Hot first ice areas……..before first ice?

Some local channels freeze over before the main lake does (of course) and often have some pretty good fishing. Sometimes fantastic fishing for panfish, bass and walleye. They run East and West and average around 9-10 feet deep with the slope to the bank really steep and have trees along most the sides.

Habitually, it’s bombed with fishermen and women that first few days of safe ice. So many so that I stopped going. Parking is horribly limited and the arguments that habitually break out just make the choice of fishing there somewhat less than “fun”. I just stopped going years ago.

I’ve always been curious how fishing would be in those same areas just BEFORE first ice but before this year I was “too busy” working and deer hunting. I do neither now.

Anyone ever give this a shot…..or is it the ice itself that draws the fish? I’m ignorant on the why’s and wherefores on all that, but I’ve wondered…….and going to give it a try as first ice draws near.

Thanks for any replies and advice.
God Bless
Steve

My post is probably in the wrong forum but since not ice fishing, per se, and not species specific so ……I stuck it here. Mods, move it as you wish. God Bless

It’s fine here. People will see the title.

I imagine it’s just as good right before. Water temps will be about the same. I don’t know why a thin layer of ice changes anything other than removing the affects of the wind. You might want to use the wind and fish the windy side of the channel.