Do you love big bluegill?

East coast Ice fisherman

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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 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 !

Comment by John Foro on December 8, 2014 at 4:27pm: yea john, if your fishing for pickerel or bass probably 6-8# test would be fine but if there are a lot of pickerel around i would use heavier mono leader..also look up quick strike rigs, i've made a couple of designs that work well with pike and would also on bass, walleye or pickerel. i fish cayuga quite often in winter and lots of pickerel but usually on jigs and most of time can land them...i keep them over 20-21", good eating. are you from the new york state area?

Comment by John Sheehan on December 8, 2014 at 9:19am: John, Pickerel and Bass using shiners on the tip ups usually is what I'm after and Gills ,Perch and Crappie on the jig rods . I've never used steel leaders on tipups but have been cut off before by suspected Pickerel . I should try at least one or two of the tipups with a light gauge steel leader or thicker leader like you suggest but I've always thought it would be a turnoff to them in clear winter water .Wont know till I try ,Thanks John ! Wish you the best ice fishing this year ,I'll look for your posts !

Comment by John Foro on December 8, 2014 at 7:28am: ithchin' to go fishin' ....ice fishing, no ice around here yet but usually some ice fishing around Christmas time and full steam after the first of the year. hopefully soon.

Comment by John Foro on December 8, 2014 at 7:23am: john..what are you fishing for? if you're using tip ups for perch or crappie that would be ok, but if you're fishing for pike with tip up i would use like a 20-30# dacron line with either steel leader or lately i've been using 30# mono and usually no problem.

icejohn

Comment by John Sheehan on November 20, 2014 at 1:52pm: Welcome Greg ,cant wait to give your nymphs another try on pounder rigs this ice season again !Especially early ice ,they worked good last year ,a Bass ,a Pumpkinseed and several Bluegills took one you made up for me . Remember, it was on Vernon Valley Lake .

Comment by Jim Gronaw on March 2, 2014 at 1:43pm: We have 10 to 12 in the Mason Dixon area, and temps this week are to go below zero for a few nights, maybe getting to low 30's by Friday. We could have at least some stands of ice into the 3rd week of March, even later further west.

Hope to get out a few more times...

Comment by John Sheehan on March 2, 2014 at 10:22am: 15" thick up here in NJ David .Gonna take awhile I believe . Sure hope the thaw is somewhat gradual ,don't need flooding in my area!