SUBJECT :DON'T LOOK GOOD!!!
REPORTER : BOB
POSTED : 07:24:19 01/13/2002
IKE,,IT DON'T LOOK TOO GOOD FOR ICE FISHING THIS YEAR,,,I HAVE BEEN WORKING ALOT THE LAST FEW WEEKS,OR I WOULD BE OUT WITH THE BOAT...I WANTED TO GET SOME TROUT BEFORE THEY CLOSE,,,HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE MAIN RAMP??I DOUBT IF THERE'S ANY ICE THERE,,WELL,,,TALK TO YOU LATER,,IF YOU SEE BRUCE ,TELL HIM I SAID HELLO
SUBJECT :Ice At preachers camp area
REPORTER : Ike beltsvill lake
POSTED : 19:15:20 01/05/2002
Checked ice on 1-3 02 Ice is 1 1/2 inch.It is cristel clear.Verry thin.
SUBJECT :Hey Mac
REPORTER : Mike
POSTED : 16:19:05 01/03/2002
Happy New Year Mac...this is Mike the bricklayer from Churchville. It's that time of the year again and I was just wondering if the conditions were safe to ice fish this weekend. Email me back as soon as you can. Thanks--Mike
SUBJECT :Greetings
REPORTER : Len
POSTED : 13:18:53 12/31/2001
Mac ? Hello, you there?
I am ready for a trip up to Beltzville....Let me know the ice conditions when you can...Thanks. Looking forward to your reports again this year.
SUBJECT :ICE
REPORTER : BOB
POSTED : 14:05:27 12/29/2001
PREACHERS CAMP AREA IS USUALY THE FIRST PART OF THE LAKE TO GET ICE,AN ON A NORMAL YEAR,IT SHOULD HAVE IT NOW,,,,HOWEVER, AS YOU CAN SEE BY MY REPORT, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO THE MAIN LAKE WAS 47,,LAST YEAR IT WAS FORZEN BY NOW,,,,DONT PUT THE BOAT AWAY!!!THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO GET THE BIG BROWNS,,HAPPY NEW YEAR...IF YOU SEE ME ON THE WATER,,SAY HELLO.
SUBJECT :ICE
REPORTER : Daniel
POSTED : 18:35:40 12/22/2001
When does ICE usually form on Beltsville dam? By what day/month is typical?
SUBJECT :BELTSVILLE
REPORTER : BOB
POSTED : 21:11:42 12/20/2001
NOOOOO,,THERES ISNT ANY ICE YET!!,,WATER TEMPERATURE IS 47DEGREES,THAT WAS YESTERDAY,,,,BRUCE AN I WENT LOOKING FOR EYES,,DIDNT GET ANY ,,ONLY HAD A PERCH AN A NICE SMALLIE ABOUT 18"....SEVERAL PEOPLE I TALKED TO THAT WENT FOR TROUT,HAVENT BEED DOING ANYTHING,,I WENT ONE TIME IN NOVEMBER,AN I DINT HAVE A HIT EITHER,,DONT KNOW WHATS UP WITH THAT,STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO TRY AGAIN,,JANUARY IS A GOOD TIME TO TROLL FOR THEM ALSO,,WELL,,,GOOD LUCK FISHING,,,SAY HELLO IF YOU SEE ME ON THE WATER....BOB
SUBJECT :Off into the sunset and new season....
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 19:43:43 03/14/2001
Today I sat and watched the ice surface melt into the 50 degree air of the spring yet to come.The remnant holes of opurtunities past all around me,fittingly enough my tip-ups stand erect in the afternoon sunlight with no evidence of activity like markers in a old grave yard. Yes, ice out is only a matter of days away now and soon it will only be memories of the 50 or so days spent walking the hard water.Almost willingly I will let it happen for this season has been slow. Fishing is always time well spent for I know I will soon be at the chores let go...This season will remain a special one with many memories of new friends now turned old fishing buddies. Brad & Sissy are at the top of the list because they have endured me the most and have become very special friends. Brad never did catch the big one he was after but always was on the Helga watch. Maybe some day I or he will elaborate on that story. Citation Sissy on the other hand, seemed everything she pulled through the ice was big. Brad Jr. and daughter Taylor, this little girl was the best photo opportunity of the season.Quite the fisherman in the minow bucket too! As they come ,so shall they go for they will be moving soon to bigger and better fishing in the next state up.
Dave T. and his daughter in continuous motion Samatha. Dave was affectionately appionted "MAYOR OF THE HUMP" by us. Bruce R,has a new specialty and that is jigging up Carp,2 in one week.It was nice to meet his fishing buddy Bob also.Best of luck to both of you. The Ike brothers, keep on jigging. Glen take care of your self... The Boyer brothers Phil and Bruce, thanks for telling me my lights were on. Kulpy, who has to keep moving,hold onto that chair ,it's along way to the ice on your backside.BOOM! Roger showed us what a tiger muskie looks like and Clint "the Bass Master" caught one almost every time he was out! And then the VEXILAR Man, Carl covered more of the lake than most do from a boat.Bob from Catty and his buddy with the antique creepers from Kunkletown to my knowlegde get the award for the biggest fish, a 43" Musky. Jimmy B.,Schafer and Ollie who gets the old timmer award. Chuck B. who I wish I could have got to fish with more because this guy knows the lake. Keep those Mack's rolling off the line because Carlo needs a job so we can aleast buy fish. Cigars optional! And then the "ICE TEAM PRO" I know you know and Carl didn't have to tell you. That's all I'm gonna say about that! Mike from Chuchville, thanks for the minows and get some line on those thing if your gonna fish the big lake. A special thanks to the fish warden "HOWIE".He kept us amused with his horror stories of his job.But did offer the most reliable fish reports from other lakes.
Finally my wife... the person with the biggest heart in the world. A God sent, putting up with my piles of clothing and equipment stacked by the coal stove so it would dry for in the morning,washing the dishing from the box and replacing them,keeping me grouded when I needed to be...Making minow runs and pizza deliveries to the ice...what more could I ask for... oh yeah she fishes too! She also caught a citation smallie the same day I caught mine.Way cool! So you can see it was a great season. This will be my last report for I do not wish to harm anyone by giving them condition that might not be right for the entire lake. If I get out I might say they are still on the lake but ...?????....Take care and tight lines to all of you even the new friends I meet over the net via this site. Thank you for putting up with me and my babble.... Mac
SUBJECT :Larry,did it work?
REPORTER : Carl
POSTED : 11:10:28 03/13/2001
Hope those minnows from clint's sister did the trick....
SUBJECT : Day 48 on the ice....
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 17:58:15 03/11/2001
Looks like I'm gonna need more than 50 to put the big ones on the ice... Still measured 15 inches... Will the shoreline hold up for another week? Will let you know...
Enjoyed fishing with Mike today... he travels along way to do this... He didn't believe my reports of the ice we still have here...As Bob reported ...not much doing it was good to meet him today too! Stop out and say HI!
SUBJECT :found it
REPORTER : Larry
POSTED : 17:16:29 03/11/2001
Carl: Hey I found it. Totally different site. Oh! I read everything ??? I got big shiners from Clint's sister for tomarrow. See yah sunday jerking up bigger perch.
SUBJECT :slow,,,but it was good to be out there
REPORTER : Bob
POSTED : 16:58:06 03/11/2001
yeah,,well,,,,it was good to be out there on the ice,,,too bad the fish didnt cooperate..although,i saw flags flying,,not too many fish on the ice,,i guess that's Beltsville lake for ya.....we have the same problem at times in the boat,,,,we see the fish on the graft,,,but they just dont hit....good news is the warmer weather is just around the corner,i'm looking foreward to the upcoming bass tournament in April,,,with the ice hanging around as long as it has this year,it's going to be tough fishing,,the water temperature will most likely be in the low 40's,,i'm sure that will make it difficult,,as if Beltsville is'nt hard enough already,,,,wascumado,,ok fish hardmaybe see ya on the water..........
SUBJECT :The same old thing!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 14:41:57 03/09/2001
Hi guys! I said I would report as soon as I got in so you would know what kind of conditions you would be facing this weekend out on B-ville.... Ice is still 12 to 14" at Preachers with snow cover. Some areas have water under the snow pack between the ice which makes it slushy in the mid afternoon when the sun is on them for a while. Still have a solid shoreline to get on and off at the boat launch area. I must add I do not know about other areas of the lake so please use caution. I have not talked to or seen anyone fishing the powerline this past week so I cannot give you any info on that areas ice condition. Please always use caution!!!! No fish is that important..... If you have read some of the last reports you will see that the catching is a bit slow and you must let them have the bait for a while before setting the hook. On jigs the hits are ever so suttle. Silver jigs tipped with waxes seem to be working for most perch and bluegills. Good Luck and we hope to see you out there!!!!!
SUBJECT :Good Company!!!!!!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 14:52:46 03/08/2001
Sure was good looking around and seeing all the guys we fished with this season standing in their respective areas doing what they do best... keeping at it when the bite is slow to nothing! Jigging was not producing much today and the tip-ups seemed to have the hit, run and drop stuff going on. Seemed there were more hits on tip-ups just not enough patients to wait them out. Remember if you get out this weekend to bring along an extra batch of patients because you will need it here. The ice is plenty safe with slushy spots. They are forecasting some snow for tonight so we will have to see what and how much, but should not stop us from getting out. Still have 12 to 14 " at Preachers Camp Launch Area.... I will keep you posted on tomorrows action as soon as we get home so you can make your plans to stop out and see us.
SUBJECT :Hits came very early today!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 21:49:04 03/07/2001
Thanks Bob for that note. Good to know others are out there with the same addictions. Yes I have meet Bruce and enjoy talking with him. To show you what a small world it is I played football with his son.... Ok Back to the report: Many flags in the air very early this morning with several large pickerel on the move. All over 23"... Perch were keeping everyone jumping in between and then nothing. Until Sissy showed up and "BANG" out comes a nice 17 1/2" Large Mouth Bass. Good job...!!! Jigging action so suttle you can hardly feel the hit. Ice still good, snow melted down and slushy in areas. Should be a good weekend.... Full moon,,,,(:}
SUBJECT :good reports
REPORTER : Bob
POSTED : 21:20:03 03/07/2001
Hello, Mac,,,,good job with all your reports,,,,a friend of mine told me about the site,,,he has been fishing the lake quite a bit lately,,,in fact he might be the guy that had the carp,in fact he had 2 in one week,,but he has been doing very good with the perch,,he doesnt use tip ups,,,just jigging,,he is always on the hump,,so stop over an see him,,,we are planning to go on Sat.ok,,well,,,again,,thnx for the reports,,,
SUBJECT :Addiction!!!!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 15:26:17 03/06/2001
Yes I did go out this morning for first light. WOW!
WINDY I do have a small windbreak that attatches to my Frabill box but I was seriously afraid to get out of it..... 40mph gust with steady winds of 20mph.... Oh and no flags either.... Needless to say no one else was around... Thought I'd get out there with all my didgits....if you know what I mean...Yesterday Clint landed another nice smallie and Roger and Kulpy used smaller minows and fatheads to catch a nice batch of perch in shallower water. I'm still fishing the depths and drop-offs for the walleyes....with large shinners....With the colder weather we should get another week or two of good safe ice. Everything is ok so far.... COME ON OUT!!!!!!! Should be good thru the weekend and we will have to see what the storm they are predicting does...hope they do better the this time...
SUBJECT :Finally , Beltzville yeilds a big fish!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 15:43:37 03/04/2001
I knew things would have to change here with the big storm comming in. Bob from Catasaqua put a 43" MUSKIE on the ice. Really a nice one and he "PUT IT BACK" COOL!!!!! He also said he put a big pickerel on the ice also. Clint caught a big large mouth and 25" Pickerel which weighed almost 5lbs. I hope this snow does not screw things up to bad here... usually they hold water back after a storm, causing the shoreline to break-up first, We still have to drill through 14" of ice. We will have to keep you posted on whats going on here when we get back out!!!!!!
Really enjoyed hearing from all of you who have taking the time to e-mail me. Some have asked what happens to this site when the ice is gone? " I don'tknow" but will find out. I hope you right down my e-mail address and drop me a line if you want to know how we are doing here this summer or need direction or you want to get together to wet the lines and learn the hot spots.....
SUBJECT :We still have plenty of safe ice so come on out!!!!!!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 15:23:04 03/01/2001
Still measuring 14" of ice at Preachers Camp area. Surface is very slick and creepers a most. Windy conditions has pushed most in to cove / protected areas. Many locals did well the last few days jigging nice size perch and bluegills. Saw several smallies and one 18 inch large mouth come up on shiners and tip-ups.
SUBJECT :Where is everybody!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 21:43:47 02/27/2001
Warmer days and no one else on the lake today except our crew! Colder temps caused the sloppy surface to refreeze and cause slippery conditions on the way out this morning but when the sun came out it melted about a inch of the surface for better traction. Fishing is slow.... but how can you judge when we only are able to cover a small area. Still have plenty of safe ice... sun exposed shorelines are showing signs of breaking up. Should be OK through this weekend here on Beltzville after that who knows.
SUBJECT :Not much doing !!!!!!!!! Still safe ice.....so far!!!!!!!!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 14:50:45 02/26/2001
Fished the am with not much doing but a few small perch. Most so small they can"t take the whole bait and not even get to the hook.... you feel them let go as you attempt to set the hook. Still looking for that elusive marble eyes....Found a quick drop off from a 15 and 24 foot flat into 56 feet of water with a nice rock pile and a weed bed...should be ideal... just have to keep working it! We did loose 2" of ice and the shoreline is getting thinner. Have about 2" of water on top. Won't take long and we will be lauching that bass boat. Not much cold weather predicted for this week... temps won't help to save the ice.... Be safe!!!! Gonna keep hitting what ever safe ice we have left....This week yet any way!!!!!
SUBJECT : Harmful Information!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 09:52:36 02/25/2001
It is a shame when the information posted is used against you! I know this local guy checks out my report every day then runs to cover the area I fish before first light when ever he can. Its really cool to watch. Hey Mr. Pro fisherman "member of the ICE TEAM" better than everyone else. you really showed your class this weekend. I do hope I run into you again . You are such an intriguing guy. You tell me of all the things wrong with what I am doing and the trouble with the site I use to tell others of what's going on and then use it for your gain.... you are the one who said this site is only used to bash each other and you found a different way to do the same thing... COOL.... I did not know how right you would be. I must say that I do not own the lake or any special spot on it, but the way you act is incredible. Please don't run with your ice auger and don't bring extra kids along to cover more area ... You may fish there. I won't get in your way. Hey after all you're the pro. In all my years of ice fishing I have never met anyone that would not help you out in any way, even give you the shirt off their back if necessary. But you! WOW! I am sorry to everyone else that checks out this report for the information offered of free will. I do hope you do use it to help aid in making your trips to the hard water more enjoyable and safer. I have learned a valuable lesson and still will truthfully report to you where and when and even how,for I have nothing to sell to you and offer only my credibility. Hell, I invite you to come and fish with me! I hope you can understand why I decided to do this because I know most who call themselves fishermen would not act like this knuckle head.
SUBJECT :Good ice , deep snow, fishing here a litte slow.....
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 18:24:15 02/23/2001
Hi! To everyone who e-mailed me and asked for the conditions for the weekend. We have over 12 good inches of ice on the Preachers Camp end of the lake. (Off Rt 209 boat lauch area.) there is about a foot of snow and it is very slippery footing . Creepers are a must. Not many guys out with me today so not much to report on. Had more flags today than normal but all took it and drop the bait after a few feet. I know it was only small perch. I use big shinners so I don't expect to catch them.... but those looking for them should try small or mediums shinners of fatheads in twenty feet or less. One guy did jig up a good batch of bluegills and perch and then left by noon. They are posting a winter storm warning for this area to start late Saturday evening into Sunday with freezing rain turning to all rain by noon on Sunday. Wish I could say that the fishing was better but two or three guys on the ice is certainly not enough to make a good judgement as to what could be going on here.
SUBJECT :More smallies today!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 15:17:35 02/22/2001
Seems they swicth on around noon right now and then shut down a quick! One taken early am and then nothing to noon, one o'clock. Only stayed till 3pm because of snow storm. possible 2 to 4 inches tonight... bring your creepers... Temps in the teens really tightened up the shoreline. Hope it holds for a while yet.
SUBJECT :Smallies bitting...Finally
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 14:58:32 02/21/2001
Guys taking smallies on tip-ups and shinners.... saw a 17" on Tuesday and Brad released an 18"er today 1.7lbs
all taken in about 24 to 30 ft of water. Ice is still 14" and has a glassy surface. Real slick. Colder temps tonite should help tighten up the shoreline which has been breaking up the last few days.... Still OK to get on but if we get rain it will go quick! It's time to start using your head on the thicknesses..... Be careful!!!!!!!!!! Mac
SUBJECT :Two day report/ still not much doing!14 inches of ice or better!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 17:20:36 02/19/2001
Got out Sunday am to find my spot completley covered by others so i sat back and watched for a bit to see what others were doing. Saw one guy catch a 4.2 lb Smallie 20" with a 14 1/2 gurth. Nice fish! Guess what he ketp it..... BOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!! Oh welll Thats my opinion! Sorry !!!!! Everybody left the lake by noon to watch the big race....A very sad day for all NASCAR fans....
Monday got out and found my spot covered again so tried a new location with a rock ledge drop off to deep water... No luck! My wife and friend Brad landed some nice Pickerel in shallow water. Could not believe what I saw get caught jigging.... a carp. I got the photo to prove it. No way!!!! What a battle on 2lb test line. COOL! Guys are having a hard time finding Perch with any size to them....jigging that is. I'm just having a hard time to get anything to take my bait...refuse to go to smaller minnows....It will happen! Take care! Mac
SUBJECT :A GREAT DAY OUT!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 18:00:38 02/17/2001
It was a nice day to be outdoors,little windy but it's been worse. Another local guy in my spot so I move a bit above it for something different with no luck! He however did tie into a 26" Pickerel in 14' of water.5 lbs 7oz real nice gurth .Should have measured it. NICE!
Talked all day with Mike from Souderton area. Great guy, everybody has their gadets and his is Vexilar sonar for jiggig.... neat to see what others are doing. Not many out today, don't know if the wind kept them off or they don't know the ice is OK. Measured it again and still have 14"....
SUBJECT :Slow , Wet, and nothing! Again! Skunked
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 14:16:07 02/16/2001
Got out around 8:30 am this morning and fished till 2pm with not a flag. To give you a little back ground I do fish with magnetic tip-ups with large shinners which eliminates a lot of small fish. I usually fish a flat area that drops off to two deeper channels of 56 ft on both sides. I tell myself that this is a walleye set up that used to produce nice ones... Don't know what happened! Cannot complain about the 2 smallies, but that's it! Today was my 28th day of ice fishing this season so on average I can not call myself much of a fisherman. Keep trying though,....gotta give me an "A" for effort.... Still plenty of good ice even though raining today the holes from yesturday where frozen solid. Temps only around freezing on the ice during the day and much colder at night. Calling for lows in teens for the next week so we should be ok for a while! Ice is 13 to 14 inches at the Preachers Camp end.
SUBJECT :"6am till 6pm" Nothing....
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 17:29:11 02/15/2001
All day,nothing, even the jiggers headed home early...nothing doing at all. Still have good solid ice, 14". It was slushy goning out this morning with 2" of water on top but it all froze till the days end. Noticed that in certain holes the water was very off colored with a greenish tint like the bottom was sturred up but I was in 27' of water. Don't know what that's about but I do need to find out! Could the lake be turning over? Something has them shut down right now!
SUBJECT :Got nothing but wet today!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 17:57:27 02/14/2001
Hit the hard water around 9:30 and stayed till 2pm. No luck. Still have 13 inches of good ice at Preacher's end of the lake. With the rain it has about 2 inches of water on top. Drilled holes and watch the area drain.
Where are the fish? Always caught something in this kind of "grappie" weather! Be back on my spot at first light tomorrow! If any one has condition of Promised Land Lake please get to me... trying to keep an eye north of here in case we have to start chasing the ice.
Remember to put 'em back! Mac
SUBJECT :Should have stay where I was!!!!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 17:47:29 02/13/2001
Fish the power line today. We spread 20 tip-ups over a very large area and a variety of depths, 18' to 60'across a chanel and up on the flat and only had three flags and all drop the bait. Can't figure it out... Fished to dark.... Oh well ! Back to my spot tomorrow. Oh by the way we were on 9 solid inches of ice in this area but use caution if you venture out after the warmer weather and rain in the next few days. Did not get to others to see how they did. Remeber to pu'em back. Mac
SUBJECT :Fishing is off, but meeting newbies is cool!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 17:54:27 02/12/2001
Even the regulars are not showing which indicates how slow things are. Meeting the new guys fumbling their way around the lake is good for the remaing hardcores...get to repeat all those old war stories and the fish are getting bigger with evry breathe. Stayed till 6pm. with only one flag today. 17 inch Pickerel. Gonna try the power line tomorrow. Hey tight lines to you. Put'em back! Mac
SUBJECT :Seeing new faces on the lake.
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 13:54:26 02/11/2001
Only fished the am today, I know it will be good fishing as soon as I pull up, but other commitments today.. Get back at it tommorrow... Carl from Quakertown area landed 2.9 lbs smallie basiclly in the same area I've been fishing. Others just jigging panfish. New faces comming from lakes to the south because some lakes getting thin. Not Beltzville,still have 14 inches at Preachers Camp boat dock area. Several new shanties fishing toward the powerline. Guys have asked me to keep reporting on the ice thickness so they no what's up for the weekend if they have to travel
north as we will travel later on and I do hope others will report on those lakes north of here.
SUBJECT :Howling winds keeped most away and fish also!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 16:10:56 02/10/2001
Lake was empty today for a Saturday. Gusting winds kept everyone away. We ventured into a sheltered area at the east end of the lake called the "S" turn. Still got blown around pretty good. Fish did not cooperate at all. Back into the teens tonite .... Good!!!!!! Still have over 14 inches of ice. Still working on those tan lines. Put um back says MAC....
SUBJECT :Slow day!!!!
REPORTER : Mac = finatics@ptd.net
POSTED : 17:23:55 02/09/2001
Went back to the same area we caught the smallies at yesturday! 20 tip-ups in and only 1 18" Pickeral out of the hole. My buddy lost something big at 5pm, got him around some limbs. Oh what could have it been? Other's around us did not have much luck either ....jigged a few small perch. That's it!!!! What a great day to be out! Got a good head start on my tan lines....Right Sissy!
SUBJECT :Caught 2 nice smallies today!
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 17:54:46 02/08/2001
First I need to correct my weights on the 27" pickerel was 7lbs.9ozs. Sorry about that. Dislexia....
The wife caught on a tip-up with medium shinners a 19 1/4 3lb1oz smallie and and then I caught a 20" 3.4 pounder. Matching bookends.... caught and released.... hope you get a shot at them and you put them back for the next guy too! Only one other official report is that one fellow from Effort jigged up 17 Bluegills all as big has your hand.Action for I hour than all shut down! My buddy saw the bucket full as he was loading up.
SUBJECT :slow ice fishing so far
REPORTER : Mac
POSTED : 15:59:43 02/07/2001
Been on the ice every day since 1-9-01 and have had very little success.Only notiables are a 27" 9lb 7oz pickerel. Lost a 24" plus walleye at the hole. Ice thickness are 14"plus at the Preacher camp end and 10 at the powerline. Fished five days at the powerline with no flags. One buddy did catch a 26" tiger muskie in 12'of water. For the most part very slow, have gone several days with no hits from dusk to dawn and after.Have made it apiont to talk to others and all story the same."SLOW"
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