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RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

Here in the southern tier of NY the shallow lakes (20 feet and under) are just starting to freeze. The temp here was 8 deg at night and a high of 14 deg. the ice is forming fast!:DI can't wait to hook the first trout of the winter.I fish the NYC reservoirs and fish for browns, laker's, land-lock salmon and pike.

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

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ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980

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ORIGINAL: Champlain Islander

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ORIGINAL: VT_Hunter1980

Champlain Islander, is the lake starting to freeze over in any of the bays yet? I know it usually takes longer to become safe than the smaller lakes.

A few of the guys went to some of the smaller ponds today to check them out. I live on the broad lake in North Hero and all I have so far is steam coming off the water and slush at shore. The wind has been really strong out of the north and west and that has caused the main lake to stay open. I am a pan fisherman and will be checking some of the small bays just north of the house in the next 2 days. Tomorrow is tree day so Thurs will be my first day after the flat fish. I can almost taste that first hard water bull gill.

Sounds good.

I'm a trout fisherman myself, but I certainly don't turn up my nose when I land a perch. I'm living a little closer to lake Champlain this year, so I'm planning on giving that a try. I'm not entirely sure where to access the lake or even where to buy bait around here. I'm in Waterbury and ice fishing doesn't seem to be as big here as it was in the NEK.

I can't wait though. I actually enjoy hard water fishing more than open water.

Vt hunter take a trip up to the Islands some nice warm weekend and you'll see lots of ice fishermen. I live up there and usually panfish every day through the winter. I used to fish for trout but really got hooked on flat fish with a UUUL jigging rods. Access for trout can be had on the south end at Arnolds bay near Panton and Shelburne bay just south of Burlington. There are some reefs with good laker fishing just north of the Grand Isle ferry. For great pan fishing on Champlain perch can be caught in Shelburne bay and all through out the northern islands and the inland sea. Sunnies, bluegills and crappie are where it is at. PM me if you want to try it. I am out there with lots of friends almost every day and we all have plenty of equipment so there isn't any reason to buy anything. Be aware...it is wicked addictive. My season will start in a day or two as soon as I get the Christmas stuff done around the house....Frank D

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

First day out and it wasn't all that productive. Nobody is fishing for the flat fish so I went for perch to be with others for safety. The ice was about 3" and I got about 30 pounds of small to medium perch. Tomorrow will be another day.

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

Went out got 7 1/2 hours got 2 Northerns, 21" 23" a 14" largemouth, 3 Perch, 2 Bluegill
First bass I ever saw outa Ice. Got a 23" Northern yesterday with same buddy...Seems like when hes there we catch more fish lol. Im glad I got into this Ice fishing this year...All I need is a shanty and my own Ice auger.
When you see a flag up you get a nice warm feeling...you can be froze solid...when that flag goes up..Instantly warm:D

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

Got the 8'x8'shack out on Saturday. I'll spare you the details as we had many issues and did not start to fish until 2030.

First fish of the year for me, and a personal best / shack best, 25.75"x17.5" walleye!! She was a hog with a huge gut. No camera or scales:(:(:(. Estimated weight was between 5.5 and 6.5 pounds. Released her unharmed

. We also caught 2 18" (yum) and released an 11".

Drew

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

Good day bigscrape congrats on the wallys. I got out today again and decided to try for bluegills. Filled a 7 gal and part of another (50 pounds).

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

Went out last Friday...anywhere from 6"-9" of ice on most lakes.

Saturday thru Monday, was in Wisconsin with the woman's family for xmas. They live NE of Janesville about 10 miles. Most lakes looked froze over..but a few (I think it was a river that I90 goes over close to Janesville) led to open water. When we were up there, we tried to get some smelt at the bait stores for Northerns...but nobody had any.

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

Quote:

ORIGINAL: Pat Curtis

Went out last Friday...anywhere from 6"-9" of ice on most lakes.

Saturday thru Monday, was in Wisconsin with the woman's family for xmas. They live NE of Janesville about 10 miles. Most lakes looked froze over..but a few (I think it was a river that I90 goes over close to Janesville) led to open water. When we were up there, we tried to get some smelt at the bait stores for Northerns...but nobody had any.

Try to get some golden shiners (shad). They are the best pike bait around here. I fish almost every day for bluegills, sunnies and crappie and often get goldies. I always bring a bucket of them over to the pike guys when they are there.

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

We've been ice fishing In Northern Iowa for Weeks now.. I've only been out once,, but hopefully i will get out mor soon

RE: Anyone ice fishing yet?

Yesterday I got 90 pounds of bluegills but today wasn't that good and I got 34 pounds. Tomorrow is another day.