New to the ice in the quiet corner

[craiger]

Greetings all!

My uncle hooked me up with a few tip ups and a vintage auger a few weeks ago.  Appreciating the outdoors in the winter is easier when you don't have a shovel in your hand. 

So far I've had decent luck with a jigging rod.  I've had plenty of flags, but no fish-yet-on the tip ups.  I've learned a lot in the short time I've been cruising this forum.  I figured I'd join, in case I have some fish to brag about someday...


 

[northwestslayer]

welcome.

[spanky1]

welcome aboard craiger.

[Jessox80]

Salutations! This site is a great resource and the people are generally more than helpful (as seems to be the case with a lot of ice fishermen). Where do you fish and what do you like to catch?

[craiger]

Thanks for the warm welcome. 

I've got a five minute walk to Lake Bunggee.  It's a private lake, so there's not much pressure.  I've only been here two years, and I haven't met too many regulars yet.  Consider this an invitation if you'd like to try it out.  I'd certainly welcome the company.   

On open water I've caught LM bass, pickerel, crappie, bluegill, pumpkinseed, and perch.  On the ice, I've only caught perch on a jigging rod with a swedish pimple. 

Bunggee is man-made, and the deepest water I've found this winter is 7 or 8 feet.  I've had good luck shore fishing in the summer, but I've yet to find a winter sweet spot.   

[DUCKDIGGLER]

Welcome bud!  You are correct.....no shovel+winter=

[linebreaker]

Welcome Craiger, I know whay you mean about the shovel, I put 4yards of sand on customers driveways by hand yesterdays lots of fun and it was a great day to have been on the ice.  try a smaller hook and you may catch more on the tipups. Good Luck

[Oldfart]

Get some medium or large shiners on your tipups, look for the weeds in 4-6 feet of water and set your bait just above the weeds. Your flags will start showing bass. 

[craiger]

Thanks guys.  I'm using # 6 and # 8 snell type hooks.  Found some weeds yesterday, so I'll be sure to return to that area.
   
I've been using medium and small shiners.  Next time out I'll go for the bigger ones.  The little guys are harder to handle anyway. 

[Oldfart]

Those weeds work for jiggin up big bass, too. Most of them are not shy at all. We ALL have stories of drilling a hole, scooping the slush, dropping a jig that never hits bottom....why? Cause a 4 or 5 lb lm bass was sitting there 6' down wondering what the silly human was up to! LOL!

[craiger]

haha...that's my kind of story! 

[Velcro]

Hey Craiger, we're neighbors! Growing up we had a family friend who used to live on Lake Bunggee, I've been there but don't think I've ever fished there. I do most of my fishing (in the summer) at Crystal Pond in Eastford. Maybe I'll try Lake Bunggee this winter.

[buzz1]

craiger, i also live on lake bungee, been here since 1976. welcome to the site. post when you want to go out or just email me.

[craiger]

Great!  I'll drop you a line next time I head down.

[miket.]

welcome aboard!

[bigbry068]

welcome craiger, I live on the woodstock border in putnam. just got laid off for the winter, can show you how to catch pike sometime too. there are quite a few places to fish close by that produce big fish.

[craiger]

Sorry to hear that bigbry...more time to enjoy the ice, right? 

Closest thing to a pike I've caught is a pickerel.  I'd definitely like to take you up on that offer some time.  Shoot me a PM or email if you're planning a trip and want a greenhorn to tag along.