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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: Nov 25, 2022
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!
Started by John Sheehan. Last reply by John Sheehan Jan 22, 2022.
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 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.
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I just started using blades...try the Damiki Vault at 1/2 oz for those big ice out pickerel and bass. Rip em up off the bottom and keep a tight line on the fall back. Most strikes are on the fall. If in a boat just vertical jig them.
Great Crappie Jim ! I'll have to give blade baits a try!
These three spoons have been the catchers so far Jan/Feb 2021 :1/8th oz.Slimfish/ 1/5th oz. SP and 1/4 oz.SP.Tipped with salted Shiner heads or Live Fathead Minnows.
Thanks Dick! Bruce-Glad to hear you're getting out there!
Nice fish, John. All I've been catching this year is pickerel and just a few bass. To be fair in 5 trips I haven't hit the panfish spots. It may be next year. This warm spell may melt the shoreline and make it impossible to get on the lake.
WTG John.
Greg and I got out on the ice again and caught 4 Pickerel a Bass and a Perch .Shiners on tipups and Ice Rigger got 3 Pickerel .Live Fathead minnows on a 1/8th oz. Gold Thinfish Spoon got a Pickerel, a Bass and a Perch. Sunny Bright day with a lot of snow covered ice. Saved the 12" Male Perch for the pan with eggs the next morning .Always great doing that again!
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