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 John Sheehan on February 3, 2015 at 12:51pm: Welcome Slip Sinker, looking forward to your input!

Comment by John Sheehan on February 3, 2015 at 10:58am: Guys,I've been doing real Lousy .Fished three lakes so far and my sad total is 2 Yellow Perch, 5 Bluegills, 1 Pumpkinseed .Here are the lures I've used to get the waxies, spikes, worm piece, Shiner head or mealie down to the fish . All fish caught in the 7-5 ' range at 8-10' ranges .

Comment by John Sheehan on January 17, 2015 at 11:45am: Real nice haul Bruce! Excellent work!

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!