Kirby I stopped by valco ponds... there was a little bit of open water there, I had on a heavier jig and casted to the ice and the jig went threw the ice, so if the wind picks up maybe there is hope for the ponds. Also as of January 1 all of the Valco ponds are suppose to be open to public, including the ones by the old cement company. The guy at that bait shop on thatcher said, they are suppose to open parking up there so you dont have to walk all the way up from the Valco ponds parking.
(note I didnt get any bites... saw one skinny 8 inch bass swimming weed line, and some kind of muskrat thing)