Got wind?

[ctom]

We came home from the Antique shop about 7 last night and it had been warm enough that the house showed shingles on the south, east and west slopes. This morning I got up to about 4 inches of white up there. I just came in from getting the drive and walks cleared and happened to look up at the roof on the way in. The snow that was there when I went out gone...back to bare shingles again. Wind. I am guessing that we are currently seeing about 25-28 mph sustained wind speeds with gust up to about 35. The weather service I use just showed that wind gusts of over 60-70 mph are likely just to the west of us.

I was ice fishing with some friends in a permanent ice house - one that you set up and leave in one spot - on a similar kind of day many years ago. The ice was largely snow free that year and on this particular day the wind started out bad and got worse with time. About three in the afternoon a gust nailed the house and the holes we had open disappeared as the whole house got shifted. This ice house was a 8' X 12 footer. It got moved sideways about four feet by that blast. It didn't take long for the ditty box to come out and ice anchors got put down. It was spooky to feel that house shift like that. When we left to go home we found that not only had the wind moved the ice house but the pickup had been shoved across the ice and actually spun so the truck was pointing into the wind instead of across it. We had fish laying beside the truck's door before the blow arrived and they were quite a ways away when we picked up things.

I think I'm staying inside now. The wind is carrying the snow parallel to the neighbor's roof ridge.

[Denny Welch]

They're calling for the high 60"s today.  We actually got about .003" of rain over the weekend...a real gully washer.  My home lake is below 20 per cent capacity with no rain in the forecast.  Voluntary water rationing is in effect.  They lowered the American River flow to 500 cfs...normal is 1,700+ this time of year.  The American is a big salmon and steelhead river with a hatchery about 10 - 15 miles up from the mouth.  A lot of the redds, eggs and juvenile fish are high and dry now.  This is a big deal for us out here.

[ctom]

That is bad Denny. Losing a year class of salmon can almost destroy that fishery. Bad news.

[efishnc]

About three in the afternoon a gust nailed the house and the holes we had open disappeared as the whole house got shifted.

Your shanty must not have been out there to freeze in with the warmth we had this past weekend... even so, I would have thought a couple of guys sporting a little "winter weight" - still wearing their Christmas cookies - should have held such a shelter in place, especially with the snow base on the ice.  But she was a-howlin' today.

Even though I put on my winter extra, it's hard for me to be out there when the wind is over 15mph because I go with a portable shelter and once it starts flapping too hard, I just know it's going to take off.

So, did you catch anything?

[efishnc]

My home lake is below 20 per cent capacity with no rain in the forecast. 

What is your home lake?

[ctom]

Your shanty must not have been out there to freeze in with the warmth we had this past weekend... even so, I would have thought a couple of guys sporting a little "winter weight" - still wearing their Christmas cookies - should have held such a shelter in place, especially with the snow base on the ice.  But she was a-howlin' today.

Even though I put on my winter extra, it's hard for me to be out there when the wind is over 15mph because I go with a portable shelter and once it starts flapping too hard, I just know it's going to take off.

So, did you catch anything?

E...this took place many years ago. But if memory serves me right we had some nice walleyes before the wind decided to move us around. And the ice was like glass.

[Denny Welch]

What is your home lake?

Folsom Lake aka The Great Wasteland by many.  Mostly spots, some largemouth, some trout, and two crappie, but it's only twenty minutes from home.

[Botanophilia]

Folsom Lake aka The Great Wasteland by many.  Mostly spots, some largemouth, some trout, and two crappie, but it's only twenty minutes from home.

And both crappie are geriatric old men, right?
We've got wind now, sustained 35-40 mph. 

[ctom]

Thursday's forcast is for blizzard conditions here. Gotta love this northern tier state living.

[efishnc]

E...this took place many years ago. But if memory serves me right we had some nice walleyes before the wind decided to move us around. And the ice was like glass.

Oh, I thought you were fishing in the wind yesterday... no wonder it was hard for me to imagine it happening.

[efishnc]

Folsom Lake aka The Great Wasteland by many.  Mostly spots, some largemouth, some trout, and two crappie, but it's only twenty minutes from home.

Right on, Denny...  there were a lot of exposed dunes back when I was there.  I fished Folsom a couple times, but it was longer drive (from Alameda) and it didn't 'WOW' me the few times I was there, so I never dedicated more than my "water testing" trips there... spots were the most aggressive biters, as I recall. 

The Delta was my true love of the west, but I hit lots of NoCal lakes as well - Amador, Barryessa, Comanche, Don Pedro, (I would need a list to check them all)... I really miss the quality of fish that was out there, and the fact that you never have to drill holes to get them. 

[Denny Welch]

Right on, Denny...  there were a lot of exposed dunes back when I was there.  I fished Folsom a couple times, but it was longer drive (from Alameda) and it didn't 'WOW' me the few times I was there, so I never dedicated more than my "water testing" trips there... spots were the most aggressive biters, as I recall. 

The Delta was my true love of the west, but I hit lots of NoCal lakes as well - Amador, Barryessa, Comanche, Don Pedro, (I would need a list to check them all)... I really miss the quality of fish that was out there, and the fact that you never have to drill holes to get them. 

...Oroville, Shasta, Clear Lake, McClure...and the list goes on and on.  Doesn't do much good though, if they're empty.

[efishnc]

Doesn't do much good though, if they're empty.

On short term drawdowns, I have experienced some fantastic fishing because of the increased concentration and food competition, but the fish can be in the losing end of the equation if it lasts for too long.   Traversing the lake was was harder for me because I used a float tube (unless I was fishing with somebody), and I had to walk or 'kick' quite a bit to get from spot to spot... that's why I loved the Delta - there were so many nooks and crannies that almost every inch was good.  I still recall when I had to rest my arm about three or four times one particular day because the fish were so aggressive ... man, I do miss that delta!

[Kasilofchrisn]

Crazy weather out here where I am at. I am at work and it is blowing 35 with gusts to 45mph.
It has warmed up though from -46*F to -15*F. SO the windchill is only -48*f.