First open water at Blue Marsh?

[shellback]

Anybody want to take a guess at first open water? I'm heading to Kerr Lake VA on the 22nd and would sure love a shake down run before I leave. Temps up in the 50's next week. With any luck and some warm rains, maybe the following week.

[bassfever]

I'd love to see it too. Patching some pinholes on my aluminum boat. Really want a test drive.

[Deleted]

I'm putting a new fish finder in the weekend. Really want to try this down imaging.

[bassfever]

March 25 is my guess. It's been very cold this winter.
Anyone else want to guess?

When was it last year?

[bassfever]

This was posted on the Blue Marsh FB page yesterday:

Yes, the lake is still covered with ice! It is especially dangerous to venture out onto the ice now as we received rain overnight. This has caused the lake level to rise to over one foot above our winter pool. We will be increasing our release to 1000 cubic feet per second later today. This will cause variable ice conditions on the lake, and will add to the shaky current conditions caused by the warming temperatures.

FYI
Tom

[basser425]

14 inches of ice still on Blue Marsh… I have pictures on my wall of pre spawn bass I caught this time of year but at this rate its gonna be a few more weeks.

[shellback]

I was hoping the rain would have loosened things up. I saw the the lake level was up 2 feet. Heading to Kerr lake VA next Sunday and was hoping to give the boat a run first. I guess I'll be heading to Maryland instead.

[bassfever]

Was that blue marsh today, the lake is still ice covered

Attachments:

[bassfever]

From Blue Marsh FaceBook:

I realize a lot of you are ready to get out on the lake, but that is not going to happen just yet. As of Saturday the Reading Fire Department was using chainsaws to cut through 14 inches of ice to open an area up for the YMCA Marsh Madness Polar Plunge. Both the Dry Brooks and State Hill Boat Launches are still iced in, and the ice is unsafe in many areas. Some areas are starting to open up on the northern end of the lake. One positive note - ice melts! Eventually! We will keep you up to date! And since there is ice on the lake, there are no docks in the lake! The docks will be placed in the lake in April. Hang in there everyone!

Wow, it looks like its going to be a while yet. Stinks.

[Deleted]

Their Facebook says sheidy ramp is open. Is there a decent musky population at blue marsh? I might go throw some lures and try out the new fish finder.

[MetalStorm]

Its also said where the creek comes in has open water.. I wonder if its enough to check out I wanna try out my new yak with my buddy.. im hoping the fish would stack in the warmer water.. yellowlab yes blue marsh has a good musky population

[Deleted]

Thanks. I would head up there Saturday but I'm worried the ramp will be all snowed in after tonight. Who knows.

[bassfever]

Ice Update - The main pool of the lake is still iced in, which means no launching boats at State Hill or Dry Brooks Boat Launches. The Tulpehocken Creek arm of the lake is pretty much free of ice, but the coves, including Mount Pleasant, are still partially to completely ice covered. Sheidy Boat Launch is free of ice, and there is open water off of Church Road Access.

Progress!

[shellback]

I splashed my new to me 2013 Lund Alaskan today on the Sassafras river in MD today. Everything checked out fine! I'm leaving for Kerr Lake, VA Sunday, for a week of crappie fishing. Sounds like Blue Marsh should be ready by the time I get home. Finally open water season! A couple years ago, I fished open water every month of the year.

[Deleted]

I saw the FB post from Blue Marsh the other day; 14" of ice yet.....OUCH! Its gonna be a little while until we can get out on that lake. It sounds like the docks wont go back in until all the ice is gone? I will only use the upper ramp in the no-wake though so I might be on the lake a little quicker than all the guys with the fiberglass boats?