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IceShanty Main => General Ice Fishing Chit Chat => Topic started by: Pasquatch on Dec 29, 2003, 07:02 PM

Title: What depth???
Post by: Pasquatch on Dec 29, 2003, 07:02 PM

I catch some pickerel by accident, but where do i put my bait to catch them? i know they are there, but are they near the bottom or what? Thanks in advance :)

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: NAD42 on Dec 29, 2003, 09:42 PM

Hey pasquatch...before I hit the deep water for lakers...in the past, I iced some big pickerel right there out of veterans in bolton landing...just outstide the buoys...about 2 foot off the bottom...(or a bit above the weedline).

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: Pasquatch on Dec 30, 2003, 08:15 AM

I know right where you are talking about thanks. george WILL FREEZE this year. Temp drops to about 5 degrees on the tenth and stays that way :D :o

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: acsacmboy on Dec 30, 2003, 09:23 AM

the top of the weeds is where i always catch my pike and pickerel. they will swim by and snatch it right up.

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: ComplexSimon on Dec 30, 2003, 09:43 AM

As a general rule I no longer target these fish, but in the past I spent many winters seeking pickerel exclusively in some of the finger lakes (western NY).  The setup we used with great success was to suspend your bait of choice about 2.5" to 3" off the bottom, or as previously stated just about the weedline.

I've also heard from other anglers that you can impact your success by the way you hook the bait.  Personally, I have always hooked my shiners just in front of the dorsal fin, but many people hook them just behind the same fin.

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: fishingking on Dec 30, 2003, 07:30 PM

Northerns ive targeted in Champlain before from 2 ft-10 ft of h20 ive put the bait anywherer from touching the bottom to just a foor under the ice  just remember if theres weeds put your bait above the weeds    these fish look up for the bait not down at least from waht ive experienced

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: love2fishnhuntNH on Dec 30, 2003, 08:34 PM

2 years ago during the winni derby here in NH i couldn't get my bait down the hole. it was dark at first so i couldn't see my spool so i just thought my flag was broken, every time i set it up the flag would go right up, well i heard the spool flying and it kept going on, i'd land a fish, put a new shiner on and bang, fish would grab it right away, these were 2-4 pounders too so it was a lot of fun until i couldn't feel my fingers anymore, then it was a pain, but the second the sun came up and showed on the holes, the action slowed, but right above the weeds is the place to be, good luck

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: red_eyes on Dec 31, 2003, 09:06 PM

i go bout 18" from the bottom

Title: Re:What depth???
Post by: Pasquatch on Jan 01, 2004, 10:13 AM

Found that out, caught a 23"er yesterday, thanks ;)