Ice out fishing

[Steve01987]

Where does everyone like to fish come ice out? Species and techniques? I know I do well with big bass just casting shoreline with crankbaits. Curious and bored because the phones aren't ringing at work so I'm sitting here on mine.

[wabashaw_plumbing]

1. Get yourself one of those swimming pool toy inner tubes. Kids size.
2. Tie a looooong rope to it. Tie one end to your beer cooler.
3. Put your tip up in the inner tube.
4. Bring this contraption to the edge of the ice.
5. Push.
6. When you get a flag, pull.
7. Repeat.

Pro-tip: if you see a warden, cut the rope.

[Steve01987]

1. Get yourself one of those swimming pool toy inner tubes. Kids size.
2. Tie a looooong rope to it. Tie one end to your beer cooler.
3. Put your tip up in the inner tube.
4. Bring this contraption to the edge of the ice.
5. Push.
6. When you get a flag, pull.
7. Repeat.

Pro-tip: if you see a warden, cut the rope.

Thanks man I got one of those tubes on order. Next day air

[Roccus]

 I use the break between hard water and spring fishing to catch up on "honey do's" and getting the garden growing,some years I do a little Salmon trolling on winni, I'll make a few ground fish trips to fill the freezer, dig a few clams if the flats are open, but once the wind becomes South west and the water warms, I spend my Nights striped bass fishing,
In May, when the fish first arrive, I toss jigs and soft plastics like paddle tails and sluggos,I'll also do some fly fishing for them as well, later in may when the mackerel arrive, I live line mackerel for the larger fish that are showing up, by late may I've now switched to total  night time mode, I'll occasionally fish during the day with live mackerel but mostly I fish nights, I'll use a variety of plugs ( which I make myself) and large soft plastics, by mid June, when the trophy fish show up, I switch to live eels, until this time, most of the action has been inside the estuary, now, I may move outside to the beaches and coastal rock piles, this trend will continue until mid October, at this time the fly rod once again can be a viable weapon, because the flies imitate the shad and herring drops the fish are gorging on for their migration , by the end of October   the season winds down and I once again start thinking about walking on water.

[HuntnFish603]

I plank it as long as I possibly can, sometimes into the 3rd week of April. Then it's springtime river fishing.
Once May hits, Turkey season is ON...

[zwiggles]

Winni trolling for salmon, bows, and lakers. I think it’s my favorite kind of fishing. Light lines, lots of fly poles, and usually trolling right along shore. The water is also cold so the fish tend to release better, and usually put up a good fight.

I also may be doing a redfish trip this spring. My friends are tying to get me to go, and supposedly they are delicious.

[800stealth]

I hit the rivers as soon as I can get a boat trailer in... very little snow this year will make things easy. The St. Lawrence in NY will be crawling with smallies anytime now and has been my spring go to for the past couple years. Your welcome to join me Roccus lol

[Roccus]

I hit the rivers as soon as I can get a boat trailer in... very little snow this year will make things easy. The St. Lawrence in NY will be crawling with smallies anytime now and has been my spring go to for the past couple years. Your welcome to join me Roccus lol

LMAO

LOL, alot of fun on a fly rod..

[800stealth]

Blast on a fly for sure... we chase em with ultralight gear, 3 pound line and tiny crankbaits... makes for some great battles.

[jibbs]

I get right in the boat and usually do not miss a weekend...ill target bass down south with rattle traps, spinnerbaits with Colorado blades, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and silver buddies...once the lakes region opens up its pure silver buddy fishing for a few weeks for bass...should have the nitro out in two weeks down south I would think

[Steve01987]

I get right in the boat and usually do not miss a weekend...ill target bass down south with rattle traps, spinnerbaits with Colorado blades, swimbaits, chatterbaits, and silver buddies...once the lakes region opens up its pure silver buddy fishing for a few weeks for bass...should have the nitro out in two weeks down south I would think

Silver buddies....ok I need to use then. I generally use xcalibur crank baits and "bomber" brand crankbaits. I need to xpand...spring bass fishing is great

[800stealth]

Tough to be a silver buddy for simple and effective... I'm going to try more vertical jigging this summer, the last couple winters have taught me a ton on my jigging game.

[jibbs]

Tough to be a silver buddy for simple and effective... I'm going to try more vertical jigging this summer, the last couple winters have taught me a ton on my jigging game.

i have finally figured out the silver buddy..Steve I’ll send you some info on them for weight and hook size

[SALMONEMIA]

still in ice mode, having DT's knowing itll be over before long. Plenty of ice left out there

[jigmaster5]

i try to fish year-round....

getting towards the time of year where I have to decide btw driving south for open water or driving north for thicker ice.  (i don't like to be the 1st 1 or last 1 out on the ice - just my preference).  if it's cold, i'll head north.  if it's warm, i'll head south.  for now, it's still ice time. anyway, shallow ponds in SE Mass will be a month or more ahead of my area (So. NH) by the end of March, so it's usually well worth the drive for me for more active fish.  depending on the forecast, i'll either target stocked trout, panfish or bass/picks.  Overcast + wind = bass + picks.  Sunny + calm = trout + panfish.  If weather is a mixed bag, I might do both or hop from pond to pond.

generally fish FW until the LM start spawning & then switch gears and go for the salt.  1st arrivals are usually schoolies, big scup + tog.  in a good year, bluefish by mother's day.  black sea bass should open around May 19th-ish?  bigger stripers right after into memorial day + 1st week of june.  depending on water temps, winter flounder start heating up on the northshore.  (still searching for the elusive northshore tog + oversized cunner).  most FW bass will be off beds by mid-June & I'll target them more.  at this point, i have so many options that i don't know what to do with myself (a good problem) and it usually comes down to time availability + weather forecast.

[Roccus]

i try to fish year-round....

getting towards the time of year where I have to decide btw driving south for open water or driving north for thicker ice.  (i don't like to be the 1st 1 or last 1 out on the ice - just my preference).  if it's cold, i'll head north.  if it's warm, i'll head south.  for now, it's still ice time. anyway, shallow ponds in SE Mass will be a month or more ahead of my area (So. NH) by the end of March, so it's usually well worth the drive for me for more active fish.  depending on the forecast, i'll either target stocked trout, panfish or bass/picks.  Overcast + wind = bass + picks.  Sunny + calm = trout + panfish.  If weather is a mixed bag, I might do both or hop from pond to pond.

generally fish FW until the LM start spawning & then switch gears and go for the salt.  1st arrivals are usually schoolies, big scup + tog.  in a good year, bluefish by mother's day.  black sea bass should open around May 19th-ish?  bigger stripers right after into memorial day + 1st week of june.  depending on water temps, winter flounder start heating up on the northshore.  (still searching for the elusive northshore tog + oversized cunner).  most FW bass will be off beds by mid-June & I'll target them more.  at this point, i have so many options that i don't know what to do with myself (a good problem) and it usually comes down to time availability + weather forecast.

Southern end of Plum Island, Emerson rocks holds decent numbers of white chins.. but you didn't hear it from me

[Mr.Harry]

Been doing a 4/5 day trout/salmon troll up on Rangely with a couple pals for years. Mid May typically. That’s the first fishing after ice out for me usually. Spectacular, and it’s like a rite of spring for us. This will be the first spring in a looooong time we can’t make it work for various scheduling and conflict of interest reasons. In lieu, we’re looking at an abbreviated spring troll on winni. Thing is, it’s gotta be the weekend of April 20/21. So, I guess i’m Hoping for a lot of rain in the near future! Might be trolling around ice bergs. Salmonoids will be the target.

[Dipstick]

Walleye will be running the CT river soon here in NH  until then, late season Lakers I'm all about as they stage up on pre-spawn smelt. I try to dish out sore fish lips all year round!

[jigmaster5]

Southern end of Plum Island, Emerson rocks holds decent numbers of white chins.. but you didn't hear it from me

Thx!   

[Steve01987]

i have finally figured out the silver buddy..Steve I’ll send you some info on them for weight and hook size

Ok thanks jibbs I like to try and get on big bass as soon as there's open water

[hjcrawfish]

As I have for nearly 60 years, at iceout will be chasing the salmon in Wolfeboro Bay, with streamer flies. Not what it was back in the day, but always enjoyable. The it will be off to Moosehead for the first time in forty years.

Can not beat salmon and trout when they are on top.

[green shack]

As I have for nearly 60 years, at iceout will be chasing the salmon in Wolfeboro Bay, with streamer flies. Not what it was back in the day, but always enjoyable. The it will be off to Moosehead for the first time in forty years.

Can not beat salmon and trout when they are on top.

I don't stop except to hunt.  Usually Lake O for browns in April, then Winni,  Stripers  and I'm thinkin Moosehead myself they have been killing it up there.

[JIGGIN-]

not ready.....

[SALMONEMIA]

not ready.....

2nd that motion.  Just getting started.   

[Roccus]

I hit the rivers as soon as I can get a boat trailer in... very little snow this year will make things easy. The St. Lawrence in NY will be crawling with smallies anytime now and has been my spring go to for the past couple years. Your welcome to join me Roccus lol

You chase small mouths, this is what I pursue

[SHaRPS]

You chase small mouths, this is what I pursue

Hahaha! I love them "Smallmouths" too Joe!

[Roccus]

Hahaha! I love them "Smallmouths" too Joe!

You don't want to try and one up striper pictures with me.. I only put that picture up to have a little fun with my friend 800 stealth

[800stealth]

Pfffttt... looks like a lot of work lifting those big ass fish...



But seriously, that's a tank joe. I need to get a deep v boat to chase stuff like that... I've had my nitro out on the salt a few times, it's fun when the water is glass but any weather gets hairy when your transom is only a foot above the water. I already lost the boat once on umbagog taking 3 foot rollers over the transom, luckily in 5 foot of water.
My neighbor has a 19 foot Grady white that he never uses, everytime I ask about selling it he says he uses it too much lol

[green shack]

You chase small mouths, this is what I pursue

Yes sir!

[Roccus]

Pfffttt... looks like a lot of work lifting those big ass fish...



But seriously, that's a tank joe. I need to get a deep v boat to chase stuff like that... I've had my nitro out on the salt a few times, it's fun when the water is glass but any weather gets hairy when your transom is only a foot above the water. I already lost the boat once on umbagog taking 3 foot rollers over the transom, luckily in 5 foot of water.
My neighbor has a 19 foot Grady white that he never uses, everytime I ask about selling it he says he uses it too much lol

I'd be happy to take ya, anytime.