Do you love big bluegill?

East coast Ice fisherman

Information

A place to share tecniques ,past successes /failures and future prospects for fishing Gills and other fish through the ice.

Location: Ringwood New Jersey
Members: 21
Latest Activity: Feb 12

Finally...On the Ice!

We'll, the Carp Whisperer Bob and I got out for a little ice fishing today at a local pond that had 4 inches of good clear ice, We rigged up for bluegills with jigging rods and 1/10 oz Kastmaster spoons meal worms as a tipping bait. We didn't get a single bluegill, but we got some of these...

Ended up with 4 bass for myself in about 2 hours of jigging. Bob had two good strikes, including a bigger fish that ran his drag some. Bass went fro 14 to 17 inches. I lost about a 20 inch bass right at the hole...the fish just hovered slowly in the water just below the ice...giving me a great view of what I was losing! Would have been my largest ice bass had I got a hand on her. I got all my fish on 2 pound mono. Fish were 5-6 feet deep.

At least I got to feel a few fish today and get a slight 'fix' for my ice fishing habit! We have done good on gills here, but not today.

High today was 30 F with light winds. Might go tomorrow, but they are calling for sleet and freezing rain...sheeeesh!

The window for ice fishing here is very narrow...maybe only a few days this year. Calling for 65 on Wednesday! Crazy!

Carp guru Bob had to put me in my place..'.a 4 or 5 pound fish isn't a big fish to me" but I think he still had a good time. Glad to be out and glad to catch a couple fish!

Discussion Forum

Top Ten Ice Fishing Lures 4 Replies

TOP TEN ICE FISHING LURESNot sure I've ever caught a Fish through the ice on a lure un-tipped.1/4 oz. and 1/3 oz.Swedish Pimple,Nickle or Gold /Green Prism Tape/Shiner Head-Pickerel, Crappie Red…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 10, 2024.

Plastics for Ice Fishing 3 Replies

I hope to get some safe Ice this Year 2024. Last Year I did no Ice Fishing at all. If I get the chance this Year, I'd like to get into using a variety of Plastics for Panfish and Predators. Any…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 9, 2024.

Tipping with Perch eyes 2 Replies

Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 22, 2022.

Ice Fishing Chronicles 2009-? 7 Replies

In NJ we are allowed 5 rigs .I generally set 3 tip ups ,Jig a rod and have a dead stick rod hanging off a bucket. I switch on and off with the jigging rods .I have two set up for Gills and pan…Continue

Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Feb 13, 2018.

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Comment Wall

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Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on February 5, 2015 at 4:49pm: Great idea, those flags. We had a guy drown a few weeks ago. He was fishing alone and disappeared. Two guys came along and saw all the equipment unattended and immediately called emergency personnel, but it was too late. So sad.

Comment by John Sheehan on February 5, 2015 at 1:01pm

Comment by Slip Sinker on February 5, 2015 at 9:36am

So im doing some research on crappie location for ice fishing during the winter months here in mid michigan... i came across this article that details crappie movement in BOW during the winter by lake type. very informative and a must read for crappie fishing on the ice... i believe this also relates to all panfish movement on the lakes during hard water season. explains vertical movements thru the water column concerning oxygen levels and plankton mvts during the day. awesome article

http://www.in-fisherman.com/panfish/crappie-black-or-white/fishing-...

Comment by Jim Gronaw on February 3, 2015 at 8:49pm: Yes Bruce...let me know how the PA bite is going!

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on February 3, 2015 at 4:58pm: This coming weekend is supposed to be great weather for ice fishing in my area of Blair, Cambria and Somerset Counties. Maybe I'll have some pan fish photos to post. Good luck to all!

Comment by John Sheehan on February 3, 2015 at 4:48pm: Maybe Jim ,but it'd be something I'd have to put into my weekend work schedule . Would love to get out there and fish with you though!

Comment by Jim Gronaw on February 3, 2015 at 4:42pm: Road trip to DCL is a possibilty, John!

Comment by John Sheehan on February 3, 2015 at 4:39pm: Ha ha Bruce ,I brought the Beef Jerky along to chew on . I'm dying here for some good action!

Slip ,I've talked to no ice fisherman recently except for my brother , and Nephew who I've fished with and a friend who hasn't done well. Gotta get out there more!

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on February 3, 2015 at 3:49pm: I had a trip to a lake this past Sunday. There was 10 inches of ice, but a layer of soft ice with slush on top. It snowed most of the day and I caught only 1 small perch. My buddy caught 4 perch. It was a pretty day with the snow and all, but I like a little more action. At least I got to eat all of my lunch HA!

Comment by Slip Sinker on February 3, 2015 at 1:18pm

thank you for the addition!

just like you im disappointed in the ice fishing results on the lakes... and its just not you and i... its a wide consensus from many different lakes... i try to talk to as many fisherman as i can while im out there gathering input... its been rather slow even here.

i noticed on my last outing good algae and color on the bottom in about 6 ft of water... we had very little snow cover and clear ice.

my little ice fishing lake i selected for this winter

its close to home
easy on easy off
short walk to any structure
its private and protected
and its loaded with panfish!

The small deep basin was loaded with schools of crappie all soft water season… ive been concentrating on the edges of the break between the basin and the flats that start at 8 ft. now im thinking maybe the fish (the good fish) are still on the flats. The deep basins are absent of crappie and that is where you expect them to be.

The lake has been ice covered for three months coming next week and probably another month and a half to go.