Diamond Lake 5/2

[Snapset]

Since it has been a while since I have fished through the ice, I wanted to get up to Diamond lake before the ice is unsafe to be on. I went with Steve and Frank, friends from work. We left Corvallis at 4:00 a.m. and were on the ice at 8:30.

We were nervous about going out on to the ice. It had a 4" of slush on top before it became solid. We talked to a guy at the bait shop, and he even volunteered an ice auger to make new holes. I took him up on the auger, and cut some holes for us to fish through.

I didn't even have my gear in the water before Frank hooked and landed one, 18 inches and fat. I c&r'ed a 12 incher, then it went dead for me while Steve caught several, including a heavy 17 incher.

The weather got nasty, with heavy wind and rain, but we were prepared with rain gear and waders. Later, I moved to some different holes in the ice and caught several more.

We ended up staying until 3:30 p.m. We brought home 13 fish. It was a good trip, and for Oregon, a unique experience.

I never felt too comfortable on the ice, and I won't be going back this year for ice fishing. Next year, I will go again if the ice hangs around long enough.

[FallRiverGuy]

Sounds like fun and a thrill. How thick was the ice?

[Snapset]

There was about 4" of slush, 2" of transition to hard ice, then about 12" of hard ice. It made me a little nervous to go out on at first. I would not feel comfortable going out on it any more. I am no expert though so I would recommend calling the Diamond lake resort, if you are wondering if it is till safe. From the looks of it, I would recommend trolling kokes at Wickiup:-)

[steelheadstlkr]

Here are some numbers I found online!

3" (7 cm) (new ice) - KEEP OFF

4" (10 cm) - suitable for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and walking (approx. 200 pounds)

5" (12 cm) - suitable for a single snowmobile or ATV (approx. 800 pounds)

8" - 12" (20 - 30 cm) - suitable for one car, group of people (approx. 1500 - 2000 pounds)

12" - 15" (30 - 38 cm) - suitable for a light pickup truck or a van

[santiamflyguy]

Those numbers are okay for the dead of winter. Spring ice is a different story. 12" of crummy ice might be okay for a couple people but you'd be inviting disaster to take anything more than yourself and gear out on it.

Also be VERY, VERY careful while ice fishing in the wind, especially if the lake isn't covered completely with ice. It's amazing how the wind will whip up currents which can shift ice cover in a matter of minutes. Every winter, people have to be rescued from the Great Lakes when a seemingly solid flow breaks off and heads out into the blue...

[steelheadstlkr]

Originally Posted by Snapset

There was about 4" of slush, 2" of transition to hard ice, then about 12" of hard ice.

That doesn't sound like 12 inches of crummy ice to me and the weather up there hasn't been spring like! Its been cold and the warm weather is just starting to happen.

[Snapset]

I should have been more clear. The "Hard" ice was too hard to push a shovel through. It wasn't necessarily hard enough to support driving. I would not drive anything onto that lake. It snowed up there last night, but I doubt that did anything to strengthen the ice.

[steelheadstlkr]

No my point was its fine to fish on right now but in a week or less it probably wont be especially if it heats up at all.