SE Iowa

Lake MacBride 8" thick, no snow, a near 10. I've learned to hold off when the temps are below zero. The Coralville Reservoir left behind 50 yards of sheet ice when it dropped, making access problematic. Might be good for Nordic skating until the wind picks up.
Rolley

Comments

Sublime 2

Encountered an odd phenomenon toward sunset. Snow was blowing in a laminar fashion over the ice about 6" deep. It was like a pinkish golden river. I could just see my runners, but the ice disappeared. Is this a great sport or what?
BTW, modifications* I've made to the Flyer make the problems associated with rough ice irrelevant. Ice too rough for other boats feels smooth as glass. Just in time to preserve my old spine! I wouldn't have believed that either.
Jungo Flats

*Very flexible hickory planks, tall chocks for ground clearance, and a spring incorporated into the mast holder all serve to isolate the boat body and mast from surface conditions.

rolley

Ice was "sketchy"

Two ice fishermen went through over at Little River, didn't make it. Lake MacBride is 10" and next Tuesday is predicted to be in the teens and windy; or it could stay warm, and snow.

rolley

White wind

Powder blowing off clear ice at 26MPH with gusts to 33MPH. Tomorrow looks almost as nice but I may need a day to rest up.

rolley

Brisk

Couldn't have scripted a better day. Sunny with winds 24MPH and gusts to 35MPH. Ice was better than it needed to be at an 8. The 12 meter sail and 6 foot rear beam setup was a challenge in the endless gusts but I didn't actually break anything.
Jungo Flats

rolley

Angler angle

Flags, leaves, litter, dust, snow and other boats can indicate where the best wind is. Saw a new indicator this week. An ice fisherman struggling out to his tent was leaning into the wind at about 40 degrees. Sure enough, that spot had great air. This season started late and ended soon.

rolley

Coralville Rez

a bit sketchy at the edges. Lake MacBride is a solid 11" and clear. I've learned that 50 degrees and /or 10-20 out of the SE sucks so I'm holding out for a 15-25 NW wind. A four day dust storm with one day of 45MPH winds at Alvord Desert in October set this year's bar high. The new Mahaffey Bridge has ice under it where there wouldn't have been with the old bridge. That may open up a nice area upriver that is usually not an option.
Rolley

rolley

Lake MacBride, Ia.

Ten inches of transparent ice with clear surface, a bit lumpy. May be windy Thursday.
Rolley

rolley

Kick butt day

Gusts in the low 30's all afternoon. Dumped the boat pushing the envelope, steering into the wind on two runners. Broke some stuff later, so a good day all around. Missed an inexplicable 5 foot open water hole in the middle of the upper arm (Lake MacBride).

rolley

Sublime

day with sun and blowing snow. Winds 20 to 30. Should have used whisker stays as bumpy as the ice was. Perfect IceFlyer conditions.
Rolley

rolley