may be just me...

[Capncorbett]

Is it just me or are the fish not as active as they usually are around first ice?

[Kip]

First ice should be more active

[wec]

I have found on the three lakes I've fished so far, the action to be very slow.

[jakep138]

I agree all lakes have definitely been slow this year

[nonamer]

they call it fishing not catching or everyone would do it.

[hunts2long]

First ice use to be in December. You ever think, maybe it was a December bite.....hunts2long

[hesseltine32]

I have hit the ice one New York 3 times and Maryland once all have been slow but the ones in New York were just before xmass and ice was really thin

[Cook078]

slow slow slow.....it only gets better......

[deadsmelthead]

First ice use to be in December. You ever think, maybe it was a December bite.....hunts2long

DING DING, exactly, the few times I've been on ice late Nov early Dec have been DYNOMITE, January fishing is usually slow, less light in the day etc etc etc....

[ak47]

Just a personal observation. We often just miss the best bite which is during first 2-3 days after a lake or a pond locks up. I agree chances are better if it locks in November-December. But while there`s 2 inches of black ice (fine for me to stand on) and we are waiting for more the bite is gone. This happened to me and my fishing buddies many times...obviously anyone here would prefer to be safe over catching their limit in an hour

[roundlakeNY]

Only slow bite was lake George which really surprised me. I figured perch would be hot. But nothing oh well. I like the late season myself when the big boys are starting to feed heavily.

Like hunt said we are starting for the most part "mid season"

[combsey]

Only slow days I've had we're when I was targeting big fish only or when I set up waiting for the fish to come to the area to feed.   The couple days I just went out and jigged I did very well with good numbers and size.   

[ICEROGUE]

I would have to agree with you on this one. Fished Honeoye Lake 3 times and caught 2 rock bass 1 perch; a hand full of sunnys and 1 pickrel. I normally do 10 fold better then that. I think a lot of it is the thin ice keeps us from moving around and fishing diffrent spots.