Ice

Ice

        Yes, ICE...this is the earliest we have been able to ice fish.  We had gone to a shallow lake, near Kalispell, Montana.  The ice was 2.5 - 3" thick when we had gotten there.  The temperature was about 1 degree F!  Lots of ice-making temps.  We caught 7 pike, most around 18"...normal for that lake.  There are a few, nice ones, but not this time.  The ice was smooth enough, I had gotten in some ice skating.  By the time we were leaving, around 1 pm, the ice was cracking and starting to break up.  Got off just in time, as the ice was starting to rot in the warming of the day (40's).