Question on targeting Smallies through the ice

[atarnacki]

When targeting smallmouth through the ice, how deep do I fish? The lake I fish in Vermont goes down to 70 feet deep and averages about 40 so should I hit the deeper water?

[stripernut]

Depends on the lake, I do very well in 8-12ft, on flats...

[jebra]

Hey Artanaky.....I am just as interested in responses to your post as anyone.

I've iced a slew of bass over the years, but all LMB.

I have read that Smallies hang out over rocky bottoms and can run much deeper than their "cousins". They don't seem to be tied to weed beds.

GOOD LUCK! 

[mookie]

 I've done well catching smallies suspended about half way down in about 20 to 30 ft. of water. So set your bait 10 to 15 ft down. I will use a medium shiner tipped on a 1/8 oz chartruse ball head jig on a tipup or you could jig the same depth. It has worked for me in CT and in ME. Give it a try!

[stripernut]

mookie, very interesting I have only seen them on the bottom... I will start looking for them suspended... Is there smelt  or other bait fish that suspend in the bodies of water that you are fishing? I think that the smallies that I have been getting are in to feed on perch...

[shotty]

I usually catch them in the 10 to 20 foot range near deeper drop offs and occasionally in shallower water, I have been fishing the same spots for well over 30 years and their always in the same areas give or take 20 or so yards. I fish mostly with jigs and do pretty well on both smallies and largemouths.