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 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.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 19, 2011 at 3:17pm: Thanks Howard!

Comment by John Sheehan on January 19, 2011 at 3:17pm: Have less than 6" now I'm sure now with the above freezing temps and rain we've been having.