Fishing Derby
 

Has anybody seen a press release from the Rotary Club confirming that the ice fishing derby is on for next weekend or is there a chance it will be postponed a few weeks? Based upon the Pond Hockey press release, the Winni ice has obviously not formed as it usually does. Thank you.

There is nothing posted on their website


http://www.meredithrotary.com


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Huh??...The dates are clearly posted as well as all other pertinent information?? Tickets have been on sale for quite some time now.
What is it you are looking for??

Remember the Derby isn't just lake Winnipesaukee, it involves all lakes in NH.

Dan

...... the $5-foam noodle 'pfd' belt can save your life!
 

The Derby's ice fishing headquarters is in its' spot at the Meredith boat launch, propped up on cinder blocks and hooked up for power, internet, and heat ...... this Derby shoreline facility is ready for the crowds of ice fishing peoples.

....... for venturing out on the ice ..... a five dollar foam noodle 'pfd' belt, worn under or over your coat, a loud whistle on a neck lanyard, and threading two ice picks on a thin line, down your coat sleeves, is highly recommended when venturing out on the ice away from the bay areas, out to the big water areas.

Plus, as of today, you definitely, definitely, definitely NEED ice creepers, a traction device, on both feet. This ice is like super smooth, smooth enough to go ice skating or ice sailing in an ice sail boat.

The sign up shack is out there and there are bob houses in the bay so I'm assuming it's a go. I didn't see any foam noodles.

Fishing Derby
 

That’s not what I was talking about I know all the information is there.

The original poster asked about the current status and news release to see if it was still on which is what I was referring to.


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People tend to wear them under their coats, out of sight, so they don't actually look like they is really wearing a foam noodle. ..... :) ..... is a vanity type of an issue.

The ice is very smooth ....... ice creepers, traction on both feet is needed ....... plus one or two ski poles for walking is a smooth move. This smooth ice can get wet and slippery what with the sunshine and the temps above freezing.

Gotchya...Sorry about that!

Dan

No worries Dan. If your going good luck. Unfortunately I can’t make it this year. Too much travel hockey with my son. [emoji4]


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Not going this year...will be in Quebec for the week snowmobiling.

Dan

Derby
 

Yes, for those of you concerned about the derby, it is still on. You can fish any body of water in NH. Ice may, or may not be safe for ATVs, snowmobiles, or vehicles depending on where you fish. Happy fishing and good luck. I will be out there somewhere.

in speaking with Fish and game this weekend during pond hockey, who were testing the ice multiple times a day, it is variable thickness 8-14 inches depending on where you were, and it could vary in a little at 15 feet in any direction

needed to clarify - this was strictly in Meredith Bay

6" or less all around Ellacoya State Park and it's not good ice! Will probably see some open water in the broads after today's warmup...

Dan

Make sure you wear your noodles. :D

The Meredith Rotary has posted to their Facebook page multiple times over the last few days that the Derby is 100% on for next weekend. They will not be canceling it or postponing it.

FLL- Foam Noodles "R" Us!
 

He knows how to run a rope through the center, and exactly how to wear them for that fashionable, "EEK, I'm out on the ice" look!" Spiked footwear will cost more.
You and all of your friends should pm FLL for more information

Pool noodles used in ice rescue in Maine.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

When I was a kid we were so poor we couldn’t afford swim newdles.

We had to buy oldles...

;)

Lol, when I was kid, the ice reliably froze 2 feet thick.

When I was a kid we had to walk on water.[emoji3]

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Uphill...to AND from school...

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Cabin fever
 

Is it starting already?

Lowe's in Gilford has a supply of about 40 noodles in two diameters, 2 1/2" and 4" in three different colors at reasonable prices.

For making a noodle belt, probably go with the 2 1/2" diam, and for making a rescue line, with the 1/2" white pvc pipe in the center, go with the 4" diameter.

You can probably throw a noodle line like a cowboy lasso with all the weight of the pvc and the foam ...... is there a noodle-lasso line throwing contest in the future of the ice fishing derby ......... yuuuh - hoooo! ...... :banana: ..... picture a noodle belt worn by this dancing banana!

Looks like good quality noodles with sturdy, dense foam.

None of the other stores like Walmart or Hannaford have any noodles, at this time. It's a seasonal item and I was surprised today to see that Lowe's had so many noodles just outside the rear door to the outside garden area.

Fishermen Beware
 

A massive fissure opened up in the ice today directly in front of Ellacoya State Park. If this fissure freezes over night then gets covered with the expected snow fall Thursday and Friday, this will become a very dangerous area.

This area is a highly fished and traveled area during the derby so please be aware and spread the word.

Dan

Posted on Alton FB pages
 

From several posts on Alton FB pages:

****THE ICE IS UNSAFE-UPDATE!***
This weekend Alton and Wolfeboro Fire Departments joined for an ice rescue training. We quickly learned that something almost fell through the ice off of Brewster Beach. Right at a large crack in the ice a few hundred feet from shore there was a 10' round circle of floating broken chunks of ice. During our second evolution Alton was called for an an actual ATV through the ice at Smith point. Our airboat diverted from the training to the call. We ended up getting 2 calls for vehicles through the ice Saturday. Thankfully no one was injured and the vehicles have been recovered. Both incidents involved people who are experienced on the lake.
What we learned about the current lake conditions:
-All of the common pressure ridges are in place, most of them have broken chunks of floating ice or open water. VERY UNSAFE, avoid these at all costs!
-There is a mix of broken refrozen chunk ice and black ice ranging in thickness from 1-5 all across the broads and bays.
If we can make any suggestion especially with the fishing derby coming up, please please keep vehicles of any kind off of the ice, if you must go out drill as you go, and stay away from the pressure ridges or dark colored ice.
When the locals say it's bad.... It's bad....

Be careful out there!

Dave

Winter Harbor pressure ridge
 

An east to west pressure ridge has set up all the way from the Osseo dock to Tuftonboro neck. Areas of thin to no ice, up to 5' wide effectively eliminating access to the broads from the north end of winter harbor. Rough ice covering the south section of winter harbor from wind driven ice chunks freezing in place. Only 3 to 4" of ice near the mouth of the bay to the broads. I wouldn't be driving anything out there.

Noodles, noodles, and more noodles. :eek:

Fishing Derby
 

Considering all the posts referring to ice conditions, I guess it is accurate to say "USE YOUR NOODLES", and I am not talking about the 4 foot by 4 inch noodle (although they would be helpful).

I have a pile of them in my shed, including some of the really fat ones (to hold me up!). Do I hear shortage in the market? Maybe you and I can team up, broker these, and turn a profit?

Thin ice danger
 

Seems like the ice this year could be dangerous.
Communities might need to consider investing in a machine like this:

https://youtu.be/n98HuWbz3Es

You may want to google Mark O'Connell, Moultonborough, snowmobile ice drowning, February 11, 2017 who was one of three snowmobilers, ages 62, 67, and 15 who all drowned while snowmobiling on Lake Winnipesaukee on that day. If I recall correct, it was the Saturday of the ice fishing derby.

The Mark O'Connell Foundation donated a brand new, bright orange, hovercraft to the Moultonborough Fire Dept on November 30, 2018.

http://www.themarkoconnellfoundation.../30/hovercraft

If I mention that a five dollar noodle belt could have made the difference, everyone will start calling me an inconsiderate jerk, except it's definitely true. Without wearing any flotation, by the time this hovercraft gets out there to you, you'll likely be frozen stiff, and sunk to the bottom ..... drowned ..... and very dead.

A healthy, strong person with determination and the will to survive, can survive for up to 90-minutes in 34-degree water. Your arms, hands, legs, and feet will all freeze but as long as you stay afloat without inhaling water and drowning, you can survive for up to 90-minutes if you have flotation, like a noodle belt worn around your waist and under your coat, keeping you afloat. Once in the water, the noodle belt will probably slide up to be under your arms and arm pits and allows for good strong use of your arms and hands before they freeze up.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHUSkWrpKzQ ..... A staged ice water rescue with Canada-made, air boat, similar to M-boro Fire Dept air boat made by the Port Carling, Ontario, Fire Dept. Something tells me the victim is wearing a dry suit and pfd under his outer clothes along with the large helmet?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oclfptihD8 ..... This is the real deal ...... this dog is not a staged "victim" acting out an ice water rescue ........ dog stuck in icy lake cries to rescuers for help ...... noodles to the rescue ...... arf-arf-arf.

Moultonborough should consider an ICE Responder. I’m a non-voting taxpayer, but I would like to see this vehicle in the town’s arsenal.


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The AIR Respder is made by a company headquartered in Gilford; the video shows it going through its paces in the lakes region.

Clever idea.

Ice Safety Warning
 

This year’s forecast is similar to 2017. Many parts of Lake Winnipesaukee are unsafe, though it will be impossible to tell, just by looking.

From the Laconia Sun:

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...ntent=headline

Probably the most dangerous derby ice conditions I have seen. Yesterday and today’s snowfall are making this the perfect storm unfortunately.

Wishing all participants a safe derby!

Dan

Looks like a section of overflow on the Snake Eyes cam this morning...that stuff will suck you in!

Signage
 

After the incidents in 2017, a few towns put out flashing signs by the side of the road warning of unsafe ice conditions. Maybe put those out now instead of waiting for a disaster. I know to most it's common sense but it was in 2017 too.

Fishing Derby
 

One Machine thru ice in Center Harbor around 5:30, driver was reported on ice

In November of 2018, Moultonboro Selectmen accepted a donation from the
The Mark O'Connell Foundation For Lake Winnipesaukee Safety to pay for a hovercraft that is designed for rescue operations on Lake Winnipesaukee. Mark O'Connell was one of the fatalities in Moultonboro that occurred in February of 2017.

Do you have a good online source for all the area emergency frequencies?

I just reprogramed my Yeasu VX8 and want to load up a memory bank with fire/police - at least those that are still using analog. ;)

Fishing Derby
 

Max, GM, I have trying to find that ref for you but must have lost it when I moved several yrs ago. The best freq to monitor is159.90 which is LR Mutual Fire. Another is Meredith PD at 154.30. The call last evening was on 159.90. Should I find my old list will Pm you. 73 to you and yours.

If a person wants to test the ice carefully and fish, that's great, whatever the weather.

But it disturbs me that people would be organizing--ie actively encouraging--ice fishing and the associated big party on the ice given the conditions reported in this thread. If you put 100 people and 100 six packs on uneven ice, at least one person is likely to get himself in trouble.

This fishing tournament is a tradition. You don't have to fish on Winni. There are plenty of other smaller lakes that you can fish on that are safe.

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Excellent response. [emoji4][emoji1303] people forget the derby is for the entire state not just the big lake or even the Lakes Region.


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Spring, summer, and fall, the foot bridge over the Mill Falls water fall, stream inlet into Meredith Bay is a popular spot to fish for large carp from the bridge, but you never see anyone do that during the ice derby? It's like these large carp are right there, and get totally ignored? You can see them in the water, easily, from the foot bridge.

Is it just because they are not a pickerel, trout, or salmon and no one wants to catch a carp?

Me, I usually go to the nearby McDonald's and catch an Alaskan Pollock, two for $5 or so, no $47-license required, but these easy fishing carp sure is tempting!

I think what you see is suckers...carp are not native to winni. Carp tend to live in rivers and backwaters of rivers. Yes, that inlet is a river but no carp there.

https://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/fis...mmon-carp.html.

Well, you're wrong. Plain and simple. There ARE carp in Winni as well as Winnisquam. Both lakes I have seen them swim right next to my boat. I use suckers for Bait for Ice fishing so I do know the difference. The carp I have seen were both in the 10-12 pound category. Just like Rock bass in Newfound Lake now, I have caught them and reported that to the State and they were unaware of that as well. Just Like Northern Pike in Winnisquam now, I have not but Friends of mine have caught them in there. Just like Mountain Lions in NH. State says NO, but there was one dead on Rt140 just south of MacDonalds about 2 years ago. my friend was coming up from Barnstead to meet me in New Hampton to go fishing and saw it lying there. The State really has lost contact with whats really happening with Wildlife in NH.

I'm sure anything is possible! I was merely, going by what F&G says. I would argue that such a carp population is minimal at best given no one has ever reported catching one out of the thousands that fish Winni. As far as Mt Lions go...I have seen one with my own eyes in Massachusetts years ago. When reported, the "standard" answer was "No you didn't see a Mt Lion."

I was in Lee's Mills bass fishing when I saw it, just before the entrance to Green's Basin. On Winnisquam it was the the South End of the Lake. Both were shallow warm areas. I agree about the population, they are not a common fish to see. When you do see one though, it's a Holy Sh#@ moment. We actually tried to snag the one in Lee's with no luck. It just kept on swimming. I've never heard of anyone catching one either in Winni. Just a FYI, Mascoma Lake up by Enfield NH is loaded with Carp.