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: Jan 9

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.

View All

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of East coast Ice fisherman to add comments!

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on January 17, 2015 at 9:48am: Caught 6 legal largemouths through the ice yesterday at Lake Raystown. The biggest is 19" and the smallest 15." We were fishing shiners and minnows on gum ball jigs and Swedish pimples. I was fishing 4lb. test mono on tip-ups and jigging rods.dish pimples.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 12, 2015 at 9:08pm: Finally got out on some ice yesterday .Felt good to fish a different lake for the 1st time . Brother Greg got a few bass a Perch and a Gill .I got a two Perch and two Gills . I fished mostly in 8' .Bizarre moment of the day was Greg getting a Bull Bluegill on a tipup with a fathead minnow.

Comment by Mark Sleeper on January 5, 2015 at 9:07am: yes before Christmas there was a lot of open water even ponds in my area we'd get ice then it would be open water, it was weird Christmas to wear a tee shirt outside.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 5, 2015 at 8:15am: I hear ya Mark. Patience friend! I've been getting things ready though I 'll tell you that!

Comment by Mark Sleeper on January 5, 2015 at 6:57am: This has been up and down temp wise ,we get cold then it's up in the 50's, now we are having a cold snap this week, I have a friend that went out with 3" if that I don't want to go for a swim,I live in midcoast Maine

Comment by John Sheehan on January 4, 2015 at 8:31pm: This is killin me ! 46 DEG today .

Comment by John Sheehan on December 31, 2014 at 11:35am: Today it was iced over , most of where I was rowing and fishing yesterday . Was hoping for safe ice by now but it aint happening here in NENJ. Hang in there Bruce!

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on December 31, 2014 at 9:12am: Anybody finding any ice yet in PA?

Comment by John Sheehan on December 9, 2014 at 4:01pm: http://matsuanglers.org/wp-content/uploads/Quick-Strike-Rigs-for-Pi...

John Foro , I was confused , when you said quick strike rig , I was thinking the automatic fisherman tip up . Gotta check out that quick strike in more detail ,thanks! Heres the Automatic Fisherman : https://www.youtube.com/watch?

Comment by John Sheehan on December 9, 2014 at 8:00am: Yea John , you're right ,changing up to 8# test or 10# test leaders for the bigger Pickerel lakes is a good idea .I'll keep the 6# test for my lake that is mostly Bass Crappie and Perch .I've seen like three Pickerel in that lake in 25 years of constant fishing . I've been thinking Quick strike rigs but don't own one .The Pickerel I've caught have mostly been on shiners using tipups .I did get one about 18" on a dead sticked ice rod while setting tipups or jigging another hole ,but that was only once that I recall .

I am from NENJ ,a border town to Sloatsburg NY ,called Ringwood . Closest "big " lake is Greenwood Lake.

Yes ,Pickerel with their nice looking pink fillets are great eating . Do you filet the floating bones out with the side fillets or make fish cakes? The top and back sides are nice and boneless though aren't they !