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From my 50+ yrs of ice fishing first ice in Feb is normally much worse than first ice in Dec. I think the entire water column by feb has gotten much colder compared to just the surface area. Also the fish may still be on their fall feed and still in the shallower water with weeds beds that will be gone by Feb.
Some lakes like Lake X Feb is usually when it gets a good 1st ice. So wouldn't each lake be different?
I have found in many years of hard water fishing first ice to be good, late ice better but very limited as in can't get too that good spot or you haven been able to stay up on their movements, so ice was late, just be ready as ice out gets closer the bite gets better, but I have only been at this game for a shot time lol tide have your Walkin shoes ready.
Since we already had some ice, short lived though it was. We will be having second ice (I hope) in my experience the fishing always sucks after we lose the ice and it comes back on. I'm hoping I'm wrong.
I would think that as mentioned, a lack of pressure has to help at least a little. I would also think that the increasing length of daylight may start to spur a little more movement and feeding. But also mentioned, waning oxygen levels may play a negative role.