Any ice fishers here?

[Shane N]

I've been getting into ice fishing this year for the first time. And yes, I live in the ice fishing capital of the world... sad, I know.

We live on a lake that is pretty much impossible for the public to get to. The public access is on the other side of some narrows that rarely ever freezes enough to pull houses on. The only people who ice fish on the main part of the lake are homeowners. So there is barely any fishing pressure on it.

You would think the fishing would be great. Especially since the DNR claims there are a lot of good sized walleyes and pike. It has been tough trying to figure this lake out. There isn't a lot of mid-lake structure. Just points and bays. So we've been poking around here and there trying it out. Caught a couple small walleyes (14" and 15"), few small pike, and a lot of perch in the last couple week.

 

[yooperdave]

Ah! Fresh Walleye! I like to pan fry them with a bit of flour coating and salt and pepper for seasoning. Period.


The biggest trouble with the fishing (on "my" lake) is that the walleye and perch populations are being depleted at a noticable rate. Even the local resorts that sponsor the icefishing tournaments talk of when they first started the tournement, participation was very low but has grown steadily every year...but the catch has been less and less each year...something should be done! But, they keep having their tournaments and drawing in more and more people.....

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Would love to get out Fishing, but the warm weather has made the ice very sketchy around these parts. (Central Mass)
A pic from last year....I too just got into it last year. (Upstate VT)

 

[Shane N]

Nice pike. Do you normally have a lot of ice by now? I've been driving my crew cab truck out on lakes out here already.

 

[Delta-T]

I tried fishing for ice once.....they just weren't biting on any of the bait I was using. Now I just get it out of the freezer when I need it.

That's a lil bad fishin humor for ya.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Nice pike. Do you normally have a lot of ice by now? I've been driving my crew cab truck out on lakes out here already.

Well, we normally have a lot more ice....last weekend we only had about 2" of black/clear ice, and another 3" or so of the slushy stuff...I really wish it would get cold soon.

 

[CTguy9230]

the more i,m on this site it occurs to me that those of us wood burners seem to have a lot of the
same hobbies.....

as far as ice goes....i got out once last week after work for a couple hours, now with this warm
weather for a few days, looks like i'll be waiting awhile to get back out

 

[Shane N]

We are up into the mid 40's today, but we still had 15" or so as of last night. So it should be sitting pretty good still. Only issue is our lake has a lot of springs, so those spots might have melted a lot. So I'll probably stay off with the truck for a week until it has had a chance to refreeze good. We fish 100' feet from our place, so I can walk out pretty easily.

 

[fishingpol]

I've been waiting 2 years to get out. Last time I was out, we had 18" of ice and I used a hand auger to clear one hole. Some guy felt bad and punched four more holes with his gas auger. I will have to wait another few weeks anyways. It is not for everyone, but I do enjoy going and bring some food and the portable stove to pass the time with friends. I have a gas auger now, but can't use it.

 

[bubbasdad]

I used to go with my dad, we would drive his chevy right out onto lake St. Clair. That was back in the 60's. Cars and ice shanties as far as you could see.

 

[Huntindog1]

Same here getting good ice seems to be an issue , weather isnt as cold as it was when I was a kid.

 

[fishingpol]

Into the teens at night next week, all may not be lost. Checked a few ponds last weekend and people were out on 5" of questionable ice. I shake my head.

 

[CTguy9230]

Into the teens at night next week, all may not be lost. Checked a few ponds last weekend and people were out on 5" of questionable ice. I shake my head.

judging by the forcast for next week...you shouldnt have any troubles finding good ice by the weekend

 

[fishingpol]

judging by the forcast for next week...you shouldnt have any troubles finding good ice by the weekend

Single digits at night next week. Game on!

 

[mepellet]

Lots of fun ice fishing up here in Maine. Relative of mine watched a utv go through the ice with two guys on it last week. He ran out and pulled them up onto the ice. The hole had about 6" of ice around it.

 

[Shane N]

Wow. Pretty bad ice there? I should take a picture of the ice here. 18" of nice clear blue ice.

 

[daveswoodhauler]

Wooohooo.....temps are getting colder and the ice is starting to gain some ground....there is still hope for this season.

 

[fishingpol]

Single digits overnight next week. Looking real good.

 

[Shane N]

We went out ice fishing today for a few hours. Got our limit of sunfish (40) and had to keep releasing more. Got a nice sized perch, nice sized crappie, and let 4-5 pikes go. The only bad part was fishing in a portable in 40mph winds with below zero temps to begin with. I had to use my GPS to get me back to the access as I couldn't see more than 10 feet in front of me.

 

[Shane N]

 

[CTguy9230]

View attachment 89993

now theres some good eatin !

 

[fishingpol]

Went out today. Complete skunk. I went with a friend to a lake I usually don't fish. The wind picked up as we were leaving, still warm, had the heavy jacket off. 5" of ice, I like a bit more, but it was clear under the snow crust, so no worries. Cold temps this week should make it close to 10" by next weekend.