first ever through the ice.

[SALMONEMIA]

Got out yesterday on a small body not very deep looking for crappie. It was cold so all fish were removed close to water and quickly to avoid freeze damage. Ice was 24 inches legit and the ION really was put to the test . It made it through but could tell it was working. Had to pull up on auger to remove ice chips. SO much slush it took forever to clear the holes. Got a mixed bag of YP, LMB, pickerel, no crappie though. I was using 2lb test. Saw a mark come through about 2 ft below ice, I was in roughly 12 feet of water. Dropped down to it and it hit very subtle. Anything feels huge on 2lb test was surprised when it came to the hole a 10 inch brown bull head caught hip right in the top of the mouth. No target species were caught but will explore that area again in a different area. Fish seemed to be non existent in the main basin but were closer to where the weed edges and drop would normally be. 

[Roccus]

I've caught a  few through the years,eels too, but never many. I like surprises like that, pretty cool on a jig.

[bassin212]

nice report! I've only ever seen once caught through the ice. Bass Fishing off bottom in around 15ft

[AQUAASSASSIN]

I’ve caught a few jigging and a few on cusk lines. Nice looking fish in winter

[800stealth]

Nice, gotta love something new and different. I fish a little bass/yellow pond that gives up enough bulls jiggin that you could probably target them and put together enough for a dinner fry. It's the only place I've pulled them through the ice. They're typically small but fight like twice their size.

[SALMONEMIA]

thanks that's about the size he was. they look cool in winter.

[fishermantim]

When jigging, you learn to expect the unexpected...and really enjoy it!

[Guinea]

A friend of mine and I were on Newfound a few years back and he jigged one up... 14"! Newfound is not known for them in the winter.

I have heard of a small pond around here producing them through the ice consistently. Any idea why they bite in the winter in certain water bodies?

[Chefmike64]

I caught one about 3 years ago on Bryant pond In Dorchester about 5" long on a worm.

[SHaRPS]

We have gotten them on shiners and jigging as well. Not 2 feet under the ice but 5 feet off the bottom in 20 feet of water. Either way, nice surprise and keep at it.

[PoolGuy]

My buddy caught a few early this season, but he was right off the bottom...2lb test catching that must have been a fun fight

[Dieseldog]

Anyone can catch big ones. Lol. Take a look at my 4” one that was in my minnow trap yesterday. Cute little guy. First time trying to post picture so here goes.

[AQUAASSASSIN]

Lollll

[bikrsrule]

I got 1 today too on a shiner about 2' off the bottom.

[merk42]

SO much slush it took forever to clear the holes.

On slush removal with the ion. There are two ways we clear the slush to minimize the scooping. You can either leave the auger in cutting mode and just leave it on and pull up a couple of times. that works best in current thick ice conditions. In less ice you can hit the reverse button keep the screwin the hole and it will push the slush under the ice. Either method removes 90% of the slush... we do very little slush scooping...