I'm really watching the ice conditions close this year. Our ice just never had a chance to get thick. Alot of folks never even put their fish houses out at all due to the late ice lock. Then, we got 40 degree temps for a few weeks.......

Not much to make thick ice.

A few pieces of information, courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory:

• Contrary to what many people think, a rapid and large change in air temperature causes an ice sheet to become brittle, and may cause it to become unsafe for up to 24 hours.

• Cracks in the ice surface are either wet or dry. If dry, they do not penetrate the ice sheet and are not a problem. If wet, the ice may be half as strong as charts suggest.

• Ice thickness near shore may be either thinner or thicker than the ice on the rest of the body of water.

If the air temperature stays above freezing for 24 hours or more, the ice begins to lose strength, and charts or tables no longer represent safe conditions. Even though the ice may retain adequate thickness, the strength is quickly lost the longer the air temperature is above freezing.

    Driving fast over thin ice can create a wave similar to a boat wake, which, under the right conditions can crack the ice ahead of the vehicle.

• Driving over a bump or sudden braking increases the effective weight of a vehicle. Drive carefully and slowly.

• Frequent and repetitive loading of the ice can drastically weaken it.

What a year to have the batteries in my crystal ball to go dead.

I might need to pull my houses early, with all the cracks opening up with only 20-24 inches of ice out there, instead of 48 inches, like usual. (It's only going to take half the time to melt!)