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 by John Sheehan on March 1, 2011 at 3:44pm: Saw two guys out on the ice today on Cupsaw as I was driving past.It'll be open water soon .I believe I wont be getting out on the ice any more this year.

Comment by chris on March 1, 2011 at 3:11pm: same here jim... not all gone but getting very thin

Comment by Jim Gronaw on February 21, 2011 at 2:48pm: Here in Mason-Dixon country, the ice is gone! It went fast with some 70 degree days last week and lots of wind, but it was the longest icefishing season in many years...almost 10 weeks!

Comment by Mike on February 21, 2011 at 8:18am: Got some gills and redbreasts in 22' yesterday. Slow jigging bite, but a couple of quality fish.

Comment by John Sheehan on February 21, 2011 at 8:11am: Thinking the Perch are moving at this time from winter ice holes.Last time out (2-20)it was mostly gills and only a few Yellows and one White Perch.

Comment by John Sheehan on February 13, 2011 at 7:44am: Ice Fishing Sat .2/2/11 11:30-4:40..21 fish 6 yp 7 bg 1 wp,7 crappie
around 18" ice 9 holes tired me out somewhat ...lazer auger gettin a little dull after 3 yrs.
Spot 1,1 fish)Started out by dam at out flow corner . Fished 3 holes less than an hour 12-15 'near bottom 1 avg. YP Mid sized jiggin' rap w/wax worm
Spot 2,9fish) moved over by stream in flow ,cut 3 holes ,8 ' ..little off bottom ..fished about 1 hr. 9 fish 5 BG, 4 Yp on white/blue marmooskas/spikes ...Smaller white Genzworm/waxworm or Shiner piece on Chartruese stripe Kastmaster/waxworm
Spot 3,11 fish ) over by Doctors house ,cut 3 holes,12-'15'Gold 16th oz.Flyer w/Shiner piece -White Perch.
Genz worm and smallest jig/rap w/Shiners tails or heads caught 7 Crappie ..2 bg and 1 perch on waxies or spikes on Marmooskas and Frostee jig

Comment by Mike on February 6, 2011 at 8:21am: John,

Happy to share some info. The Pickerel was only about 15" long. The total amount of snow/ice was about 18" with half being true ice and the upper half a sort of mixture. 2/3 of the fish were near the bottom, but I did catch about 10 fish suspened about 10' down in 16-17' of water. Watching suspended fish react to my baits on the Vexilar was fun. I visually lost my jig at one point, when one of the rainbows grabbed it and ran off to the side about 10-15'. Nice to be out there when the fish are active. Best of luck on your next trip.

Comment by John Sheehan on February 6, 2011 at 8:11am: Excellent day Mike ! LIKE THOSE RAINBOWS! How big was the Pickerel? You got a great lake there! 9" +BGills!Incredible.

Tell me was the snow thick on the ice and were the fish close to bottom or what?

Thanks for any info!

Comment by Mike on February 5, 2011 at 5:09pm: Had a nice afternoon on the ice. 20 gills up to 9 plus inches, 7 rainbow trout, 1 Crappie, and 1 chain pickerel. All jigged up in 14-17' of water on a tiny gitzit tipped with a waxworm.