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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 by John Sheehan on January 16, 2017 at 7:16am

Comment by John Sheehan on January 16, 2017 at 7:13am: Pickerel are on Fire at the Monksville in 8-10 foot depths in the treetops .

Comment by John Sheehan on January 13, 2017 at 7:54am: Bruce , i hear ya about leaving them while they are hitting . It got warm here for a few days and stopped the chances for me but I hope with the cold temps coming in I can do an evening bite on Sunday.I'll let you know . Keep pluggin' man!

Comment by dick tabbert on January 12, 2017 at 5:17pm: Man I hate it when that happens.

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on January 12, 2017 at 4:25pm: Well, ice fishing was slow yesterday until I left at 3:00 PM for a doctor appointment. My friends moved close to some docks after I left, and by dark, had a total of 26 keepers to go along with the 3 I contributed earlier. Most nice bluegills and perch, along with two nice crappies. Oh well, I guess the fun doesn't start until after I leave.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 12, 2017 at 7:34am: At least you got out and caught Bruce .Good man! Wow a 25 " Pickerel is great ! How deep were you fishing and how deep was bottom? What kind of structure ?

Greg and I fished standing timber /weed edges very near a Sandy flat .I often do well where two or more different structures come together .

Comment by Bruce Tomaselli on January 11, 2017 at 4:17pm: Well, ice fishing was slow today. I landed about 1/2 doz. gills and perch--nothing of any size. I did the best with fly #7 in photo I posted previously. The ice was abut 4 inches and it was about 52 degrees air temp. My buddy's daughter landed a 25 inch pickerel. I was fishing and not working, so I had a great day.

Comment by John Sheehan on January 11, 2017 at 1:57pm: A good start at a nearby lake that I 've never done well ice fishing at ....before yesterday :http://bigbluegill.com/photo/albums/ice-fishing-2017

Comment by dick tabbert on January 10, 2017 at 5:10pm: Glad you had a good time and the fish are always a bonus. WTG....

Comment by John Sheehan on January 10, 2017 at 4:52pm: Fabulous time with my brother Greg ice fishing for the 1st time out 2017.We did real good . 10 Pickerel , 9 Gills, 3 Crappie . Gills were small and hit Butter worms on small straight line and spinning combos .All Crappie and Pickerel except for one each on shiner/ tipups were caught Jigging spoons tipped with Shiner heads and tails .

I gotta say my best tip to ice fisherman is to use the heads and tails of dead shiners on spoons .I saw another fisherman today feeding the dead bait to Gulls after catching a tipup fish .