Well, it hit 17 this morning and everything was frozen up. There were a half dozen camps at the boat launch, but none of those guys (that already had their boats in the water) had gone out yet - waiting for a guinea pig I guess. My son and I launched and broke ~3/4" of ice all the way out the channel, and through the marsh, and onto the big water. No holes bigger that a 1/4 acre. We broke an open hole and set some decoys next to a bulrush island. Then the snow started and turned the ice white.
Eagles were working the birds in the sanctuary, and every once in a while a bunch of several hundred would split off and head south. Interesting to watch, but sobering knowing that our Thief Lake duck season was ending too soon.
We each ended up with a can that came to the decoys, so it was a fitting end to our time on Thief...
Joel