First Ice and Fish Location?

[bret]

I have a question about first ice and fish location.  I live in northern Indiana and first ice varies each year.  Most times late December we see some ice.  At first ice we usually start fishing where they were in late fall.  Well here it is mid January and first ice is likely to be the first of February.  Are these fish likely to be in their fall pattern and relating to the first ice?  OR  Are they relating to the time of year and going to be in a different pattern?

Thanks, Bret

[Jigmup]

My guess.....With all the rain we've had over the last couple months, coupled with the warmer temps, I'll bet they have not gone into mid-ice mode. The influx of water comming into the lakes probably is making the fish hold shallower than normal due to food carry in. Also, with no ice cover to speek of, shallow weeds have probably stayed green longer than normal which will hold fish. Just my two cents worth but I will be drilling shallow to start with.

[The Darkness]

I agree with Jigmup.
I was pondering your question myself yesterday, and came to his conclusion.
Also, I was out in the boat a couple of weekends ago, and they were still holding shallow at that time.

[Yello-Sno]

The forecast looks good. Ice in a couple weeks?? Hope I can get out on the laporte lakes soon, I'm going nuts!!
First ice is always first ice no matter how late. I plan to start in a shallow bay 3-5 feet deep an nail a ton of the huge gills that were there under my boat last fall. Good time for shallow pike on tip ups.

[1eyechaser]

          Yello-Sno,
          What lakes in Laporte do you fish ? I'm in So Bend and have never ice fished
          any lakes in Laporte.Fish in southern Michigan most of the time.

               Rick

[longfin]

          Yello-Sno,
          What lakes in Laporte do you fish ? I'm in So Bend and have never ice fished
          any lakes in Laporte.Fish in southern Michigan most of the time.

               Rick

I've fished Pine lake the past four years.  Done well on pike,bass and gills off the small bay off of Holton road, although the bay has been drying up the last two years.  The whole lake is much lower.

[rico]

Interesting topic Bret.  I was just talking to a guy last night and he asked me the same question.  I pondered it all day.  I came up with my personal conclusion.  I target panfish.  And I always fish weed beds in anywhere from 2' to 15' of water.  In years when the ice comes and stays those beds get hit hard.  And by late January I usually have to move to deeper water to find fish.  Why?  In my opinion, it is due to the fishing pressure that anglers have put on them for a month.  They have caught alot of the fish that hang out in the "shallows" and the numbers just arent there anymore.  So my answer would be,since the ice we got before x-mas wasnt that long,  that the fish are still there in shallow water.  I also would agree with Jigmup on the unusual rain amount and the vegetation.  Hopefully we will be able to see how the fish are acting come this week-end!!!!!!!

[Jodilynn]

Interesting topic Bret.  I was just talking to a guy last night and he asked me the same question.  I pondered it all day.  I came up with my personal conclusion.  I target panfish.  And I always fish weed beds in anywhere from 2' to 15' of water.  In years when the ice comes and stays those beds get hit hard.  And by late January I usually have to move to deeper water to find fish.  Why?  In my opinion, it is due to the fishing pressure that anglers have put on them for a month.  They have caught alot of the fish that hang out in the "shallows" and the numbers just arent there anymore.  So my answer would be,since the ice we got before x-mas wasnt that long,  that the fish are still there in shallow water.  I also would agree with Jigmup on the unusual rain amount and the vegetation.  Hopefully we will be able to see how the fish are acting come this week-end!!!!!!!

That was an awesome question that I too have been thinking about.  I'm glad everyone is saying the shallows first because that is were I would have tried first. 
One thing that I don't understand is the pressure on the fish.  I'm curious what that means.  While fishing at my brother-in-laws pond with an aqua view I see several large mouth bass that appear to be the same size.  Any bass that is caught is usually around 9" to 12" in average.  The pond has been in existence for quite some time now (12 yrs).  Would this be an example of pressure or just stocked at the same time?

[bret]

Well I was going to start in those same areas also.  I've been walking around my pond and noticing how green the the weeds are and the small fish hanging around them.  I suppose with the lack of ice and snow cover the weeds are doing pretty well.  Thanks and good luck!

[Yello-Sno]

1eyechaser Rick
Pine lake is a good multi species lake that I get gills, perch & crappie year round. There are some good walleye taken but not yet by me. Maybe other LaPorters can help you there. Perch & gills best for me over ice.
Stone lake: Good multi species lake. My first ice stop. Gills & perch. I'm excited to hit it as the gills were big & plentiful during warm weather. Caught a 32" pike this summer there.
Clear lake is an interesting lake. About 50 acres I would guess. Big bass & Pike, Huge carp.  Perch & crappie but I haven't caught big ones there. Summer requires a small boat to get around shallow 3'-8' & weedy but worth a visit in spring for bass & pike.
Have you been to Fish lake. There's an ice tourney there every year although I haven't checked to see if it's still on due to the late season.
If you comming to ice fish Laporte I can narrow down my placesfor you.

[1eyechaser]

   YELLO-SNO
   THANKS FOR THE COMEBACK, I'VE HEARD FROM A GUY NAMED FOOTDOC OFF ANOTHER
   SITE THAT THERE ARE SOME BIG PERCH IN STONE.I WAS THERE LAST SPRING, TRIED
   TO FISH FOR PERCH BUT WAS BLOWN OFF.HEARD THAT THE AREA IN FRONT OF THE
   BEACH WAS GOOD? LET ME KNOW HOW THE ICE IS DOING AND WHEN IT'S FISHABLE.
   MAYBE I'LL RUN INTO YOU THERE SOMETIME,THANKS

                              RICK   

[Edge]

http://www2.southbendtribune.com/stories/2007/01/14/sports.20070114-sbt-FULL-C10-Derby.sto

Never fished Fish Lake myself, but I've heard good things about crappie in the spring. 

[A- bomb]

i usually fish larger lakes so for me its easy and makes patterning easier. Follow the safe ice.
first ice  2 in and i'm in the channels. when they get 6 the main lake usually has 2-4 so ever so lightly i creep out. by the time the main lakes have 6 (obviously years past) i target off  shore structure.

after 2-3 wks alot of sniffers and or dinks in the channel.Or sight fishing for crappies.
 Usually late ice we're going back shallow to the weeds (oxygen production) as the fish make a move twards spawning area.
This year will be strange as the weed line at wawasee is GREEN out to 17 fow all over the lake.