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: Mar 7

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.

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.

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 Rick King on December 29, 2012 at 12:53pm: Tony - Schooley is still a good cheap ice rod, I took the spring bobber off the pole and add a spring from a BIC lighter and painted the tip orange - just strech it out to the amout you want... it more sensitive than a noodle rod.

Comment by John Sheehan on December 22, 2012 at 9:28pm: Oh yea thats right I heard about those pegged reels .Thanks for that link Tony!

Comment by Tony Livingston on December 22, 2012 at 6:23pm: My Schooley's didn't John..they had a flat reel, or spool, that held the line. A thumbnut and a spring allowed you to tighten a crude "drag", and there was a peg that you used to limit the amount of line that would come off the reel. Once you found your depth, (using a plumb), you would insert the peg.

The reel would take up line normally, but once pinned they will only allow a certain amount out. Very quick back down the hole.

http://www.fishusa.com/Schooleys-Spring-Bobber-Pole-Reel-and-Access...

Comment by John Sheehan on December 22, 2012 at 6:10pm: Most og my panfish rods have spring bobbers .I have two other jigging rods meant for Bass and heavier lures and the Straightline seems like it wont need a spring bobber but we'll see about that.I am curious about those reels on the jigger rods .Schooley rods used open faced spinning reels didnt they Tony?

Comment by Tony Livingston on December 22, 2012 at 6:01pm: I used to use the old "Schooley" rods John. Caught fish with em' too. But they came equipped with a spring bobber so I never used the foam float. Their design makes them easy to drop back to the same depth, which is helpful for an ice fisherman without electronics. They work well.

Once I started using sonar, I switched to spinning ice combos.

Comment by John Sheehan on December 22, 2012 at 5:43pm: Anyone use these Jigger rods ? http://extacklestore.com/winter/HT%20Little%20Jigger%20Rod%20&%...

Also who uses these foam floats ice jigging and whats the benefit?

Comment by John Sheehan on December 16, 2012 at 3:19pm: I sure hope so Dick !

Comment by dick tabbert on December 16, 2012 at 3:08pm: Alright John looks like your ready but not the ice yet. I do think we will have ice this year thick enough to get on.

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on December 16, 2012 at 1:58pm: Looks nice. Let us know how it fishes.

Bruce

Comment by John Sheehan on December 16, 2012 at 9:54am: Patrick "Bullworm" Olsen is catching Crappie through the ice already up in Bemidji Minnesota !!