On Fri, 04 Feb 2011 11:50:27 -0600, Ignoramus32184
wrote:

I am in Northern Illinois. We have a small lake nearby.

I would estimate that, after extended cold weather, the ice is at
least 15 inches thick.

I have never done ice fishing and I have questions that are pretty
basic.

1) I assume that with a snow shovel and a 6 foot long straight steel
prybar, it should not be a problem to clear a foot of snow and to
break through that ice.

2) When I was a kid, I walked past a recently abandoned ice fishing
hole in Russia. I was shocked to see a giant quantity of fish crowding
the hole, as if they were starved of air and needed desperately to get
a fresh breath of air. Is that due to oxygen deprivation on an ice
covered lake, or was the hole chummed?

Is there some way to get the same effect? The lake was frozen at least
for 5-6 weeks, IIRC.

i


I've only been ice fishing twice and you want to use auger. You'll be
there all day and down right pooped with a pry bar, plus probably
loose the bar. I'm not sure, but for a 12 pack I bet there will be
someone there that has an auger. As for fish, well I've never seen
people catching fish. Always thought it was about getting away from
the wife.

I've got a question for you. I was crusing around that big deep lake
in russia with google earth and was really surprised at the bright
blue ice, happen to know why it is blue? It's real easy to find, just
click on five pictures at the lake and one will show the ice.

I don't mean to pry, but what is your story? I would think someone
from there would be an expert at snow and ice. Kind of like the
people I have talked to in scandinavia that say they plow the roads
with tanks.


SW