Hunting the ice this weekend.

bte0816

Ten Pointer
Trying to get some action in here since it is almost as dead as my swamp. Post some pics or stories from this weekend or good hunts from the past when things were icy.

I walked into the swamp yesterday morning and set up just to get an idea of what's around before tomorrow. We aren't holding anywhere near what we were back in November but the dry year has really hurt our water supply. Swamp was starting to freeze but the creek was still ice free. I'm hoping by Saturday it starts to freeze pretty good and we can hunt a hole near one of the dams. Even though we aren't holding a ton right now it usually picks up when things start to freeze since we have some pretty good flowing water.
 
JJWise

JJWise

Twelve Pointer
Hunted this morning, got a few bufflehead. No ice on the water, but there was ice on the ramp. Once the boat was back on the trailer the truck started to slide (not roll) backwards on the ramp. Only went about a foot but that got scary quick.
 

bte0816

Ten Pointer
JJWise said:
Hunted this morning, got a few bufflehead. No ice on the water, but there was ice on the ramp. Once the boat was back on the trailer the truck started to slide (not roll) backwards on the ramp. Only went about a foot but that got scary quick.
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That's always a pucker factor. Always have to say a quick prayer the slide stops when the tires get below the water line.
 
JJWise

JJWise

Twelve Pointer
bte0816 said:
That's always a pucker factor. Always have to say a quick prayer the slide stops when the tires get below the water line.
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Luckily mine didn’t even make it to the water line. Tomorrow morning if there’s any ice I’ll use the chock block from my trailer when on the ramp. Not sure it’ll help much on ice but it can’t hurt.
 

Skunkgang

Spike
JJWise said:
Luckily mine didn’t even make it to the water line. Tomorrow morning if there’s any ice I’ll use the chock block from my trailer when on the ramp. Not sure it’ll help much on ice but it can’t hurt.
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First time backing into ice will be tomorrow. Any tips, never crossed my mind that I could slide into the water. How big is your boat?

EDIT: Found tips, will be using sand and salt mix. May bring a shovel to remove the ice. I will then quickly take the trailer out and back in the water a few times to limit my competition.
 
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JJWise

JJWise

Twelve Pointer
Skunkgang said:
First time backing into ice will be tomorrow. Any tips, never crossed my mind that I could slide into the water. How big is your boat?
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24ft Kencraft skiff. I’ve hunted a lot of cold days where there’s some ice forming and that’s the first time I’ve had it slide.
 
Jimbob78

Jimbob78

Twelve Pointer
Y’all don’t have winches on the front of your trucks to hook to a tree? We always drove two vehicles to the ramp and if it was really slick hooked a second truck up to the first just in case.
 

bte0816

Ten Pointer
I doubt we have much ice. Getting ready to ride to the farm in Pitt and kind thankful I'm not at poplar branch looking at running the boat 6 miles this morning.
 

ducknut

Eight Pointer
coachcornbread said:
If folks would take the extra 15 seconds to stop their trailer as soon as the tires get out of the water and let it drain that would eliminate 75% of the ice on ramps. I dont know why people cant do that.
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Same reason people can't load their boat out of the way then use the ramp. Or turn their high beams off while launching the boat so i can see to use the other ramp . Or park the truck and trailer in the normal spots out of the way. Or turn their damn light bar off when other boats are running infront of them. They ain't thinking of anyone else
 
hoyt85

hoyt85

Eight Pointer
ducknut said:
Same reason people can't load their boat out of the way then use the ramp. Or turn their high beams off while launching the boat so i can see to use the other ramp . Or park the truck and trailer in the normal spots out of the way. Or turn their damn light bar off when other boats are running infront of them. They ain't thinking of anyone else
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Facts
 

bigdrumnc

Ten Pointer
ducknut said:
Same reason people can't load their boat out of the way then use the ramp. Or turn their high beams off while launching the boat so i can see to use the other ramp . Or park the truck and trailer in the normal spots out of the way. Or turn their damn light bar off when other boats are running infront of them. They ain't thinking of anyone else
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Light bars are absolutely obnoxious. I am pretty sure illegal by USCG standards using them non-stop during navigation. Seems awhile back I recall the coasties sitting in the channel on the way in from hatteras inlet and wrote several warnings to the drop netters coming in at night having the light bars on under way. If you need one to navigate a pond in the dark you don’t need to operate a boat.
 
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ducknut

Eight Pointer
bigdrumnc said:
Light bars are absolutely obnoxious. I am pretty sure illegal by USCG standards using them non-stop during navigation. Seems awhile back I recall the coasties sitting in the channel on the way in from hatteras inlet and wrote several warnings to the drop netters coming in at night having the light bars on under way. If you need one to navigate a pond in the dark you don’t need to operate a boat.
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Agreed. They're certainly not coast guard approved like your navigation and anchor lights. I have no problem with people using them, but they only harm your vision and others in open water. I could see them being handy running stump filled creeks or timber, but turn them off when other people are underway
 
SurferGuy08

SurferGuy08

Six Pointer
Yesterday morning me and buddy were heading to our spot to hunt Jordan Lake. We went from Plan A all the way to Plan E or F. Got to the spot and had no idea what we were going to see. We were working on breaking the ice well past legal shooting light. I ended up taking a swim in the lake. Luckily the water did not go over the top of my waders, but I'm pretty sure some got in. We definitely saw over 30 ducks, but none wanted to stop and say hi. Even though we did not get to shoot, it was nice to hunt with him again and with the dog.

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