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: Nov 25, 2022

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, 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.

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 15, 2011 at 8:49am: Great reports, guys! I have been struggling as of late...10 fish on Monday evening and just 4 yesterday. I am planning to fish Faylor Lake in Central PA on Monday with some fish commission folks. Gills and crappies are in the mix.

Good luck!

Comment by John Sheehan on January 15, 2011 at 7:58am: Good job Howard!!Same with me and a Buddy we must have caught about 30 or more 9"Yellow Perch a mess of Gills 1Bass 2 Crappie and 4 thick 11-12 "White Perch .A mixed bag of baits. Tipups with small shiners.Tiny Fathead minnows on Nungesser spoon,Marmouskas with Spikes caught the most.Marmouskas and mealworms and Kastmaster with spikes all caught fish .We were really on them for four hours!

Comment by Howard Webster on January 14, 2011 at 9:30pm: Left work 2 hours early today grabed my gear and headed to the lake. Caught 32 perch not any jumbos the biggest being 9 inches. All ere caught on a hali jig tipped with spikes

Comment by John Sheehan on January 2, 2011 at 2:38pm: Was out yesterday and got some decent Gills Bass and Crappie but today is too warm and I wont feel safe until cold days and nights are consistent here too Howard.

Comment by Howard Webster on January 2, 2011 at 1:26pm: As of today we have all but lost our ice very warm temps for the 2nd day of January I will not go back out until we get a few days of freezing weather