Good luck to all of my Ohio brothers & sisters stringing steel for beaver and otter today. This is probably one of the first times, in years that we had this much ice for the opener. The bad part is after today the temps start rising from about 11 degrees this morning to 30s tomorrow, 40s Wed., 50s Thurs., Fri., & Sat., Sun., Mon., and 60s next Tues.

The other half of the forecast is that by Fri., this week the rains start. Between Fri., and next Tues., they are calling for between 1.5 and 2 inches of rain. So, we may have several inches of water on top of several inches of ice and/or flooding conditions since the ground is frozen and all of the rain will empty into the creeks, rivers and lakes.

This is one of those times we need to hope for the best but to plan for the worst. Double check your anchoring and wire your traps up high enough to make them accessible in case of high water.

Since I won't be able to be out there, after the flat tails, I hope for all of you that have tight chains. Please post some photos of your catches. That is all I will be able to see of them.

Garry-

I won’t be setting today, finishing up Christmas at the in laws. Hope to get some out in the next week. I got a couple spots to help out some of my local farmers with.

Not happening down here. I've never seen this much ice on the Great Miami in December. All the way across on much of it.

I guess that must be pretty much the case for all Ohio Trappers and maybe other states close by. Maybe the rain will take the ice out and in a couple of weeks things will open up so you can get some traps and snares in the water.

Garry-

Normally would of went out regardless but none of my spots are conducive to skim ice trapping.

Good luck