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 chris on February 1, 2011 at 4:35pm: caught this on in 21' of water on a small jig. its about 9" and the biggest gill i saw at the tourny

Comment by John Sheehan on February 1, 2011 at 7:39am: All 5 fish yesterday came on waxies/Frostee Spoon.Salted minnow heads,nothin',Spikes /Marmooskas,nothin. Thanks for the tip Jim!It seems like the mid ice slowfishing has begun for me . This happened last year also.

Yesterday: 18" Pickerel, 2Gills about 7&1/2 each ,Yellow Perch about 9" ,One 10&1/2 " Crappie

Comment by John Sheehan on January 29, 2011 at 9:01am: Good luck with the Tourny Chris! It's been a week but I was catching fish in wood cover in sand/dirt bottom in 8-15' fish hitting near bottom .Bright color (Chartruese) with the snow cover.

It might be worth trying near a creek channel if you can find it with the right cover for your lake . Ice has got to be real thick by now (It is around here)but be careful if their is a spring nearby.

Comment by chris on January 29, 2011 at 7:10am: my tourny is tomorrow. where have you guys been getting some nice fish (depth, cover, structure)?

Comment by John Sheehan on January 27, 2011 at 1:05pm: I 'll have to give waxies a shot Jim.Been fishing spikes/mealies and my latest interest in ice bait,salted minnow heads on spoons.

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.