Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Ice fishing

Any ice fisherman on this forum?
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<br> I just moved back to the north east and love jigging for yellow perch, crappie, blue gills... thought it may be a good way to keep the forum going and exchange ideas, experiences or ?, while waiting for shirt sleeve weather when we can all go back and fish like "sane" people!!
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You got yourself an addict right here. I'd rather ice fish than open water fish any day! The fish taste better and there are usually fewre people, although that has changed in the past few years here in South Dakota. The early perch bite is on in the NE part of the state, they're yummy, hell with walleyes, give me a 10-12" perch any day of the week!
<br>Selmer

ice fishing addict here also, its one of my favorite things to do. I dont do much jigging though, i usually just set up the traps, kick back and relax. Would you have any jigging tips for a novice jigger?
<br>Brock

I absolutely agree with your views on yellow perch..
<br>Ever just boil them as you would a shrimp?
<br>Fillet em', cut in strips, boil ( steam ) for a couple of minutes, drain off the water, then cool em' off in the fridge. Serve them with a cocktail sauce...
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<br>As for jigging tips.. I use two small jigs. One at the end of the line and the other about 1-2 foot above it.. I like the tear drop and jig a whoppers in irredescent (sp?)orange/green . Bait each jig with a Mousy grub, maggot or ? Sound the hole , lift the jig/bait up just off the bottom... then put a small round dobber on your line at the hole. You will then have to bring the line in hand over hand .. remove the sounding device, and drop the set up back in the hole.. I give the jig a couple of quick jerks, then let it sit a bit. When you see the dobber move, set the hook!!
<br>Don't fool around with "letting him take the bait" just quickly set the hook at the slightest movement of the bobber. Of course there will be times when the fish are really on the bite and will take the bobber down in the hole!!!
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<br>This method has worked particularly well for me in shallow water up to about 30 feet deep.. Anything deeper, this method gets cumbersome trying to hand line the fish.. I also dig a lot of holes... 15 minutes at a hole, and if I don't get action I drill another hole.. work my way around a lake. I use 4 lb test line..
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<br>I've been fishing this way for just about 35 years.. my old ( literally ) fishing buddies use various other methods that work just as well... I'm sure there are a gazillion methods and most will work just fine..
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<br>but... this will get you started.. good luck!

I was on the ice last weekend. Fishing wasnt the best. Only caught a few Crappies. But we had a good time. In two weeks we have our annual ice fishing tournament. It's been going on for thirty five years. Lots of fun and commeraderie. Prizes for biggest fish, smallest fish, and largest Bluegill. After the tournament, a local resteraunt cooks the fish for us and we have a big dinner party. Lotsa fun.
Keeb

I got out for the first time since we 've moved back North.. ( 5 yrs in the South ) .. Caught a couple of nice blue gills and only one yellow perch..
Plan to try again soon, but much too busy with other stuff... also I am not familiar with what places are available in this area.

Good luck at the contest.. It sounds like fun.. Let me know how you make out.. We have a "Crappie derby" here in the next couple of weeks.. I think I'll give it a try... The derby is held at Whitney Point resevoir.. in central NY... I understand they get several thousand fisherman .. not typically my cup of tea.. but it will be a chance to tote the grandkiddies along.. and introduce them to the sport.

Good Luck!

Well boys,

It has been so mild up here and I have been so busy I haven't been out once yet this winter, but.........

probably late next week we will give the lake trout and pike a try. Big silver or gold spoons flashed around about ten feet off the bottom in deep water for the trout and plastic shad and twister tails in shallow bays and flats for the pike.

Whitefish on tiny jigs in shallow water is great sport, especially when a marauding pike hits one of those little jigs. It's amazing how often a really big Northern will take them too, so we use 4" South Bend Invisi-Leaders with the jigs.

In March we will hit the trail for burbot. HMmmmmmmmmgood!

Ted

I used to ice fish a lot when I was younger, but the older I get the less friendly me and the cold become. Ran into a guy a few years back that had the right idea--he had modified a small single-axel camper trailer to be pulled behind his ATV, with a hinged hole in the floor. He would cut a 1 x 2 foot hole in the ice with a chain saw, then pull the camper over the hole and fish in complete comfort! Steve

Going this Friday guys!

Lake trout and Northern pike.

I'll let you know how we make out,

Ted

Yukoner:
Have never tried it myself, have watched others doing it. Do keep us informed how it goes for you, a fellow from work left today to head up to Deka lake up in the Caribou for a bit of ice fishing, so will be interesting to see how he does.
Bill

Partsmaan, you in Pouce Coupe?

Ted

Nope: I am in The Lower Mainland.
Port Coquitlam to be exact.
Bill

Forgot to report in............

one nice lake trout, about 26 inches, and one pike.

Goingb again tomorrow.

Ted

Great day yesterday!

Nine burbot in three hours, largest about 15 pounds, another about twelve.

Wish I knew how topost pictures to this board.

Boiled a couple of the small ones up n heavily-salted water nd had them with drawn fine herbs butter and red potatoes.

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM GOOD!

Ted

Went again this afternoon with my two grandsons. We got 13 burbot, one about 12+ pounds.

Fishing is great for these fish right now.

Ted

Yukoner.

I am real late on this, but have no internet access at home or work anymore, so have to borrow the bosses computer. Glad to hear you are getting out once in awhile, makes us that can't get out jealous. Do keep us informed on your exploits.
I am hoping to solve some personal problems and maybe get back on a regular basis one day.
Bill <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />