So in recent years I’ve never got out on first ice”waterfowl hunting” until ice is about 6-8 but this year I got out on first ice yesterday on safe ice 3-5 inches. On one of te little farm ponds I fish. Needless to say I couldn’t find any good number of fish. I did end up catching about 30 fish in about 3 hours but that was with a lot of holes. Where do you look for crappie and bluegill this early in the season?
No matter how good your equipment, technique, and perseverance, if the water doesn’t contain large crappie and or blue gills your not going to catch any. The water you are describing may be stunted meaning too many fish, but no size. But hey, you’re catching fish.
I’ve fished this pond for a few years now honestly most of the gills are 8+ when I find them most of the crappie this year are running small but i noticed they kind run in schools by size.. Catch a bunch of small ones in a school then the next ones will be nice
in that situation I’ve seen on shows where using their electronics they identify the larger fish somehow. Also they upsize their baits hoping larger fish will be the ones drawn into them. Me, I just hope to catch anything besides a cold when I ice fish.
The term “first ice” this late in the year is a bit of a misnomer to me. It may be the first safe ice in your area, but the water has been awful cold for some time now and winter patterns may prevail.
My experience with small ponds-find deep water, usually near the dam if there’s no other structure, brushpiles or anything to key on. On the other hand, I’ve sight-fished gills in less than three feet, but on farm ponds-especially small ones- my confidence starting place is right in front of the dam. Actually, it’s usually towards one corner or another. If you’ve got a flasher or camera, be watching for those crappie to suspend in that same water. God knows how many crappie I was fishing under until I got a flasher.
Good luck!
-Rev
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