Smallmouth ice fishing ?

[bassaddict380]

Any one ever tried there favorite smallmouth spots during the winter and jigged up any ? Right now keuka is is froze down the the bluff and there's one spot that I would always go back to and catch nice smallies but I'm wondering if anyone has tried going back to There spots and got a couple during the winter and if so what depth range were the lerking in ? Spring the come up way shallow and summer they go down deep. Any info would be great thanks guys !

[SSmokinn SS]

not sure about your regulations but in most of NY state, bass fishing is out of season.

[slipbob]

not sure about your regulations but in most of NY state, bass fishing is out of season.

Not for catch and release.  I've got a spot at a local reservoir you can sometimes jig up 10 or 20 or more nice smallies and it's fun when they try and jump and wack their heads on the ice   They are pretty aggressive and readily take spoons or jigging raps.  They seems to stack up in about 30 to 35ft and are in the same spots every year. 

[bigredonice]

I've done pretty well in the winter jigging rockpiles for smallies on lakes like Saratoga and Canadarago.

[hunts2long]

I will not target fish that are out of season. There is usually a reason for a season.....h2l

[mpike2day]

Finger lakes bass:    3rd Sat. in June- March 15      minimum12"   5   daily limit
March 16 - Friday preceding the 3rd Saturday in June   Catch and Releases only   Artificial lures only
You can ice fish for them on finger lakes.

[Huntyeraws]

I will not target fish that are out of season. There is usually a reason for a season.....h2l

Yes there is a reason for a season... in the Finger Lakes, bass are 5 a day and until March 15th. 

   

[Huntyeraws]

Any one ever tried there favorite smallmouth spots during the winter and jigged up any ? Right now keuka is is froze down the the bluff and there's one spot that I would always go back to and catch nice smallies but I'm wondering if anyone has tried going back to There spots and got a couple during the winter and if so what depth range were the lerking in ? Spring the come up way shallow and summer they go down deep. Any info would be great thanks guys !

Target the areas where the smallies were in the fall - Late October/November - usually deep around 35 to 50 FOW.  Find a school and jig em up with a big jigging spoon.  We have put a few on the ice like that in some other Finger Lakes. 

[BudMan]

When you do find them they are usually in pretty good numbers. I've caught some real pigs through the ice. Fun times.

[bigredonice]

I will not target fish that are out of season. There is usually a reason for a season.....h2l

Does anyone here actually read fishing regulations?   it is perfectly legal in most places in the state to target bass during the winter, as long as you are using artificials...and in some places you can even keep them...

NY statewide fishing regulations:
Black Bass
largemouth/smallmouth    3rd Saturday in June through November 30    12"    5


December 1 - Friday preceding the 3rd Saturday in June    Catch and release only    Artificial lures only

straight from http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31421.html

people should read the regs before getting all high and mighty

[BudMan]

Some bodies of water have special regs so check the lake you'll be fishing. Until recently on Oneida lake, you weren't allowed to target bass when the walleye season was closed. I know some lakes are open to bass through the winter also.

[bigredonice]

I know some lakes are open to bass through the winter also.

Not some...almost all (99%)...   still gotta check the regs tho...which all of us should already know anyway.

[slipbob]

High pressure and bright sunshine seem to be the best bite for winter smallies in my experience. 

[mpike2day]

Does anyone here actually read fishing regulations?   it is perfectly legal in most places in the state to target bass during the winter, as long as you are using artificials...and in some places you can even keep them...

NY statewide fishing regulations:
Black Bass
largemouth/smallmouth    3rd Saturday in June through November 30    12"    5


December 1 - Friday preceding the 3rd Saturday in June    Catch and release only    Artificial lures only

straight from http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31421.html

people should read the regs before getting all high and mighty

On above mentioned lake they are legal to keep till mar 15.

[bigredonice]

On above mentioned lake they are legal to keep till mar 15.

exactly. some places like the finger lakes you can even keep them.   Its awesome.  clean up some of them green carp.

[mpike2day]

exactly. some places like the finger lakes you can even keep them.   Its awesome.  clean up some of them green carp.

I bet it irritates a lot of the bass guys that do the tourneys. 

[BudMan]

These are the fingerlakes that bass is open till March 15 from what I read in the regulations: Conesus, Hemlock, Canadice, Honeoye, Canandaigua,  Keuka, and Seneca. That's a lot of acres of water, some of which you need a boat to get to.

[Captain1978]

Does anyone here actually read fishing regulations?   it is perfectly legal in most places in the state to target bass during the winter, as long as you are using artificials...and in some places you can even keep them...

NY statewide fishing regulations:
Black Bass
largemouth/smallmouth    3rd Saturday in June through November 30    12"    5


December 1 - Friday preceding the 3rd Saturday in June    Catch and release only    Artificial lures only

straight from http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/31421.html

people should read the regs before getting all high and mighty

You took the words right out my mouth!

[Huntyeraws]

I bet it irritates a lot of the bass guys that do the tourneys.

As someone had mentioned, there is a reason for the season. 

What is interesting is to read mortality stats of bass caught during tourneys, sloshed around in a livewell allday, hauled out, weighed and released back into the lake...some don't make it.  It is a wasted resource.  I don't feel guilty about taking some sweet tasting bass in out of cold winter water for the frying pan.  A bass is member of the sunfish family... and they are very tasty in the winter time

[mpike2day]

As someone had mentioned, there is a reason for the season. 

What is interesting is to read mortality stats of bass caught during tourneys, sloshed around in a livewell allday, hauled out, weighed and released back into the lake...some don't make it.  It is a wasted resource.  I don't feel guilty about taking some sweet tasting bass in out of cold winter water for the frying pan.  A bass is member of the sunfish family... and they are very tasty in the winter time

A lot of bass do die during tourneys no doubt. I personally don't bass fish and only catch them while fishing for other fish. I would keep them if I caught them also.

[JJ]

The smallmouth tend to winter really deep in Lake George, 70-90 feet, I've gotten into schools of them a couple times but they are usually pretty inactive. Other smaller lakes, like Saratoga, I get them shallow much more often in the winter when targeting eyes.

[bassaddict380]

lmao ima keuka fisher don't really go other wise unless I hear of a hot bite but even now my bites just as hot so I'm not venturing anywhere haha I also catch and release. But anyways thanks for the advice guys wasn't sure if there winter pattern sent them shallow or deep but I have a good spot I am going to be swinging by this weekend see if I can't grab a couple TAKE PICS.... THEN LET THEM BACK 

[adkRoy]

All bass I catch in the winter are when I am targeting other fish. I mostly catch them on tip-ups and have caught them from just below the ice to as far down as 60 feet.

[bassaddict380]

I just love the fight and seek a good drag ripping experience plus smallmouth are just one of the most beautiful fish I have ever seen!

[SSmokinn SS]

The smallmouth tend to winter really deep in Lake George, 70-90 feet, I've gotten into schools of them a couple times but they are usually pretty inactive. Other smaller lakes, like Saratoga, I get them shallow much more often in the winter when targeting eyes.

70-90 feet is where the smallies usually are in the fall on LG as well because thats where the average large schools of smelt are.

[NatefishNY]

Yes there is a reason for a season... in the Finger Lakes, bass are 5 a day and until March 15th. 

(Image removed from quote.)   

Man that pickerel looks like a football, what a fatty!

[HybridHunter]

I always hook up with LM while crappie fishing on a local lake in 17fow. Its a blast on 3lb test! The small mouth in the same lake are out in the main basin this time of year down deep. 30'+

[JJ]

70-90 feet is where the smallies usually are in the fall on LG as well because thats where the average large schools of smelt are.

They still went deep for winter when the smelt numbers were way down in the lake.

[Huntyeraws]

Speaking of bass caught in the winter.  Here is an ice fishing article posted today in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.  Funny thing, there is a picture of a fisherman's fish on the ice a few perch and a largemouth bass.   Problem is, bass are out of season in Lake Ontario and it's bays including Braddock Bay where the reporter and photographer did their report.   LOL!   SOME IDIOT IS GOING TO GET BUSTED courtesy of the newspaper.  LMAO!

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/2015/01/30/rochester-ice-fishing/22604335/

[SSmokinn SS]

They still went deep for winter when the smelt numbers were way down in the lake.

yes they did. The smallie pattern in that lake is the same in the fall and winter. 60-90' of water and you will find them.