Need help with an ice fishing trip

[Chris Roberts]

I've never gone ice fishing before and I really want to.  I have a few buddies that also want to go, but don't know anything about it either. 

 

We've narrowed it down to the weekend of Jan 19-21.  I need to keep it semi local to the state of Maryland, but we're willing to travel to WV, PA maybe lower NY?  I don't know to be honest.  Is that too early in the year or will we be okay?

 

Do I need to buy anything?  I'm assuming I need something to cut through ice.  I'd even be willing to meet someone from the forums if they new a place or just wanted to show some guys there spot (I'll probably be the only person really into it).

[Jim Gronaw]

Hey Chris, a couple more things about Deep Creek...

Early ice catches are traditionally made in the 8 to 14 ft depth, often associated with weed beds that are dead and dying off. As the winter progresses, perch and walleye tend to go deeper and by Feb bigger perch can be found in the main lake basin areas out away from the State Park cove and accross from The Alpine village Motel cove, working uplake along  RT 219. At that time, most fiah are caught from 20 to 35 ft, so setting hooks on light striking perch and gills from that deep requires a longer 3ft jigging rod.

At 25 ft or deeper, it is almost a total catch-and-keep gig due to air bladders that emerge from the fishes mouths.

You are permitted 10 perch per day. per angler at Deep Creek. If you are fortunate to get 10 12 to 15 inchers in a day, you will have plenty of fillets!

Action tends to peak at first light til 9 AM and again 1 hour before sunset to dark. But cloudy, snowy days can yield fish as well.

A lot of college folks hit this area for the ski and football partys, especially if Pittsburg is in the mix. motel rates are still high in the winter. A good option would be to check out Alpine Village or perhaps Don Hershfields Streams and Dreams' B&B near McHenry. He also ice fishes and might be a good trigger on the latest bite.

Deep Creek does not freeze uniformly, so use caution, nothing less than 4 in of clear hard ice. Check out FishDeepCreek.com and their message board for so good, local reports on conditions and catches.

[John Sheehan]

What a great response!