Moses Lake area ice report?

[Wackem]

Was thinking about heading over to the Moses Lake, Potholes Reservoir area this weekend and wondered if anyone had an ice report?

[206]

hahah.  I was just thinking about this yesterday.  Ice fishin during Thanksgiving would be a first.  I don't think it's happening now, but prolly pretty soon depending on daytime highs.

[Wackem]

Daytime highs are barely over the freezing mark but you never know. I think we're going regardless, may have to switch to upland, just thought I would see if anyone had a report, specifically around Lind Coulee.

[boneaddict]

Nov 10th evening was the first frost of the year, and this was our first cold.   small ponds, small water is froze.  Any moving water, including waves is/was still open as of last night

[C-Money]

Yup. Ponds are frozen solid. Moses and Potholes are open. Kinda early to have to look for open water. It is really cold here, but appears Moses Lake will avoid the snow. I do like the idea of ice fishing on Thanksgiving!

[shorthair-on-point]

Ice starting on Moses Lake itself today.

[eastsidemallard74]

everythings frozen, dont come, unless you come barring gifts.  :tup:It's cold, and windy still so even colder. Supposed to snow some tonight into tomorrow around the Columbia Basin Area. But than supposed to be sunny and clear on Sat/Sun but COLD. Anything shallow is gonna be frozen, which will mean too many people in the big waters!!!

[Wackem]

Thanks everyone for the reports and the gentle or not so gentle nudge to stay away.

[hdshot]

A pond we hunted last week was barley full enough to hunt and bagged some young drakes that looked like hens while many other ponds were almost dry when they should be almost full.  Now the freeze is on before good water levels. 

[gasman]

If the water ain't moving, it's freezing over.

[bone collector 12]

only thing that willl keep it partially open is wind,and we havnt had any good winds since tuesday

[Drop-tine]

It's all froze up we went out there this morning breaking ice with the boat was a challenge there were two boats after us that we're struggling too out of 4 guys in our group we got one duck and out of the other two boat they got only one duck also... 

[eastsidemallard74]

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

[hdshot]

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

Would be nice but for many hunters when the freeze hits we can't retreat to private fields but only to find the end of the road for the season and is over before the migration arrived.   

[Buck_Nasty11]

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

 

[eastsidemallard74]

Reservation only field

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

Would be nice but for many hunters when the freeze hits we can't retreat to private fields but only to find the end of the road for the season and is over before the migration arrived.

[hdshot]

Reservation only field

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

Would be nice but for many hunters when the freeze hits we can't retreat to private fields but only to find the end of the road for the season and is over before the migration arrived.

I forgot to leave out the part no time to scout either.  Lots only have the time to rely on proven grounds that is now under ice. 

[Wackem]

Thought I would send an update from the original post. Lots of ice and nothing melting during the day but found enough open water to scratch out a few.

[hdshot]

Thought I would send an update from the original post. Lots of ice and nothing melting during the day but found enough open water to scratch out a few.

No boat no go.  Looks like you have a tank for one?

[Wackem]

A 16' sled w/pump. I suppose it does look like a tank, not pretty, but it gets the job done. The past couple of years I haven't been able to go out as much as I would have liked so I'm trying to get it out as much as possible this season.

[JBG]

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

Would be nice but for many hunters when the freeze hits we can't retreat to private fields but only to find the end of the road for the season and is over before the migration arrived.

Ahh I got some cheese over here for that wine.  ahah   Not trying to be an a** but it sounds like you are waiting or wanting perfect conditions to be able to shoot birds.  I can tell you that wont happen.  Its all part of the game, I have access to private ground but end up shooting lots of ducks on public.  My private spots are good for about 3 weeks during the season and crappy for the rest.  Instead of complaining I've found new areas, new techniques, and do a ton of scouting. No fault except my own if I dont have a good day.  I bet someone with the same problems as you was able to find a way to kill birds this weekend.  Dont get down on yourself find away to adapt and make the best of a hard situation.

[CP]

Is it thawing out yet?

[Elkrunner]

I highly doubt it.  Its still not getting above freezing over on this side of the hill

[eastsidemallard74]

I was on Pot holes Sunday and the ice was starting to show it's face about 1/2 mile in. And this is once you come around the point from the state park heading North, there's an island on the right, once you start to travel behind this is where I'm referring to.The main body is still open. Possibly with the warmer weather we're supposed to get it may a little, but the night time lows are going to be chilly

[270Shooter]

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

Would be nice but for many hunters when the freeze hits we can't retreat to private fields but only to find the end of the road for the season and is over before the migration arrived.

Ahh I got some cheese over here for that wine.  ahah   Not trying to be an a** but it sounds like you are waiting or wanting perfect conditions to be able to shoot birds.  I can tell you that wont happen.  Its all part of the game, I have access to private ground but end up shooting lots of ducks on public.  My private spots are good for about 3 weeks during the season and crappy for the rest.  Instead of complaining I've found new areas, new techniques, and do a ton of scouting. No fault except my own if I dont have a good day.  I bet someone with the same problems as you was able to find a way to kill birds this weekend.  Dont get down on yourself find away to adapt and make the best of a hard situation.

nah man he hunts a lot, I think he's just trying to discourage people from coming over. If you find open water you'll have ducks, that's why I like it when everything freezes up.

[hdshot]

Frozen ponds, just hunt geese

Would be nice but for many hunters when the freeze hits we can't retreat to private fields but only to find the end of the road for the season and is over before the migration arrived.

Ahh I got some cheese over here for that wine.  ahah   Not trying to be an a** but it sounds like you are waiting or wanting perfect conditions to be able to shoot birds.  I can tell you that wont happen.  Its all part of the game, I have access to private ground but end up shooting lots of ducks on public.  My private spots are good for about 3 weeks during the season and crappy for the rest.  Instead of complaining I've found new areas, new techniques, and do a ton of scouting. No fault except my own if I dont have a good day.  I bet someone with the same problems as you was able to find a way to kill birds this weekend.  Dont get down on yourself find away to adapt and make the best of a hard situation.

Hunters can never adapt to ice like wine can or could still be in Canada hunting. I know spots hunters will camp when the ice concentrates the hunters to the river.  Not complaining, just reality that we seemed to face way to early this year.  Another reality is many have to save their time and resources for hunting only when the conditions are right. Waterfowl hunting to most is like playing cards with the odds dealt.           

[270Shooter]

Broke a hole and shot two limits of mallards today

[EWUEAGLESHUNTER]

If you can find open water, the hunt is on right now for sure!

[jakeweb]

any new updates with the warmer weather? starting to thaw at all?

[addicted2hunting]

im tossing around the idea of going over this weekend also. be nice to have some hope to get through some ice.

[eastsidemallard74]

any new updates with the warmer weather? starting to thaw at all?

A little less ice, but still aot around, it's been chilly at night, and not much above 40 in the day. It's supposed to plummet 30 degrees from Thurs- Friday. Highs around upper 50's tomoorow and than Friday around 30's

[jakeweb]

Thanks for the update, do you think you could break at the Winchester reservation spot?

[eastsidemallard74]

Probably not, real shallow water, look at hunting the streams near there

[skinzner]

Thinking about heading over this weekend anyone have any updates, thanks

[C-Money]

I was out on Thanksgiving and tried to jump some ponds. They were still 90% frozen and held zero ducks. Only been colder since. Still some open big water, but its disappearing.

[eastsidemallard74]

Between the weather and the winds, it will all be frozen soon.

[Wackem]

Extended forecast shows warmer for the weekend and all next week, but it's just a forecast.

[jakeweb]

Anyone hunting Moses area lately? Still any bird's? Hows the ice?

[splitshot]

the ice should be getting gone with the nice rain we had last nite.  it is to be in the upper 40's in the day and not freezing at nite.   not much wind so have at it.  good hunting.  mike w

[eastsidemallard74]

The back 1/2 is frozen about 3/4 miles from the public launch blythe