My ice fishing year in review

[angolajones]

I had to make a lot of trips in a very short season around the area lakes.  I didn't do too badly though.  I probably caught 700-1000 bluegills, about 50 crappie, 5 perch and a few bass.  The majority of fish came from my noodle rod.  On this late ice, I started using my St. Croix and my lowrance together to catch fish.   That was a lot of fun.  Then, Rufus turned me on to sight fishing.  That is awesome.  Hopefully, there will still be ice in the next few days.  I hope to get out at least one more time.   There isn't a lot of places in the state with ice.  I was yelled at because i posted one on here.  It seems a lot of people read but don't post.  I did meet some very nice people on this board. 

Next weekend, it is put up the ice fishing and get ready for bass season.  I am fishing the BFL Michigan Division as a boater.  If anyone wants priority entry as a nonboater, send me a personal message.

Jonesy

[ice dude]

Sounds like you had a good year for the little bit of good ice we had. I hit that spot tonight. Them old guys said they chewed you guys a new one. Its all good to post your reports but i guess you need to keep the details on the down low so you dont step on anyones toes.  You were just trying to help. You are right about a lot of people reading and not posting.

Good luck in your tournys.

[Bigbass101]

There isn't a lot of places in the state with ice.  I was yelled at because i posted one on here.  It seems a lot of people read but don't post.

Just makes you a better person for sharing your knowledge.  Guess those guys don't like to share.

The problem was the lack of ice this year.  Didn't give many people too many options to fish.  I traveled North to fish some lakes in Oakland County.  If not for the nice guys on the Michigan board, I wouldn't have known there was safe ice there.  I was very grateful, and tried to share as much of my experience with them when I got back.  Met nothing but nice people on the ice this year.

You mentioned the BFL.  I have a couple close friends that fish it every year.  They really enjoy it, so I'm sure you will too.  I'm having a little bass tournament for guys that visit my board.  You, Rufus, anyone else that is interested are welcome to join us.  We have some unique rules.  Just drop me an email for details or check it out on our board.  First one is on Big Turkey Lake.

Drove by Hamilton today, and the bays were still frozen.  The main lake is open.  Won't be long and that ice will be gone.  Warming to 60 degrees by next weekend.  The boat should make her first outing next weekend.
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[Derslayer1]

This years ice fishing......

[FishDaddy09]

Hey IceDude it was nice meeting you last night. Jonesy I wouldn't let those grumpy old men worry you much, I've known them a long time and they are always grumpy! You do have to be careful about what  you post. Nobody want's a repeat of what happened at docksiders a few years ago. Sometimes it's best to keep the location to yourself.  It's not so bad when the people you know from the board show up it's all the people who read but never post ,never contribute, never add anything. They can be the spoilers.   I think there may be a day or two left to ice fish, I was going to go this morning but I didn't get my lazy butt out of bed. So I'll try tommorrow!

[Medic12]

The closest that I have found fishable ice is north of Kalamazoo 30 miles. I was up to Gun Lake yesterday and they still have 5-7 of good ice. Open water in the middle of the lake but good hard ice around the edges and everywhere else.

But it won't be there long, especially after the next couple days! Get out the sun screen and clean out the boat again. (Mines dirty I used it all winter)(Darn it!)

PS I live in LaGrange County!

Jeff

[Yogi]

I had a real good year ice fishing year when I got out.  I look at it this way I didn't have much ice to work with so I got to travel a lot.  I got to meet a lot of new people I would have been able to meet with ice here.  I learned so much. That is the neat thing going up to Michigan and Canada and talking to different people with a different style.  You can learn so much from these people.  I got one fish going on the wall so that is a positive.  I caught a total of 6 Pike a off year.  I usually triple that.  No ice on James where I fish for them at.  I got numerous perch.  I did ok on the bluegill.  The only thing I didn't catch many of was Crappie.  I got some nice crappie last night.  Today was a awesome day of ice fishing.  I made the trip up into Michigan.  I apologize guys I dont know the name of the lake I was out.  It is one of those weird named lakes.  It is just east of the town of Marshall.  I had my limit of 50 perch by 1030.  My buddy had 25.  He had bluegill and perch.  They really bit at first light.  You couldn't keep a pole down.  Of course that is my best time to have something major go wrong.  And of course it sure did.  I had a tangled mess and it was like I forgot how to tie a hook and I couldn't get it right.  Oh well I still got my limit.  What worked for me was a red falconet tipped with a wiggler.  It was a real light bite after the first hour.  We were fishing 20fow and I was catching them about a foot of the bottom.  Watching my trusty vex as those perch came off the bottom. I did catch fish on spikes and mousies and bee moths.  I think anything would have worked.  My other buddy fished George today.  He was pike fishing.  He was 0 for 6.  He will never live that one down.  Isn't that right Tyler!!!!  I had about 4 inches of ice today up there in Michigan with about a inch of slush.  I might get out one more time.  I am debating.  You guys be safe if you are going to go out.  Thanks for sharing all the information you guys did.  I really appreciate it.  Jonesy don't worry about some grumpy old men.  It is a public lake.  Everybody as the right to fish that lake.  I donut care if 200 guys fish there they aren't going to catch all the bluegills that are in that lake.  I am sorry I think it is nice to help people.  I believe in it.  Maybe I am to nice.  I will tell you where I was and when I was there. 

Yogi

[Bigbass101]

Jonesy don't worry about some grumpy old men.  It is a public lake.  Everybody as the right to fish that lake.  I donut care if 200 guys fish there they aren't going to catch all the bluegills that are in that lake.  I am sorry I think it is nice to help people.  I believe in it.  Maybe I am to nice.  I will tell you where I was and when I was there. 

Yogi

  Very well said Yogi