whos ready for ice fishing? I sure am. Funny how you can be so sick of ice fishing come late march but still look forward to it in Nov.
I have been rading and rereading my in-fisherman ice fishing book and im excited.
Just wanted to talk ice fishing withs some folks. Love to hear from ya.

I'm with you. I spent Friday in the office (home) listening to my Vexilar as I ran it to discharge the battery so I could put a full charge on it for the upcoming season. Nothing better than first ice Walleyes.

Yep me too, can't wait!!! I prefer my ice with at least a little snow on top to cover my shadow. I actually love late season ice fishing, by that time many people have gotten tired of it and aren't coming out anymore leaving the lakes almost empty...also that late ice bite can be some of the best of the season.

Dave

Now days these kids take out everything: radar, sonar, electric tooth brushes.

I have spent the last month or so researching and buying improvements to my portable set up. I can't wait either.

I hope to go this year. It has been a few years since I have been on the ice.

ice time in this house also means hockey season is here. my squirt started hockey this weekend and i'm helping coach this year...here we go!

quote Chilly: "Now days these kids take out everything: radar, sonar, electric tooth brushes."

Naw, no electric tooth brushes...I did start out using a tire iron to chip through the ice in the 70's...you still using one of those?

Dave

i cant wait!! i just dont want it to get cold but i guess it would never come if it didnt get cold.

quote Rich11: "i cant wait!! i just dont want it to get cold but i guess it would never come if it didnt get cold."

With the cold weather clothes available these days there's no reason or excuse to be cold out on the ice.

Dave

yes my first ice trip fishing trip was in 1997. I used a double bit axe to punch my first hole. Now I got a strikemaster four stroke. Got to have a vexilar. Those without them, would soon buy one if you fished with the thing. I now see ice fishing as not just fishing, but exploring a lake. A lot of times im surprised. Places i didnt think would have fish at certain times of ice fishing, have them. Other times I catch a bunch of jumbo perch when i didnt even know a lake had more then nuisance ones. My first trip will to be to go up into the mountains after some lakers. This might be my year for a good one. I have new hookes on the chubby darters. I alos want to fish some lakes that allow no bait, but have huge slimers aka. trout. Another thing I would like to share. Go to you tube and type in a search for Lake Granby lakers through the ice. You will like it i think.

Looking forward to it. Just got a new portable Icehouse at Cabelas.

T

quote Wallidave: "Yep me too, can't wait!!! I prefer my ice with at least a little snow on top to cover my shadow. I actually love late season ice fishing, by that time many people have gotten tired of it and aren't coming out anymore leaving the lakes almost empty...also that late ice bite can be some of the best of the season.


Dave "

Looks like you are marking a lot of crappies on the Vex! I love seeing the flasher all lit up and trying to figure out how to coax them to bite.

T

so the yungins, just wastin time with the video games. Most of the time you are correct. Just watch us fish you under the table with the vexilar.

Hoping the temps start cooling down soon.

Getting ready to pull the old girl from behind the house right up to the spare parking spot up front..........My wife always said she wanted a nice house, but she got an ice house.........

quote timatkn: "

quote Wallidave: "Yep me too, can't wait!!! I prefer my ice with at least a little snow on top to cover my shadow. I actually love late season ice fishing, by that time many people have gotten tired of it and aren't coming out anymore leaving the lakes almost empty...also that late ice bite can be some of the best of the season.



Dave "

Looks like you are marking a lot of crappies on the Vex! I love seeing the flasher all lit up and trying to figure out how to coax them to bite.


T"

Yep, suspended crappies...love jigging for crappies in deep water! Nothing better then checking a hole and the Vex being lit up like this. If it's panfish, suspeneded fish like this usually mean active fish. Start plucking them off from the top and work your way down. A lot of times the bigger ones will hold above the smaller ones to get first crack at the food chain. On the other hand nothing worse then seeing it lit up like this and no takers...might mean your marking baitfish or schools of YOY fish.

Dave

Wallidave:

How deep of water do you typically fish for crappies?

Also this shelter I bought last year put new life into my ice fishing. It weighs just 50 lbs and can fold up and be put into the back of most vehicles with the rear seat folded down. It pulls across snow and ice about as easily as a child's sled. fold over shelter

quote emptynest56: "Wallidave:


How deep of water do you typically fish for crappies?


Also this shelter I bought last year put new life into my ice fishing. It weighs just 50 lbs and can fold up and be put into the back of most vehicles with the rear seat folded down. It pulls across snow and ice about as easily as a child's sled. fold over shelter "

In "my" experience it varies...generally though at first ice the crappies school up just off the first dropoff/weedline in 10-17 feet of water...this is also the location I was catching them right before ice-up. As the winter wears on and the ice gets thicker they continue to drop deeper to the deepest parts of the lake which is around 30-35 feet(in the lakes I'm fishing in N.Illinois). At first ice they tend to relate closer to the bottom, compare that to mid-winter when their found more often in deeper water and suspended sometimes just a few feet below the ice....crappies love structure and if you think about it the ice has now become structure.

As temperatures moderate and the ice starts to melt the several weeks leading up to ice-out the crappies migrate back to where they were found at first ice. The influx of melting water gives the lakes renewed oxygen, making all fish more active.

At first ice these deeper weeds still are some what green and still giving off oxygen which is one of the attractions. With more snow and ice build up farther into the winter these weeds die off completely and start decaying which uses up oxygen. All this plays a big part in moving their main food supply around the lake. In very mild winters with little ice I've found crappies staying in the general area of first ice all winter.

Nice shelter...those are nice to stay portable.

Thanks,
Crappies have been hard for me to find in the past. I know a few places around the twin cities that have lake structure that fits that.
By the time I find any, it is usually mid-winter and they aare suspended over some deeper holes.