the fishing was awfully slow.
I wanted to give Lake Ashmere a go, because it's one of the few spots in my neck of the woods which holds small smouth bass, which I've never caught through the ice.
So I drove down to Hinsdale, and met up with Mogli and his girlfriend (who got there before me).
Lots and lots of fishermen were out on the Lake (the parking lot was full), and I had to park alongside Route 143.
The weather was great - - partly sunny, relatively warm (supposedly 40 degrees, although I doubt it, because I noticed my holes froze over) and relatively calm (although the wind picked up a bit in the afternoon).
The ice conditions were good - - about 12 inches of good, hard (and slick) white ice, with just a dusting of snow on top here and there.
Not counting the time it took me to walk out/set up/pick up/walk back to my car, I fished from about 11 AM to 2:30 PM.
During that entire time, I had zero flags or strikes on the jig stick.
I did have a few very light taps jigging, and was able to land one small perch, but that was it.
By the time I left, Mogli had done a bit better - - a few flags (mostly of the hit-and-drop it variety) which resulted in a small perch and a decent (18") pickerel - - and his girlfriend caught a perch jigging.
From what we could see, no one else seemed to be catching much either.
After I made it back to my car, I drove to North Adams and fished Fish Pond from 4 to 5 PM.
The ice was thinner (about 7" to 8") and the temps a bit warmer, but the crowds were comparable (although starting to leave when I arrived), and, from what I could tell, the fishing similarly slow.
I didn't have any strikes while jigging, and didn't see anyone else land any fish either, although a few of the guys I spoke to said they had done well earlier in the day.
