Sk8man

They experimented with them in some of the lakes thinking they would become huge like the ones in Europe but they didn't survive well or live up to expectations so they canned the program.

Severne Point launch only possibility right now.

I haven't been there recently but after many years of fishing there I can tell you that if you go you'll have to be incredibly careful at this times of the season maybe even more so than some of the other lakes and it isn't because of the ice thickness well out into the lakes as much as it is the shoreline situation and gas pockets randomly occurring throughout the lake. Once the snow starts melting and we have had more than normal amounts this year the numerous little(usually insignificant) streams around the shoreline become swollen and empty their contents under the ice often unseen and that moving water erodes the ice from underneath where you can't see it. One of those streams is located nearly next to the launch ramp (to the north of it). Not only may there be potential problems going out but also coming back in after it was cold in the AM but then warmed up while you are fishing and then when you come back in the area around the shoreline has become unsafe (been there done that) making it treacherous getting back to solid ground. What I'm saying here is don't just go by someones report of ice thickness alone and assume you'll be fine out there. This part of the season is the most dangerous on all these akes because of changing (but often unseen) conditions. The early season problem of not enough ice is one that is more easily detected.

http://www.weather.com/series/great-outdoors/video/man-catches-duck-while-ice-fishing-in-pennsylvania

Good thinking bud.....I guess I was too focused on the equipment side of it to think it through

Pap pointed up something I overlooked the 7 ft Ugly Stik is a one piece rod. I either transport my rods in the boat or in the back of my Expedition so I didn't think about that (if it is a factor for you).

The blades on the Hammerheads are made of much lighter material than the steel blades of the traditional Luhr Jensen type willow leaf blades which equates with less drag in the water. Rather than shiny metal they use a reflective coating

As long as you aren't dealing with chinooks in Lake O and you want to do a variety of things without breaking the bank (e.g. around $200 total). I'd get a 7 ft Ugly Stick medium action rod (roughly $40-$50) and THREE reels (either Diawa 47H's frequently sold second hand on here often in bunches or some new Okuma Magda Pro 45's (higher capacity) at about $50 each. Load one up with 10 or12 lb mono and an 8 lb fluoro leader, one with 27 lb leadcore (your choice of number of colors according to how deep you wish to go and how much backing you wish to put on) within the top 50 ft or so and as much mono backing as will fit) and a fluoro leader, and one with a 250 ft 30 lb copper with 30 lb Power Pro Mono backing. Maybe get a set of snap on weights for deeper presentations or get either a large Chinook Diver or a Deeper Diver in the largest 124 mm size (another $15 or $20). This way you can do just about everything from top lining to deeper presentations by just switching reels on the same rod because the Ugly Stik is pretty stiff and will handle the diver OK...the Chinook diver has less drag by the way. Normally if using a long copper you'd be looking at a high retrieve rate reel but for the 200-250 or so these reels will be fine.

Is Hank "the man" or what? You sure got your question to the right guy Sean

If you were at the south end anywhere near the pressure ridge today a couple weeks ago I was just south of it when it formed by "blowing up" throwing ice in the air about 6-8 ft in the air near a cottage with a bubbler going on the west side and the huge pressure ridge was created right while we watched....sounded like dynamite going off and shook like an earthquake and ripped up the ice all the way across the lake in a line. Glad I wasn't standing on the crack some of the huts came down within milliseconds and folks started leaving pretty quick . From now on extreme caution is needed and day by day evaluation of the conditions with these warmer temperatures because once the creeks start running full blast things can change within hours sometimes.

Last I heard Harvey had lead and was waiting to make up more weights until the weather improved because he makes them outside. Might want to give him a call Jeff phone number is 607 535 2390

Yeah guess I'm kinda like the monkey scratching his head at the slot machine looking at the lever

Great description...felt as though I was right there. It is also nice that you were able to give Gerry a "plug" as he is a heck of a guy and has a lot of good fishing knowledge to share. If folks are out that way I'd encourage them to visit his place..even just for the experience....he has a lot of neat tackle and is able to get things for you if he doesn't have it on hand at that moment ....very refreshing in this day of the "Walmart's" Dicks" and Gander Mountains" where the salespeople don't know what they are doing or just don't care. Gerry has always taken the time from what he is doing to interact with me whenever I have been there. It's good to see an "old school" tackle shop still in operation.