Ice Fishing Begins

Last weekend, December 17-18, fishermen ventured onto nine inches of ice at the Narrowsburg Eddy six weeks before last winter’s opening day. Then, the Eddy was ice-free until January 18 and empty of fishermen until January 31.

On Sunday afternoon, thanks to Walter Bryk, I was invited to examine augur holes that varied from eight to 10 inches deep, unusual for mid-December and a welcome change from last winter.

On weekend visits, I generally measure the ice depth at augur holes and calculate an average thickness. Last winter, the ice sheet didn’t reach nine inches until February 3, and by mid-month the rutted surface and poor fishing had sent “regulars” elsewhere. It was a season to forget.

It’ll be a feat for the river to surpass the 27 inches of ice that finally entombed the Big Eddy in March 2003. But absent heavy rains or prolonged thaws, 2006 is on track to become a banner year for river ice, and hopefully for our fishermen.