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 13

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

Tipping with Perch eyes 2 Replies

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Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 22.

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.

Top Ten Ice Fishing Lures 1 Reply

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 Feb 7, 2018.

Ice Fishing Article links

Temp under the ice:…Continue

Started by John Sheehan Jan 18, 2017.

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Comment Wall

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Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 27, 2011 at 12:38pm: This year I have caught bass, bluegills, crappie and yellow perch through the ice using a variety of lures...Kastmasters, Rattle Flash Spoons, 1/80th and 1/100th oz jigs, marmooskas and Gill Getters. About 65 % of my fish have come on gillgetters tipped with waxies. All lures were tipped with either waxies or maggots.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 23, 2011 at 9:28pm: Well you catch great fish Mike!The Bluegills and Smallmouth Bass you catch are great!

Comment by Mike on January 23, 2011 at 9:19pm: John,

I have never caught any fish through the ice on a spoon. Everything I catch is on jigs.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 23, 2011 at 9:10pm: Mike -Any of those big gills you catch hit jigged spoons ?

Comment by Mike on January 23, 2011 at 9:05pm: Can't wait to catch some more big gills through the ice.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 23, 2011 at 8:11pm: Well Jim I just like catching 6 species more than 5 .Lol!

Howard ,how'd you do? What else beside Yellow Perch you run into on Lk. Champlain?

Comment by Howard Webster on January 22, 2011 at 5:03pm: These are great we had a high of 9 degres today and was able to stay out and fish all day. I use a colman blackcat to knock the chill down

Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 22, 2011 at 4:34pm: John...if you're catching all those panfish...who cares about bass!!!

Comment by John Sheehan on January 22, 2011 at 3:10pm: About 10 " ice.Went fishing from 1-5 0'clock and caught a bunch of Bluegills ,Crappie (about 5 ,10-12") a few White and a bunch of Yellow Perch and 1 Pumpkinseed.Where are the Bass???

Comment by Jim Gronaw on January 19, 2011 at 3:33pm: On Monday, we had about 10 inches, 8 inches clear ice at Faylor Lake in Perry County. In Mason Dixon country it is 4 to 7, depending on where you're at.