Syracuse.com - Warning to Central New York ice fishermen: Be careful out there

[HuntingNY-News]

What are you seeing out there? Send your comments to me at [email protected] and I'll let others know.

A bitter cold snap has hit the area. Local waterways are freezing up. Is there fishable ice in Central New York yet?

I'm not sure, but I do know they don't hand out medals for being the first out on a waterway. See the DEC website for more on ice fishing safety and safe ice.

Meanwhile, I'm hearing there is good ice up north, but local waterways are extremely questionable. I'll let you know more when I know more.

I was emailed the following this morning from Rob Goffredo, a bait store owner in Brewerton at the western end of Oneida Lake:

"I believe it is extremely important you do an article on ice safety. I'm already getting a bunch of calls at the shop looking for ice conditions.I won't quote Oneida conditions till I see them myself. I can tell you a good chunk of the lake is locked up. I feel we will be fishing Big Bay (on Oneida Lake) by the middle of next week. They are already fishing on Black Lake , Lakeview Marsh. Chippawa Bay (on the St. Lawrence River) and most of the northern lakes. I'll be going over to Big Bay to check later today.

And this came from a DEC staffer.

"I wanted to alert you to an area of Otisco Lake that may not develop solid ice. Many people fish the small northern bay for bluegill. If you walk south of the bay on the ice, you have to cross the narrows, and I know from experience that the ice there is thin enough to fall through, even well into the season."

I'm thinking of checking Otisco Lake later this afternoon to see if anyone is out. Stay tuned.

What are you seeing out there in regard to safe ice on Oneida, Otisco and elsewhere? Send your comments to me at [email protected] and I'll let others know.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog