Well i got started on this seasons ICE PROWL. Damm got up this morning saw - 17 C and smoke on the water ...a great sign and i was all eggcited...now a few more nights like that would sure help....the winds perked as the day passed. I decided i best have a wee snoop around and i didnt expect to find much and i was correct, I didnt ...BUT its shaping up ...
 
first stop was end of my street where i saw a few sheets of ice bouncing about in the small chop ...good sign that will help cool some water ...( or a roostertail if ur in da mood ) then off to Barrie
 
Barrie docks ...well glad i went by and heres a heads up ///first the ice ...most of the complete inner harbour was frozen with a few small open spots ,,,theres still a boat in the water there and its now froze in...the ramp also was pretty well froze in. Some of the ice was verrrrrry thin tho so please dont push ur luck stay off ..NO i didnt test it ...infact i havent put my spud in the truck yet nor have i put a floater suit in there...but i will soon.
 
Heres the heads up part ...it appears that all of the inner harbor docks now have chains on them so that the gates cannot be opened. Shame the authorities wont allow the fishers there anymore. I looked to see if any had been left unchained but sorry NOT. I wont comment anymore on that issue but i'm sure a few will be some vex ...
 
Well its off now for a few xmas errands and then to Gilford...yup ice there as u approach for 11 and 89 u can see open water about the middle of the bay and the ice stops about the 2- 3 rd line ,,,I did wander out a 100 feet ..ya gotta love that crystal clear ice that u can see thru ...kinna like them coke bottle glasses ,,, ... Terry Goy had a small hut sittin on the ice at the edge but i could see some track about and sens ethat there will be a few on it soon ...as for me ...nope ...too soon...there is ice but i didnt measure ...no spud no open holes...oh and i did get the shopping done ,,,,next stop Lefroy ..
 
Open water out in front of Monto reno and south ...the shoreline had about 200 feet of ice and to the south i could see some pack ice buildin at the point,,,,so its gonna be a while yet ...off to the park at the 8th with a brief stop at the end of one line and i did see lotsa ducks and a single swan ...hope the other wasnt far off ...last year there was a pair around.
 
Well i got to the park and on the way up i could see no ice ...the gates at the park are still locked shut ..guess the ground aint froze   so i just buzzed off home. Some ice is forming in small bays but not nuff to get me eggcited yet ...I wonder if they will even open the gates this winter ,,,geez that would be a nightmare if they dont ...some but not much parkin available then.
 
Play safe so u can play again next year! 
 
I'll take this chance to wish all the members and thier familys a very Merry Christmas!
 
Safe fishing first
Horseshoe

 pray for no wind and -20........Hello Ice........

 great report between you and Redfisher im sure we will be ontop of the ice conditions

   Hawg Hunter

Hi HH
Thanks for all the updates - Hope to meet up with you soooooon on safe ice.
Merry Christmas to you and the Mrs.

bobby

ps: About 2 feet of ice here - oooppss I'm lookin over the edge of the wall at Niagara Falls...................haha

then we headed down to the end of gilford road ..the ice is up to around the 3rd line  and seems to be holding up against the wind,.,,theres an area out towards the middle that looks like open water again but its hard to tell..it was open a week ago idea ...heres a picture looking north

Thanks for sharing the pics and commentary Horseshoe ... I always look forward to that each year .... 
I hope your able to land a few from the lake soon ...
Do you think you fellas might get a good feed before new years?