Hog Island report 2-6-18

[jbritch]

So I had a pretty good day despite the steady 20 mph wind alllll day.  The bait lady at the Hog Island Market did not have any fatheads and only small shiners and pike bait; so there were less minnows in the cup but they were much bigger.  Got on the ice at 9:00 and found the ramp down to the water was glare ice, almost wiped out just walking, bring your crampons 'cause the ice is (oops, was) bare and very slippery.  There's a drift at the shore but bigger trucks than mine bounced over it.  I walk out.  You can see that I'm in my honey spot not far from the rocks, no soft ice this time and the water was cleared up a lot, can actually see them as they get near the hole.




There were a couple of other guys out there and a couple of Canadians came out and sat right next to me again, really, 200,000 acres???  All the guys I talked to said the bite was bad this year, nobody catching much and the west shore was even worse.  I said that's not my case, 'cause I'm doing pretty good.  They only use bibbets, I use bait.

You can barely see the pressure crack but it's there alright, and looking like it'll get taller and more jagged; I'd stay away from it.




I only put in 6 tip-ups with the X-L pike bait on but didn't get one single pike again today, wonder where they went.  Instead all my flags were big perch, you can see one on top of the pile.  With the bigger bait, the bite was a little slower; they were down there but the little ones couldn't get their heads around the big bait so most of the ones I landed were very nice size, much bigger than last time with only a few that were little dinks, some smaller that the $1 a piece shiners I bought.  I left at 2:30 when my bait ran out.  You can see the front moving in and the snow began to fly sideways so I came home and got them all in the fridge before the old lady got home.  She's on a no-fat jag these days, so she won't fry them and I'll have to shake and bake them again, gonna leave the bones in this time to see if they'll have more flavor.  Anybody got a good no fry recipe, please let me know, getting tired of poor man's shrimp even though I'll have a platter for her when she gets home tonight.  Have fun!

[woodyvt]

As always.....thanks for the report!

Was out there this past sat, but set up more west of the access. Not much better luck......3 pike between two of us with tip ups......best about 3-4lbs.......3-4" perch all day long jigging, but no jumbos?

Hope you have a great season!

 Wdy

[WVBoy]

This report is about as accurate as you can get, that is how may days have been out there too. As for the fat heads from Hog Island, I heard that the state inspected their minnows and found something they didnt like. So Hog Island had to throw out 600lbs of bait! Thats going to hurt us this year.

[Light liner]

Thanks for your report.

[Russ1959]

Thanks for alls reports !

[kmrn_brookx]

My gf is also on the no fat kick and recently purchased an air fryer(circulates hot air creating a crispy layer without the oil). We had homemade fries the other night and they held their own, going to hopefully try some perch fillets this weekend.

[Bigunit]

I found good perch practically at same same spot you are according to the picture.  20 FOW just at the bottom of a drop.  Sounds like this spot is a honey hole!

[fishingidjit]

Try doing some perch fillets in a box mix called "oven fry",sold at most big stores in the"shake and bake" section. It's not bad ! Nice fish!!

[ice fiend]

There are no fatheads available at all in the entire state for the time being as Hog island was cited for importing non native mosquito fish because a fisherman noticed a odd fish in his bait bucket and called f&w

[lingcod]

Bummer.

[Jschumacher]

There are no fatheads available at all in the entire state for the time being as Hog island was cited for importing non native mosquito fish because a fisherman noticed a odd fish in his bait bucket and called f&w

Was it just fatheads that is affected by this or is it going to affect all the shiner supply Like jumbos and Pike Bait.

[Bruscus]

Bruce has plenty of all available live bait at Holiday Harbor

[EyERipLip]

I would assume just Fatheads as my two local bait shops said they didn’t have any but I was able to buy medium and large shiners.

[LittleFishin]

This is why I wish the state would allow individuals to gather their own bait and store it at home. Loosing all the bait and getting a fine will only make it so live bait is more unreasonably priced!!! Don't forget to tag your night crawlers this summer!

[lowaccord66]

Nice report.  Sleeping on the ice up that way this weekend.

[Bigunit]

Guys, you should be thankful to have the opportunity to fish with live baits.  Vermont has a great live baits program.  This year in the province of Quebec, fishing with live baits is no longer possible just because they consider the process of controlling too complicated.  Instead of working on it and try to evolve, they decided to go the easy way and simply banned live bait fishing. I wish we could have a program like yours.  We are 10 years behind if I compare our system to yours.  I guess I was born on the wrong side of the fence!  So every week-end when I go fishing on lake champlain, even if I can't buy shiners, I'm more than happy to be able to buy live fatheads.

[lowaccord66]

Guys, you should be thankful to have the opportunity to fish with live baits.  Vermont has a great live baits program.  This year in the province of Quebec, fishing with live baits is no longer possible just because they consider the process of controlling too complicated.  Instead of working on it and try to evolve, they decided to go the easy way and simply banned live bait fishing. I wish we could have a program like yours.  We are 10 years behind if I compare our system to yours.  I guess I was born on the wrong side of the fence!  So every week-end when I go fishing on lake champlain, even if I can't buy shiners, I'm more than happy to be able to buy live fatheads.

Life in a socialist country, by your mention seems difficult! 

[ice fiend]

Yet everyone wanted sanders as a president. lol seems like more hassle than it’s worth.