Ice fishing is a gas!

[CrappieKeith]

Hey guys ...i just thought to spend some time and make a post showing you all what we have been up too for the past few weeks.
Our ice is firming up nicely with slush pockets all froze up.The ice is about 18 inches and the fish are somewhat becomming more finicky.
I have my groups downsizing with good successes.
We are fishing the deeper basins in 20-30 fow.
Our rods are ultralite spinning rigs with most of us running 2 test mono or flurocarbon.

Here's the proof that crappies and gills bite in cold water.
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
I have some pretty good groups out with many fishers catching personal bests!
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]

Although when it get's cold which to us is about 15 degrees we start to fish in portables with heaters...
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
yet when it's warmer we can be found boring a gazillion holes making the ice look like swizz cheese which we run and gun bouncing from hole to hole trying to mark fish with our flashers.
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
Our bibs all have padded knees so getting onto the ice with a knee is not so bad...even for some of us olf pharts...
Here's some more fish....
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
your seeing StrikeMaster augers in a few pics....they are the best out there so that's what I use and promote others to look at when getting their next piece of durable equipment.
Man cannot live by fishing alone...I'm found cooking about noon on most days.
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
Ice fishing is a gas and if it were not for the Vikes playing today I'd be out there rearing!
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
a common day for me is about 50-75 fish with numbers reaching 3 to 4 hundred when I have big groups out.
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
It's not very often you'll find me using meat....on most all days I've got T.H.E. Jig on and I'm upsizing or down sizing depending on the aggresion level.
There's nothing like fishing in northern Mn. where you could be the only guy on the whole lake.
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/Ice%202010/2010...[/img]
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/ice2010/919_4b3...[/img]
the key to having fun is having the correct gear which starts with boots rated to 100 below zero,layered clothing with a good set of bibs and jacket that makes you feel like you are inside.
StrikeMaster makes a great set for example.
If your looking to shorten your learning curve I am availble to get you on the ice!
[img]http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h209/palisade1kid/ice2010/ice2010...[/img]

[John Sheehan]

Thanks CK !Great report and inspiring photos!

[CrappieKeith]

Soon we will be to late ice and the tullie season starts...
Now these are a gas to fight on light test and ul rods!

Late ice also turns up the heat on the bite for slabs too.

[James Feasel]

We had a little over 2 weeks of good ice here in central IN. Been pounding pond gills on a gold 1/12th oz Kastmaster tipped with bee moth. Had a whisker party on a western IN pit. Put 14 of 22 channel cats on top of the ice. One of the escapees took my friends rod n reel down the hole. Got my 1rst walleye thru the ice last week from an eastern IN lake. Getting cold again, so hoping the ice gets good again soon. A great season for me, but nothing like the crappie keith experience.

[CrappieKeith]

Good to hear your getting out.
I do have some awesome oppertunities up here.