snywx Posted October 18, 2013 Share Posted October 18, 2013 Thanks. Definitely thought about the lower hudson valley area. Agree that there are exceptional winters. Just looking for a lake/pond which will freeze over almost every winter (my safe guess is that it would be in a higher elevation in this area). Where are you located? Your best bet would be higher elevation spots of NW NJ, Orange County or even southern Sullivan & Ulster counties which are within 70-75 miles of NYC. Numerous ice fishing spots up this way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 Looking around on google earth, you're probably right. It's pretty desolate in the high point area up past 1500 feet. Definitely more houses in that range in NE Sussex and also western Passaic County. I'll have to retract my previous comment as darkstar may very well be near the max in terms of communities w/ the highest average. As far as a decent population goes, Highland Lakes is the spot in NJ for snow. Weenies or weather fans may talk about High Point state park or some road out in western Sussex county that may or may not have a cabin on a dirt road above 1500 ft in elevation that may get slightly higher totals by a weather map geek. The max in the state is located in a 15-20 sq mile area located from on or near the Rt 515 Hamburg Mountain state park zone through highland lakes into northwestern western sections of West Milford with the max on locations above 1300 Ft in elevation. I still strongly know that My house sucks in snow from the clouds) and mother nature smiles on my street I read reports that that the ridge line out in western Sussex County gets lake streamers. Really?? Overall, my street in Highland Lakes should typically get the most snow in the state of New Jersey Last winter was knarly at times for driving and road conditions due to snow and or ice. Warmest Regards, Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pamela Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 As far as a decent population goes, Highland Lakes is the spot in NJ for snow. Weenies or weather fans may talk about High Point state park or some road out in western Sussex county that may or may not have a cabin on a dirt road above 1500 ft in elevation that may get slightly higher totals by a weather map geek. The max in the state is located in a 15-20 sq mile area located from on or near the Rt 515 Hamburg Mountain state park zone through highland lakes into northwestern western sections of West Milford with the max on locations above 1300 Ft in elevation. I still strongly know that My house sucks in snow from the clouds) and mother nature smiles on my street I read reports that that the ridge line out in western Sussex County gets lake streamers. Really?? Overall, my street in Highland Lakes should typically get the most snow in the state of New Jersey Last winter was knarly at times for driving and road conditions due to snow and or ice. Warmest Regards, Matt I'm sure it is one of the snowiest locations in the state, but w/o a genuine climate record available for your location, your assertion is, at best, inference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Animal Posted October 20, 2013 Share Posted October 20, 2013 I'm sure it is one of the snowiest locations in the state, but w/o a genuine climate record available for your location, your assertion is, at best, inference. Good day William, Point well taken. Have a great day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBG Posted October 21, 2013 Share Posted October 21, 2013 I mean I realize ponds/lakes in NW NJ freeze every winter, but for me personally, I'd want to go north to probably southern VT to feel comfortable messing around on them in ANY winter. It's about the thickness of that ice too, and most years I wouldn't want to jump around on the ice south of NNE.I learned that the hard way, on December 2, 1967, 23 miles north of NYC, on a small pond on Quaker Ridge Golf Course. My unseasonable swim ended at White Plains Hospital's emergency room, with a body temperature below what thermometer would record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 I mean I realize ponds/lakes in NW NJ freeze every winter, but for me personally, I'd want to go north to probably southern VT to feel comfortable messing around on them in ANY winter. It's about the thickness of that ice too, and most years I wouldn't want to jump around on the ice south of NNE. lol. the lakes in north jersey are safe enough to skate and ice fish on every winter. http://www.njskylands.com/odfishice.htm "The first fishable ice (three inches or more) usually forms by sometime in mid to late December. Then you can head out onto the fishable coves on such impoundments as Lake Hopatcong, Lake Wawayanda, Swartswood Lake, Paulinskill Lake, Cranberry Lake, Lake Musconetcong, Budd Lake, Mountain Lake, or any other frozen body of water in where you can gain public access. Safe ice takes longer to form on the bigger and deeper lakes and reservoirs, but ice 10-20 inches thick can eventually accumulate." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famartin Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 lol. the lakes in north jersey are safe enough to skate and ice fish on every winter. http://www.njskylands.com/odfishice.htm "The first fishable ice (three inches or more) usually forms by sometime in mid to late December. Then you can head out onto the fishable coves on such impoundments as Lake Hopatcong, Lake Wawayanda, Swartswood Lake, Paulinskill Lake, Cranberry Lake, Lake Musconetcong, Budd Lake, Mountain Lake, or any other frozen body of water in where you can gain public access. Safe ice takes longer to form on the bigger and deeper lakes and reservoirs, but ice 10-20 inches thick can eventually accumulate." Every winter? Even such torch fests as 05-06 or 01-02? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsentropicLift Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Every winter? Even such torch fests as 05-06 or 01-02?Here in NNJ the lakes almost always freeze over for at least a few weeks. People skate on them and some have ice fishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famartin Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Here in NNJ the lakes almost always freeze over for at least a few weeks. People skate on them and some have ice fishing. You did say "almost" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isotherm Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 You did say "almost" I'd rather not take the fast pass to Davy Jone's locker. But that's just me. There's no way our torch winters featured ice thick enough to walk on, even in the tundra of NNJ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Pamela Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 I'd rather not take the fast pass to Davy Jone's locker. Good colloquialism...don't hear it much anymore...seems to have gone the way of "much obliged" and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveTinNY Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Here in central Rockland County, NY, I'm at 500ft elevation, just north of 287.... my parents, (where I grew up) in central Sussex County, New Jersey, are much further north and west of 287, and at around 1000ft elevation. They almost always get more snow and colder temps than we do here unless it's a good coastal storm where the "closer to the coast" tagged folks get hammered. Anyway, when I hear N&W of 287 I tend to smile on snow events. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Every winter? Even such torch fests as 05-06 or 01-02? i dont recall a year when i never went ice fishing. of course some years has better ice than others Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 Every winter? Even such torch fests as 05-06 or 01-02? from an ice fishing website with nj reports called iceshanty.com from december 13 2005 Re: NJ Reports/Conditions Updated« Reply #15 on: Dec 13, 2005, 11:02 AM » "I walked across the street from my house to check the Ice at my home lake (Scenic Lakes, Hamburg) to see if I could jig for a few hours. Found 3.5" (1" white ice, 2.5" black ice) solid stuff with no air. I chose the "SAFE Course" and walked right back off. I was by my self so I did not think it would be wise to push it. Add in the fact that I push 270 and with all the gear and boots and such was over 300, the ice will wait for Thursday or the weekend and should be 5-6 by then. It's 19 right now and dead calm. I'm 3 miles out of Hamburg and a hundred feet higher up, the lake is deep next to the dam (23-25 feet) wall and usually sets up a bit after most other lakes that are usually the first ones to lock up. The lake is not open to the public because it's a lake community, so the only reason for this post is put up a conditions report for the area. Keep the reports coming, save some guys some drive time and gas, or get somebody out and fishing on a safe lake. Be safe, don't push it, this weekend should see some safe ice for those that have the itch real bad." and the following report came in with 8 inches of ice a week later Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 22, 2013 Share Posted October 22, 2013 and heres a yearly report i found from march of 2002 , so to answer your question famartin , yes the lakes froze and were safe for 6 weeks even in torch years. and to remind people this is a huge lake so smaller lakes were even ice fish-able longer. SUBJECT :Ice fishing in New JerseyREPORTER : K.RadtchenkoPOSTED : 09:55:02 03/02/2002 "I am ice fishing on Lake Hopatcong since 1988. This year ice fishing was possible since January 1 till February 17. Best places: State park, 200-300 yards from shore; Henderson cove (parking by Post Office), 50-200 yards from shore; near Bertrand Island, 50-200 yards South from Island. Catch: Yellow Perch 8-12 inches, Crappie, Pickerel, sometimes Bass. Walleye this year was not present at these places-shallow (5-7 feet) with submerged vegetation. Deep places was not covered by ice. Lures: Perch Superglider #3 and #4; Walleye Superglider #1, #2 and #3. No additional bait, bare hook. Average catch: 15-25 Yellow Perches 8-12 inches, 1-3 Pickerels 15-22 inches, 1-2 Basses 15-20 inches. Last years I am using ice fishing technique and equipment including ice fishing lures for vertical fishin from boat. Catch the same as through ice plus sometimes 1-2 Walleyes.Lake Hopatcong located near Hwy 80, Exit 28.Konstantin." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 bump for famartin and isotherm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I'd rather not take the fast pass to Davy Jone's locker. But that's just me. There's no way our torch winters featured ice thick enough to walk on, even in the tundra of NNJ wrong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isotherm Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 wrong You post two little snippets without linking the site, and expect that to prove something? All I had to do was search for 5 minutes and I found all this. NJDEP, "New Jersey winters can be variable in terms of weather and the formation of safe ice, but when conditions cooperate hard-water fishing can be phenomenal" http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/icefishing.htm Another site, "When winter conditions are favorable, North Jersey lakes do freeze solid enough to support the Garden States hardy ice fishermen" http://www.icefishin247.com/category/new-jersey-nj-ice-fishing/ Ice fishing contest last January 2013 called off due to unsafe ice and open water: http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/01/morris_county_ice_fishing_cont.html Ice fishing death of a teen January 2013: http://mendham-chester.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/conditions-slowed-recovery-of-budd-lake-teens Father and son drown ice fishing in 2007: http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=55128.0 Another drowning incident late February 2013. Looks like 2013 was a rough year for unsafe ice. http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=444814 Nothing in those links above tell me that conditions are safe every single year of every single winter for ice fishing. In most years, it's probably safe. But in the warmer winters, I'm not convinced it's safe. So, wrong to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lab94 Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 You post two little snippets without linking the site, and expect that to prove something? All I had to do was search for 5 minutes and I found all this. NJDEP, "New Jersey winters can be variable in terms of weather and the formation of safe ice, but when conditions cooperate hard-water fishing can be phenomenal" http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/icefishing.htm Another site, "When winter conditions are favorable, North Jersey lakes do freeze solid enough to support the Garden States hardy ice fishermen" http://www.icefishin247.com/category/new-jersey-nj-ice-fishing/ Ice fishing contest last January 2013 called off due to unsafe ice and open water: http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/01/morris_county_ice_fishing_cont.html Ice fishing death of a teen January 2013: http://mendham-chester.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/conditions-slowed-recovery-of-budd-lake-teens Father and son drown ice fishing in 2007: http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=55128.0 Another drowning incident late February 2013. Looks like 2013 was a rough year for unsafe ice. http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=444814 Nothing in those links above tell me that conditions are safe every single year of every single winter for ice fishing. In most years, it's probably safe. But in the warmer winters, I'm not convinced it's safe. So, wrong right back at you. Read some of the ones you posted. Have you ever ice fished? One happend in late Feb one in March. Ice is thinning out by then. A lake can have over 12-18" of ice and still have open water or a thin layer if it has a fast moving spring or if you go near docks that have ice eaters. Google that and the laws that have been past about them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ORH_wxman Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I'd be surprised if the best sheltered ponds/small lakes in far N NJ were not safe to skate on for at least a couple weeks every single winter. Even the torch ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsentropicLift Posted October 23, 2013 Share Posted October 23, 2013 I'd rather not take the fast pass to Davy Jone's locker. But that's just me. There's no way our torch winters featured ice thick enough to walk on, even in the tundra of NNJ. I've personally ice skated on ponds here in NNJ, and someone from the town had to come out and measure the thickness before it was allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 You post two little snippets without linking the site, and expect that to prove something? All I had to do was search for 5 minutes and I found all this. NJDEP, "New Jersey winters can be variable in terms of weather and the formation of safe ice, but when conditions cooperate hard-water fishing can be phenomenal" http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/icefishing.htm Another site, "When winter conditions are favorable, North Jersey lakes do freeze solid enough to support the Garden States hardy ice fishermen" http://www.icefishin247.com/category/new-jersey-nj-ice-fishing/ Ice fishing contest last January 2013 called off due to unsafe ice and open water: http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/01/morris_county_ice_fishing_cont.html Ice fishing death of a teen January 2013: http://mendham-chester.patch.com/groups/police-and-fire/p/conditions-slowed-recovery-of-budd-lake-teens Father and son drown ice fishing in 2007: http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?topic=55128.0 Another drowning incident late February 2013. Looks like 2013 was a rough year for unsafe ice. http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=444814 Nothing in those links above tell me that conditions are safe every single year of every single winter for ice fishing. In most years, it's probably safe. But in the warmer winters, I'm not convinced it's safe. So, wrong to you. Um famartin gave two torch years and I gave u posts from those years where people were ice fishing . Isn't that proof? U don't live here so u have no clue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 I'd be surprised if the best sheltered ponds/small lakes in far N NJ were not safe to skate on for at least a couple weeks every single winter. Even the torch ones. U are 100% correct sir . I gave examples in pervious posts of over 6 weeks of safe ice in the warmest years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snywx Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 Well considering I live about 10 miles north of the NJ/NY border I can back up rgwp96 in regards to many ponds/small lakes freezing over every yr. Ice fishing is done every single yr in my area as well as ice skating/ice hockey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lab94 Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 I cant find the old photos that showed the horeses cutting the ice. But back in the day much of the Ice came from up here. https://100yearsagotoday.wordpress.com/tag/mountain-ice-company/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogue Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 I live in the area discussed -- ie. reservoirs in / around West Milford NJ, etc, and can attest that I don't recall a single winter when the ponds, lakes, and reservoirs did not have at least a period of time when they were frozen with ice safe enough to walk on. Even during the mildest winters, there will be times when the ice is thick enough. The variable is not whether the lakes will freeze solid enough to be safe (they will), but how long the number of days and the length of time will be. That will certainly vary by winter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted November 25, 2013 Share Posted November 25, 2013 small lakes and ponds are already ice covered. went to two of the local small lakes, one is deeper than the other. deeper ones ice is 1.5 thick while the shallow one is 2.5 and i was able to stand on it( of course i didnt to out to far) by the 4 inches is considered safe( i like it to be thicker personally) 1.5 thick this was the shallower one, i was able to stand on the white ice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gravitylover Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Nice! It would be cool if it could stay that way and just thicken up, all nice and smooth like that. Mmmm just right. My local ponds on the hill froze up yesterday afternoon and looked great with a white coating on them today. Alas, warmth and rain are what we have to look forward to Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgwp96 Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 just to bump this for isotherm and famartin, guess what guys, ice has been safe for a few weeks on the smaller lakes and ponds. even with a 65 degree torch for a few days lol. even larger lakes are ice covered but i havent checked them for thickness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snywx Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 lol... lakes have been frozen solid up here since the beginning of Dec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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