How fast does ice form?

[Troutman_2]

I found a few formulas online that attempt to predict how fast ice will form on a lake/res. Other than requiring a ton of data to calculate, they seem to be reasonable in their projections. http://lakeice.squarespace.com/ice-growth/

What rule of thumb do you follow to guess at ice thickness for a distant lake/res? I know nothing beats a site visit with an auger or spud bar.
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[bobisfishin]

The problem with calculations is i can never find accurate weather info. Ive been at strawberry when the low temp was supposed to be 5 and it was -20 outside.
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[OCF]

I have always figured that once the overnight temps are in the teens or below and the reservoir is capped, you can count on about an inch of ice growth every night - up to about 5 to 6 inches in depth. Not very scientific; however, it has worked for me over the years.
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[Jedidiah]

http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gfo...8;page=102

Last year's posts are a good place to start, but you can never tell for sure.
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[PerchPile]

So many factors involved. A heavy blanket of snow over new ice, is a deal breaker. It insulates, and weighs down the forming ice. Also it becomes very dangerous, where old ice is thick and safe, and newly formed ice look the same. Best rule of thumb, if there are tracks going out, and no tracks coming back in, you should give it a few more days! []
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[Deepwateroff]

That's what spud bars are for. Good tool at the beginning and end of ice season
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