By the time you read this story, chances are you’ve probably already buried the blade of your ice auger into the frozen waters of a favorite lake. Or added about 3 extra inches to a salmon that never would have met the legal requirements if it hadn’t cleaned the bait off your other four lines before it gave up and hooked itself on your final trap.

Just don’t get so caught up in sending a shiner through an 8-inch hole that you neglect to keep your self informed of the ice condition beneath your boots. The correct procedure is to bait your hooks from the surface of the ice. This business of crashing through thin ice with a bait pail and then checking your bait is a technique to avoid at all cost. I’ll guarantee you, watching those $6-a-dozen smelts scrambling from your bucket to freedom will be the least of your concerns.

Early in the season the ice on the lakes and ponds can be thinner than our patience. That’s not much ice beneath your feet, especially for the anglers who are still recovering from depression that set in at the close of last season, when deteriorating ice conditions sent the traps back to the hanger for the summer.

Let’s not forget it has been only a few weeks since Dec. 17, when heavy rains and record high temperatures cleared our lakes and ponds free of ice across the state. Even lakes in The County felt the full effects of that weekend of hot air and torrential downpour.

Before the heat wave, Long Lake was holding onto as much as 6 inches of ice in places, but when this assault of unseasonable weather ended, it was nothing but open water and whitecaps.

Since the December thaw we’ve experienced some temperatures that no doubt have put lakes back in service for ice fishermen. But keep in mind snow has accompanied this recent cold spell and can greatly slow down the making of ice when blanketed across a lake or pond.

I realize it’s easy to assume there’s plenty of ice when you’re confronted with tracks from previous fishermen leading to ice shacks scattered around the lake. But a few test holes en route to your own fishing grounds can make for a fairly inexpensive insurance policy.

Remember, sufficient ice in one area doesn’t mean conditions are the same across the entire lake.

Here are a few reports on the snow and ice conditions from around the state, as of Monday.

Up in The County, Long Lake is holding as much as 9 inches of ice in some areas. There’s also a large array of ice shacks on the lake, along with anglers who found recent success in smelt fishing. Don’t forget your snow machine – there’s as much as 2 feet of the white stuff in areas.

Reports from Macannamac Camps on Haymock Lake are showing pleasing news for sportsmen. Just up the trail a few miles from Haymock sets Spider Lake with 8 to 10 inches of ice, and other lakes in the area are taking shape as well. Snowmobile trails through the woods could use another shot of fresh snow to iron out the rough spots, but don’t let that hinder your travel plans to the area. Well over 12 inches of fresh powder clings to the ground.

Sharon McPhee still has a few vacant camps waiting to serve you. Just dial 528-2855, and let it ring.

Moosehead Lake is starting to shape up for anglers, according to a report from the Indian Hill Trading Post in Greenville. From the village junction to Beaver Cove there’s as much as 10 inches of ice in places. Take caution especially when traveling past Moose Island toward Rockwood. Sections of the lake in this area have seen ice for only a week or more as of this past Monday.

Bring on the snowmobiles. The Greenville area has accumulated enough of the white stuff for clear sledding to Kokadjo Camps and beyond.

If your plans are tackling one of the lakes traveling east off Route 9, the Amherst General Store is at your service holding a fresh supply of shiners waiting to prove themselves. The doors open at 5 a.m. during the week, at 6 a.m. Saturday, and at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Green Lake is closing in with 61/2 inches of ice reported in some areas. But other spots are holding only about 31/2 inches.

The ice condition on Sebago Lake is on standby as open water still prevails. According to reports from Jordan’s Store in East Sebago, it’s usually late January before there is any area on the lake ready to support fishermen. You can be sure when Sebago Lake is ready for anglers Jordan’s will be at your service with live bait, tackle, food and the list goes on. They are located on Route 114 in East Sebago.

Jimmy Worthing Smelt Camps of Randolph continues to distribute smelt camps on the Kennebec River as the ice builds and fishermen call for reservations.

Worthing reported good success from fishermen so far this season. As of Monday he had 26 camps on the river for service with another wave of camps soon to follow.

Last week’s question: What is the most common misconception about the white-tailed deer?

Answer: Its size. The average deer stands between 36 and 40 inches high at the shoulder.

Question: How many species of deer live in North America?

– NEWS staffer Terry Farren, outdoor_report@bangordailynews.net