solotripper wrote on Mar 6^th, 2019 at 1:45pm:

When I have to cross a large stretch of open water in the Spring, I want to get across as fast as I can.

+1
I always feel a slight sense of "dread" when I encounter a large expanse of open water to cross in the early spring, and I really hoof it until I'm back in close proximity to shore.  On every trip, wind is my greatest fear by far.

Recently listened to the WTIP podcast about a couple and their dog that capsized on Nym late fall last year and every time I hear about something like that it causes me to pause and re-think my choice of paddling times.  Typically I'm on the water within a day or three of ice-out.