Rockport don't go

[Waresm]

No access to Rockport to much water along edges don't waste your time
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[RANDAL801]

Thanks was going to go after work today when did you go last?
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[Waresm]

Today Friday just left
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[RANDAL801]

Dang, okay thanks for saving me a trip
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[RANDAL801]

Did you by chance drive by Echo to see what that looks like.

Thanks
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[campingfoool]

Thanks I was going up tomorrow....I wonder how long that will last?
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[MisterCompletely]

I'm sure glad you let us know that. I was totally planning n going up there, but I guess I'll be thinking of Scofield now.
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[rgreenland]

WHY NOT?

I was there yesterday (Thursday Dec 19th) and had NO problem getting on the ice. Pretty much had the whole lake to myself (maybe a total of 4 other people on entire lake).
I went into the park and walked down by the ramp and got on the ice off to the North (dam) side of the ramp. Yeah, the edge was just a touch wet, but we have all seen a lot worse in the spring I am sure.

Because of the rain the lake didn't look completely frozen....water all over the top. But, the ice was 9 INCHES thick in every place I drilled and the water on top quickly froze once the storm came in. Boots were not wet.
I thought it was a GREAT day fishing on Rockport.
Fishing in 35ft of water. ALL fish caught were Trout and they were suspended in 15-18 ft of water.
Chartreuse was the hot color of the day. Pink was second. White didn't catch a thing. Did not try any other colors.
No Perch.
I am planning on taking my boy and his friend back on Saturday. Good times
*I did hear from one person that the edge opposite of the park/ramp was really soggy and difficult to gain access. However, I did see 2 other ice tents on that side of the lake.
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[Waresm]

Tons of water knee deep 4 different groups all left ended up at lost creek, ran into a guy there been fishing it the last few days no problem . Feel free to do whatever you want just trying to save u a wasted trip. Bring hip boots!
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[fishing4thehog]

[quote Waresm]Tons of water knee deep 4 different groups all left ended up at lost creek,![/quote]

How was lost creek ?? Enough ice for snowmachines ??
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[brookieguy1]

Will someone please explain how 9" of ice became unfishable in 24 hours? Not calling anyone a liar....just curious!
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[Waresm]

I caught 12 in 2 hours by the dam buddy only 1, there is water and snow laying on the ice, ice was 6 inches where we fished, i did see a snowmobile head out across the dam but not sure were he went. the road is plowed to the parking lot.
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[rgreenland]

This is what Rockport looked like Thursday morning, after it had been raining Wed night.
At first glance I did not think it was fishable at all...looked like thin ice and a lot of water.
When I walked to the bottom of the ramp, YES, there was a "gap" between the dry land and the edge of the ice and I am sure you could go "knee deep" if you hit the wrong spot. However...a two minute walk along the edge of the ice and I was able to find a few locations to get on and not have the water cover my toes in my boots. I came off the ice in a different spot and it did go up to my ankle.
First few steps on the ice were iffy because of what I "saw"....I only took my auger out to drill a test hole. First hole a few feet out was 6 inches. Drilled another 15 ft out and had 9 in.
Walked out by that bouy (2 ft away from it) and had solid 9 inch of ice (measured with ice scoop with marks on handle).
The Ranger up there (Joe?) said Snow machines had been on it the day before, no problem.....and I could see some of their trails.
Worth fishing if you ask me. If anyone is iffy about water around the edge, take a 2X10.

I am sure there are a lot of unsafe areas around the edges that you don't want to mess with. However, if you want to go to Rockport....it is possible without much effort and very little getting wet.
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[fishindaddy]

I haven't been up to Rockport this year, but to answer your question, 9" of ice is nearly impossible to become unfishable in a day. From what people are saying the rain has melted a little ice along the edges of the lake and turned it mushy. The only other problem areas could be where someone had drilled a hole on the day it started raining. That hole could have expanded and cracked out a little causing a pretty good sized danger spot. But several nights of super cold weather and it should become much better. But no, that 6 or 9" of solid ice will only have gotten wet and maybe melted an inch or less off the top.
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[Fishheads]

The lake is filling back up, could be the ice is slowly pulling away from the edge and having to refreeze making it thinner in that area.
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[FISH_STICK]

Fishheads is right. The lake is on the rise. I was there on Friday morning too and tried the boat ramp side, the west side and down by the dam. All of the spots had 10 - 15 feet of unsafe ice along the edges. We saw multiple parties come and go as we tested the edges.

Did anyone try it today?
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[CoyoteSpinner]

[quote Fishheads]The lake is filling back up, could be the ice is slowly pulling away from the edge and having to refreeze making it thinner in that area.[/quote]

Ding ding ding! 20 quatludes for the newcomer.

I think we have a winner! Levels rise (like from rain) and edges gotta regrow. Get board, will travel! Ladders are good too.

Welcome aboard fishheads, and thanks for chiming in!