I'm so looking forward to ice season this year.
This year's drought played havoc on the whole region (New England) and finding productive waters was the task of the day.
Although here in MA I was able to find productive waters, many places I wanted to try were either overgrown with weeds or to shallow to navigate to where I wanted to fish.
Add to the fact that from a naturalist point of interest, we are due for a seriously cold winter. The kind where nature gets put back to a more balanced level.
There are lots of animals that are normally kept in check by really cold winters (squirrels, chipmunks, etc.)
Unfortunately a really cold winter will probably keep more people indoors, even when the outdoors are better for overall health and mental wellbeing.
I'll start putting my open water gear away and taking out my ice gear, probably before Thanksgiving.