Simple Match Fishing Forum

There’s ice breaking, and then there’s ice breaking. Or is there?

Ok, over the years I’ve broke the ice on a number of occasions. Generally it’s never been more than an inch thick, often less than that.

I’ve broken it and caught from the off, but also on occasions have to admit I’ve never had owt.

In extreme conditions like last Sat, with the ice about 4 inches thick, I have to ask that if we are really honest with ourselves is it really worth it?

In ‘moderate’ conditions breaking may take 10 to 15 mins, entailing chucking that breaker 20 to 30 times. But what’s the ‘real’ effect when there is a constant bombardment on your peg (and all along the cut) lasting half hour or more, with that breaker crashing anywhere between 100 - 200 times - possibly more, and being dragged along that bottom many, many times.

On Saturday a 15lb sledgehammer head was just bouncing off the ice if it didn’t catch the edge of the ice spot on. Plus in reality it was only physically possible to end up cutting out half way across your peg.

What impact has it on the fish? It was touched on elsewhere in another thread of it ‘unsettling’ them - for want of another word

If ‘unsettled’, do we really expect the fish to return from the confines of the sanctuary they’ve sought whilst the battery is going on -  far banks sedges and other cover etc ? Do we really expect them to venture out and provide some ‘worthwhile’ sport in the next few hours?    

Or should we just turn over when that alarm clock goes off and pull that duvet up tighter around our necks?

Very good question.On saturday i broke 1/2 inch thick ice on the Coventry canal,it then took me almost 2 hours to get a bite,after 4 or 5 fish a boat came through and smashed the ice into smaller pieces as well as moving the bigger sheets away from the far bank which covered my far lines and which i was unable to move using my pole.After another 2 boats and 2 hours of pushing icebergs around with my cupping kit i eventually made a hole 6 feet in diameter over one of my far lines and started getting bites almost instantly,although i did have fun and games trying to drag a 10oz roach up and over the ice between me and my fishing hole
At Atherstone 3 weeks ago the ice was thicker and took much longer to break and clear,but i had fish topping in my swim withing minutes of putting the ice breaker away ?
I'm no expert but i'm led to believe that the water temperature stabilises once ice reaches a certain thickness and will be warmer at depth than if there were thinner/broken ice ?

you can still have a good days fishing after breaking the ice, the only problem (from a safety point of view) is when the ice becomes too thick (3"-4" plus) to break with a breaker and some go out on the ice to break it, then its just not worth the risk

When someone gets seriously injured or worse in these extreme conditions ...... someone could fall / slip just going to their peg.... never mind the dangers involved breaking out 6inches of ice !!! All for what ??????

Is it worth it ?


No crappity smack chance !

Calm down Dodge........

I quite like ice lollies

When someone gets seriously injured or worse in these extreme conditions ...... someone could fall / slip just going to their peg.... never mind the dangers involved breaking out 6inches of ice !!! All for what ??????



Is it worth it  ? 


No crappity smack chance !      

well said dodge now get back to your LEGO

True story time.
Many years ago (late eighties) I went to fish a big match on the Staffs-Worcs with Dave Berrows.
The ice was very thick !!
It was that thick that most anglers fished on the ice as it was only possible to break a small hole.
Most did this at 1.5 / 2 metres and sat down on their boxes on the ice. The holes were big enough to put a net in a bit and get 1 rig in ! It soon became apparent that only sticklebacks were feeding ! No bloodworm and only white pinkies (brief colour ban). So it transpired that loads of pinkies up the line and just dunked in was the game. After waiting a few seconds a gentle lift and a shake off in the net could result in 3 or 4 backs at a time ! If I remember 14oz won it !!!
I myself had a near death experience ! The ice from the bank to the hole just gave way. In I went under the ice for a brief second popped back up and was rescued by the blokes at the next pegs. I was taken round to a house that backed onto the canal and spent the afternoon watching world of sport on the sofa, fed, watered and then got me clothes back that had been in their dryer.
Came back out for the weigh in, my kit had been packed away and I had weighed 1 oz 4 drams ! What great folk .
Went and picked Bez up and went for a drink ho hum

Don't want to break ice personally anymore, dont enjoy it. If it's not a team match i wont break thick ice full stop. Not sure whether i'm getting softer or wiser with age

The one good thing is at least you dont have to break far at HanKat

The one good thing is at least you dont have to break far at HanKat

Correct!

The one good thing is at least you dont have to break far at HanKat 

Correct!   

Just draw near Johnty, get him to throw his wallet in to break the ice ;-)

The one good thing is at least you dont have to break far at HanKat 

Correct!   

Just draw near Johnty, get him to throw his wallet in to break the ice ;-)

or another bridge hole h'ay queenie i heard no one in the rest of the section had a bite some drawing arm you've got mate

i heard no one in the rest of the section had a bite

Wrong mate.. bloke three to my left next peg to sam perkins had as many as me but not the same stamp.

More bum info?????

must of been the other side of the bridge then