IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Nebraska => Ice Fishing Nebraska => Topic started by: hawgerdawger on Jan 08, 2007, 03:15 PM
-
Went to Box Butte on Saturday. Lots of ice, but we didn't land any fish. We were using minnows and some small dead perch and bluegill on quick strike rigs under tip-ups. It was my first time fishing this way. Must have been doing something wrong.
From what I've heard in the past, the pike at Box Butte are supposed to keep a person's tip-ups pretty busy. Any suggestions?? ???
Think I might have hooked a northern on my jigging rod -- had a minnow on a glow jig. Line took off and snapped before I could realize what was going on.
-
Lived in Alliance for a few years and used to go there !
No deeper than ten feet of water use a smelt about four to six inches off the bottom .
No weights on you line either just pop the swim bladder and center one of the three hooks on a treble hook through the side of your bait so it floats straight .
Works in any region too .
My best luck is in waist to shoulder deep water for the pike .
Good luck ! Use this method and Box Butte Res should treat you pretty good . I would fish off a point or a good transition area .
Let me know how you do !!!
-
Thanks, Tigger! Now, if I can just track down some smelt, we'll try 'er again. Tried to find some smelt last week, but had no luck. You must not think the bluegill and perch will work, eh?
-
depending on where you live, you can usually find bags of bait sized (whole) frozen fish in oriental / ethnic food markets. good luck, guys.
later,
fred
-
Thanks, Tigger! Now, if I can just track down some smelt, we'll try 'er again. Tried to find some smelt last week, but had no luck. You must not think the bluegill and perch will work, eh?
They will work but in my opinion not nearly as well .
Smelt have a lot more oil in them . As Fred said look in an oriental market for the smelt or smelt sized sardines they work well too . If I remember correctly some oriental stores call the smelt ..sea bass . They are also known as candlefish in some parts .
-
We can get bags of frozen smelt at every grocery store in Valentine. If you dont find any where your at i would think your local Grocier could order them if you just asked them to.
-
We can get bags of frozen smelt at every grocery store in Valentine. If you dont find any where your at i would think your local Grocier could order them if you just asked them to.
The dressed smelt usually found in the supermarket will work but not nearly as well !
I had to find this out the hard way .
Went on a four day trip with some friends and all I had were dressed smelt . My crew was catching fish for two and a half days before I finally broke and tried their whole smelt .
That's when I finally started to catch some fish .
Their whole smelt was catching fish 4 to 1 to my dressed smelt , same set up and same method's .
-
Thanks a million, guys. Didn't see any smelt at Wal-Mart the other day, but maybe Safeway will have it. I thought it might be available online somewhere, but I've done a few searches and haven't found much.
-
I personally am a perchjerker(panfisherman)but,my dad was a flag watcher(pikeman).He used to buy whole smelt in bags at the grocery store here in town.I haven't looked since he passed away but I can check and if we can get it I will try to figure out how to get some to you.
-
I tell people this every year, and they have a hard time believing it, but I'll tell you guys and you can try it if you wish. For the last two seasons, we have had the best luck, hands down, using hot dogs. Yes, you read that right, hot dogs. I take about 1/3 of a piece of hot dog and put it on a quick strike rig under a tip up. I also have (and continue) to use smelt, as well as live suckers, shiners, small gills and perch. Hot dogs out fish them all for norhterns. Two years ago we heard about it on Iceshanty.com, on one of the other threads like in MN or WI or someplace. We tried it even though we thought it was a joke. Believe me, it is no joke. I had some guys on the old NGPC forum give me a lot of crap about it last year, and some said they tried it and it didn't work. It works for me, that's all I can say. Best thing is you can get them anywhere (even at a convenience store if you forget to bring them with), they don't die, and last forever. Give it a try. Other than that, I agree with everything else that has been said here as far as where and how to fish for them. Good luck!
-
.. we have had the best luck, hands down, using hot dogs. Yes, you read that right, hot dogs ...
Really, hot dogs??? Do they prefer them on a bun with ketchup, mustard and relish? I've got some sauerkraut in the fridge for those Pike of German descent. Just kidding! Since I'm desperate, I might just give that a go. Thanks for the great tip! I'm excited to try it.
He used to buy whole smelt in bags at the grocery store here in town.I haven't looked since he passed away but I can check and if we can get it I will try to figure out how to get some to you.
Thanks a million for that offer. Where do you live?
-
The smelt we get here are in bags and seem to ge whole to me. How are they dressed? The bait shops here sell the same thing the grocery stores do. Havnt bought any in a couple of years as weve found a good place to catch our own creek chubs and little suckers to. Might have to try the hotdog when noones looking. If it works like you say I may keep it a secret for a while and rub it in to the guys. IF not maybe then I wont get laughed ot too hard huh.
-
Hi hawgerdawger I'am in Alliance and have a small bait shop and have smelt and other baits if ever get down this way. 519 hudson ave. just 3 blocks north of taco johns. 308-762-7464 e-mail [email protected]
-
Bob and Irene have the best bait shop in the west! Givem all your business!
-
Really, hot dogs??? Do they prefer them on a bun with ketchup, mustard and relish? I've got some sauerkraut in the fridge for those Pike of German descent. Just kidding! Since I'm desperate, I might just give that a go. Thanks for the great tip! I'm excited to try it.
Thanks a million for that offer. Where do you live?
DESPERATE!?!?! C'mon dude! I can't tell you how many guys have mooched hot dogs off of me, shortly after giving me a big pile of crap about using them! I have caught a 16lb northern and a nearly 7lb LMB on hot dogs, and countless other northerns. I will continue to take crap for it, I will continue to post how great they are, and I will continue to kick butt with them!! I actually think they work similar to the dead smelt--it's the smell and the oil that turns them on. I have only used them in the winter--in the summer I am too busy with walleyes. And all I ever use for those is a blue and white jig with half a crawler (and on rare occasions I troll a crawler harness).
Oh, by the way, the other thing that people think I am crazy for--I use a 6" auger. Big northerns have no problem sliming their way through a 6" hole!
-
DESPERATE!?!?! C'mon dude! I can't tell you how many guys have mooched hot dogs off of me, shortly after giving me a big pile of crap about using them! I have caught a 16lb northern and a nearly 7lb LMB on hot dogs, and countless other northerns. I will continue to take crap for it, I will continue to post how great they are, and I will continue to kick butt with them!! I actually think they work similar to the dead smelt--it's the smell and the oil that turns them on. I have only used them in the winter--in the summer I am too busy with walleyes. And all I ever use for those is a blue and white jig with half a crawler (and on rare occasions I troll a crawler harness).
Oh, by the way, the other thing that people think I am crazy for--I use a 6" auger. Big northerns have no problem sliming their way through a 6" hole!
I love your style, R.J.! (Or, are you really Oscar Meyer?) Go get 'em!!! I really am excited to try it!
I believe you about the 6-inch hole, too. I will consider it a grand day when I catch a fish too large for my 8-inch hole.
-
Hi hawgerdawger I'am in Alliance and have a small bait shop and have smelt and other baits if ever get down this way. 519 hudson ave. just 3 blocks north of taco johns. 308-762-7464 e-mail [email protected]
Thanks, Bob! I'll be stopping by when I get that way. You need to open a branch office in Chadron -- Wal-Mart finally got some waxies and I see Murd's Pit Stop is selling minnows now. Thank goodness! The bait shop closed last year, so it's been slim pickins. Checked Safeway for smelt today and didn't find any.
-
I love your style, R.J.! (Or, are you really Oscar Meyer?) Go get 'em!!! I really am excited to try it!
I believe you about the 6-inch hole, too. I will consider it a grand day when I catch a fish too large for my 8-inch hole.
No man, I'm "Ball Park Frank"! And I plump when you cook me!!
I hope you catch something with them. I will be using them this weekend on Box Butte. Hopefully the weather wont be too mean.
-
Good luck over at Box Butte RJ Ive always wanted to try things over that way.
-
Thanks Hardwater. I'll let you guys know how we did!
Hope everybody has a great weekend of fishing!!
-
No deeper than ten feet of water use a smelt about four to six inches off the bottom .
No weights on you line either just pop the swim bladder and center one of the three hooks on a treble hook through the side of your bait so it floats straight .
Used this technique at Sherman Reservoir in late Nov, before the ice. Just hung it under a bobber, and caught fish for hours.
Box Butte, on the right day, will definitely keep you busy. Try right along the creek bed, running through the middle. You will find a little of everything.
-
Fished at Box Butte, caught several medium sized pike on suckers and hot dogs, and one large pike on a sucker. No panfish, unfortunately. Had a great day there, but it was cold.
-
Thanks for the report, R.J.
"Frankly speaking," I'm thinking about driving out there again tomorrow and trying some of that special bait of yours. Trying to decide between there, Smith and Whitney. Decisions, decisions.
-
was wondering if anyone has ice reports for Box Butte. Have to go up to Chadron on Thursday and Friday and thinking about heading down to box butte for a little fishing trip.
-
ANyone got ice reports for box butte, with this clold weather lately I would think there is fishable ice.
-
I'm heading out to Charon Next week and would also like to know the ice conditions. I'll get on the horn and see if any of my friends have been out yet and let you know.
Sorny
-
Went out today at the Butte, ice was around 5 inches thick, good and solid. Fishing was alright with one Pike 35 inches. caught toward west end of lake. Also fished Whitney lake with no luck but good ice. The ice is here to stay boys. FISH ON
-
cool. I'll be heading out there next Wednesday and staying until Saturday or sunday. I will plan on fishing while I'm there. did you get into any panfish at the Butte? How thick was the ice on Whitney, that lake is real hit or miss the fishing is either lights out or prety slow.
Sorny
-
Baiter,
Have you been out to smith yet? Just wondering how the ice is?
Lethal
-
Does anyone know how is the ice at box butte after this warm spell?
Thinking about going out this weekend but don't want to take the 2 1/2 hour drive if the ice is bad
-
ice is good, 8-9 inches. it never warmed up on the butte today. it was making ice the hole time we were there, from 1 until dark.
-
and how was the fishing sorny?
-
Haven't been to smith yet but with this new cold snap I would think that the lake would be good fishing. Even greyrocks had good ice until the wind got bad out there.
-
The gill fishing was lights out once we found them. didn't have a flag fly for northerns though, that was strange, The gills had some real nice size with some over a pound.
Sorny
-
Heading up to Butte tomorrow. Where you catching all the nice gills?
-
Went to butte yesterday. Really slow. got there bout 8 and fished till 3 and caught 5 small pike and 4 keeper gills. Ice is way good. one feller had his four wheeler out there wheelin around his kids.
-
anyone been to the butte lately? Or heard of any reports?
-
I went up last Sunday. Ice was 14 in thick. My friends son caught 2 pike and a small perch.
You can sometimes get the frozen smelt in Hemingford at the little grocery store near the RR tracks.
-
Fished the Butte today with two friends. Drowned minnows for 4 hours and caught 7 northerns. We were in the channel and beside the channel in 6-10 ft of water at Hunters Point. Most everyone caught fish but nothing great. People were also fishing by the boat dock and dam. 3 above and colder than hell!
-
Decided to bring this one back from the dead. Headed up that way this weekend to do some fishing and attend some graduation festivities in Chadron. Any word on ice thickness? I assume there is plenty after the last few days. I will let you know how we do!
-
I went up today and man was the wind blowing and cold!! Not a bite for me to speak of.
-
They sell smelt in Alliance at the Grocery Kart pretty big bag for just around 5 dollars or so! Have had better luck with smelt for pike at Box Butte just pop swim blatter about 5 inches from bottom youll have pretty good luck if you fish around the Hunters Point area.
-
Caught 2 decent perch and 1 nice blue gill today. Folks behind us did well catching northerns on live minnows.
-
Went to Box Butte on Saturday. Lots of ice, but we didn't land any fish. We were using minnows and some small dead perch and bluegill on quick strike rigs under tip-ups. It was my first time fishing this way. Must have been doing something wrong.
From what I've heard in the past, the pike at Box Butte are supposed to keep a person's tip-ups pretty busy. Any suggestions?? ???
Think I might have hooked a northern on my jigging rod -- had a minnow on a glow jig. Line took off and snapped before I could realize what was going on.
Lived in Alliance for a while and fished on ice at Box Butte. You will lose a lot of tackle unless you fish wither a wire liter on the end. The northern will snap it every time. Good Luck wish I could find a place in Eastern Nebraska by omaha to catch northern. :D
-
any reports on the ice since the warm weather and the wind?
-
Went to Butte today and fished till about 1 and caught 8 really nice gills and 10 pike with 7 keepers. Lots of ice. People had four wheelers wheelin around the whole lake.
-
Thanks for the report ekemp ... That's great to know.
-
does anybody know how the ice is holding up to the warm weather ???Just checked the forecast and its sposed to be in the fifties all week and only getting down to the twenties at night. Not to mention the fact that i havent even made it out yet :'(this might be a bad and short season for me.
-
I plan to drive down there tomorrow. I'll post a report when I get back.
-
Call me a wimp, but I didn't make the trip to Box. With the 500 mph winds, we decided to chase buckets and other gear around the city dams instead. Can anyone else give a report from Box Butte? I'm hoping to get down there next weekend if the warm temps this week don't ruin it.
-
I don't blame ya hawger,
Cut an eight inch hole when the wind is blowing 60 mph and it's 50 degrees out, doesn't take long for the hole to be 36" in dia. :o
dc
-
any reports on the ice ???
-
Wanting to come over this weekend. any reports about the ice?
-
fished box butte today, realy slow only landed 4 hammerhandles. Ice near hunters point is 3-5 inches and soft on the edges. ice near the dam is 10-15 inches with a few soft spots
-
Couldn't make it last weekend but am going to try for this Friday....any ice reports?? How's the fishing been??