

For what it's worth, I fished Piseco last weekend, and we cut through 30" of ice. The local folks don't think ice out will be very early this year (but we're a ways from 8th lake).

[forager]

First Post

Great forum... Had to chime in. My bet is on the last week of April since I've just set the date for a week of pond forays for Brookies starting to May 8. Hope I'm right. Hey... Two ADK fisherman named Roy on the same page... that's a coincidence.

-May all your Wabblers Wobble and your Dry Flies Float!

[Creekwader]

Average ice out date for the 4th lake is 4/17.

Last I was out ice fishing 4th lake, which was a couple weeks ago, there was alot of ice but 75% of it was of poor quality. There is probably less than 1 foot of black ice under there with another 1.5 foot of frozen slush and snow on top. If it gets warm, it could go quicker than normal. That being said, I still think it will be out around the 17th.

That campground employee who caught the big lake trout is a favorite of mine. He's got a boat that he leaves at the dock all summer with downriggers and the like. A couple summers ago, I drove up there one evening to troll for rainbows. It had just rained and was cloudy and cool, not one single boat was on the water. I'm out there in my rowboat trolling two flyrods with sinking lines out the back. I am located dead center of the lake, rowing the boat (no motor) and slow trolling hex nymphs. I look down the lake and see a motor boat coming down from the campsite. At this point I'm trolling back towards the campsite so I have my back to it. A couple minutes go by and I turn around again and the boat is heading right down the middle of the lake and right at me. I think to myself, gee I hope this guy turns. Well, of course he doesn't. He proceeds to take his boat about 30 feet off my port. At this point I just stare at him and nod hello. He stares back and then cuts in right behind my boat. I start yelling at him to watch my lines (he has downriggers in) and he then tells me to F-off and that of course inspired me to break off a string of profanity and personal insults about his age and overweight stature that I won't repeat here. Every year I see that a-hole's boat at the dock and I have to resist the urge to relieve him of his drainplug.
-CW

[trouthunter]

Creekwader, I hate that kind of disrespect especially from another angler. Ive heard that hes legally blind which might have explained him heading in your general direction but to acknowledge you and then cut right behind your boat? Im gonna have to keep an eye out for that guy.Any luck with the Rainbows?

[Creekwader]

Legally blind huh? That and certifiably rude.

I don't remember if I caught anything that night, maybe 1.