01-15-2006, 09:58 PM
I had a wrestling tournament on Saturday, so I got up at 4 a.m. and was fishing at about 5:15 and fished until 7:45 - yes in the dark. What a wonderful time of day on the ice. Coyotes howling all around the lake and owls talking back and forth plus the fishing was good!!!!! I caught 38 perch and no chubs. I had two perch over 14 inches - the two largest perch that I have ever taken.
I like to fish away - at least 100 yards from other groups and like to keep the disturbance to a minimum on top of the ice. After I drill my holes with a power auger, I usually don't get any large perch for at least 30 minutes. So drill enough holes all at once. I like to find water from four to six feet deep which means walking out away from the shore about 500 to 600 yards. I use mostly ice flies ( the old "skinny-ass fly" which cannot be purchased anymore - I make my own) is my favorite. I like to tip the hook with a piece of perch meat or perch eyes because you can catch multiple fish - up to 10 or 20 without rebaiting. Pink or orange has been my most productive colors the last two weeks.
Hopefully I will be on the ice on Monday. Remember, a lot of motorized vehicles around you slow the fishing especially the larger perch. I will probably be searching for a new area as I have hit that area very hard, but it is still producing large and small fish with the perch from 8 to 10 inches becoming less and less as other people are also fishing that area. I believe the lake bottom is covered with perch and you just have to get an area between patches of weeds. The water is extremely clear and it does not take much to get the perch coming to your lures and/or bait.
Good Luck
Bill
[signature]
I like to fish away - at least 100 yards from other groups and like to keep the disturbance to a minimum on top of the ice. After I drill my holes with a power auger, I usually don't get any large perch for at least 30 minutes. So drill enough holes all at once. I like to find water from four to six feet deep which means walking out away from the shore about 500 to 600 yards. I use mostly ice flies ( the old "skinny-ass fly" which cannot be purchased anymore - I make my own) is my favorite. I like to tip the hook with a piece of perch meat or perch eyes because you can catch multiple fish - up to 10 or 20 without rebaiting. Pink or orange has been my most productive colors the last two weeks.
Hopefully I will be on the ice on Monday. Remember, a lot of motorized vehicles around you slow the fishing especially the larger perch. I will probably be searching for a new area as I have hit that area very hard, but it is still producing large and small fish with the perch from 8 to 10 inches becoming less and less as other people are also fishing that area. I believe the lake bottom is covered with perch and you just have to get an area between patches of weeds. The water is extremely clear and it does not take much to get the perch coming to your lures and/or bait.
Good Luck
Bill
[signature]