Worst year ice fishing!

Sitting on my bucket I was thinking about all the times my old retired ice fishing buddies and I would meet out on the ice on the weekend. I would ask hows fishing and their answer would be- – Oh! you should have been here yesterday. Well yesterday is here and Iam retired and still not running into a mess of fish. Oh I catch a few,but none in the freeze this year for a family meal. Fish are being caught,but none by me. I think the ice fishing gods are not with me this year. Do you think a guy can just run into a year of bad luck ice fishing and no matter what you do –you are not going to catch fish?

You obviously weren’t using Scenic Tackles Go Devils.

Keep at ’em…they will come!

I don’t know ask BK….

Sorry had too….

Yes, everyone I know (who is honest) has bad years.

Quote:

---

Do you think a guy can just run into a year of bad luck ice fishing and no matter what you do –you are not going to catch fish?

---

Only if you are fishing with that mind set already

I’m not familiar with the waters you are fishing or what you are using for baits.

The river around the La Crosse area has slowed down some, but by moving around and putting some gas through the StrikeMaster and paying close attention to the MarCum there are fish to be found.

Having a selection of live baits, minnows, waxies, red worms and a arsenal of jigs and spoons, a guy can still do pretty good on the pannies.

Make sure to change up your presentations too, some days they almost like a dead stick and then the next it seems you can’t stop the bait from twitching to get a reaction. If you are fishing with a flasher it won’t take long to figure out what presentation has peaked the interest of your quarry.

If you fish an area that seems to be the dead sea make sure to move on.

Keep the faith

Ryan, I have a button on my computer reserved just for you…

Here it is…

Quote:

---

Only if you are fishing with that mind set already

---

There is a lot of truth to that statement..after giving the FW a pep talk on attitude she landed her largest St Croix walleye and just over 5 lbs and a 12 pound ski…her very first ski.

Coincidink?

Quote:

---

Ryan, I have a button on my computer reserved just for you…

Here it is…

Quote:

---

Only if you are fishing with that mind set already

---

There is a lot of truth to that statement..after giving the FW a pep talk on attitude she landed her largest St Croix walleye and just over 5 lbs and a 12 pound ski…her very first ski.

Coincidink?

---

If she was taking advice on fishing from you, about fish that don’t have wiskers? YUP BIG coincidink!

Time to add another button.

Hey at least I left room in there to imply you knew what you were talking about with whisker fish!

Although on topic of this thread. I think you can have a bad year here and there. I mean I would say this was my worst year, Granted I didn’t get out nearly as much as I did in years past , and when I did they were not always Ideal conditions, I still Iced some fish, but not nearly like I have before.

Oh well another year of memories, and a list of not to do’s and didn’t work so wells. Every time out though I’m going to fill my limit… or at least freeze trying….

Can’t believe it’s almost time to start wishing for the hunting season to roll around, as that means we’ll be back on the ice soon.

At least you’ve been able to go ice fishing.

This has been a tough year for all ice fishermen/fisherwomen, take a look at the rough winter we have had. Unstable weather patterns, snow and more snow. Low oxygen levels in the some lakes makes fish unactive, very lathargic. What makes a successful season or successful day is changing to the conditions at hand. Like Bret mentioned, pay close attention to the fish, either flasher or camera. They will tell you how they want the presentation, or how they want to eat. Kind of like one day you want McDonalds, and the next day you want a buffet. Being able to adapt to changes puts more fish on the ice and/or in your freezer for the family. If you get stuck in a rut fishing ( we all do) it will be a tough fishing season.

Good luck..

Don’t write off the year yet. With the snow gone now in many areas, the fishing should really pick up. A little light penetration can go a long way this time of year to spur the bite. Get out there and get after them, most of the time you need to go find the fish this time of year they won’t come to you.

This has been one of the better winters i can remember for ice fishing. Get out of your routine and scout around. The perch have just been unbelievable down here this year.

Kev? What kind of perch have whiskers?

Until the cats stack up here around March 1st, I am a multispecies guy. Whatever gets me out of a house filled with 4 year old boys is fine with me.

Its an old article but it definately applies here. BTW I’ve had to work very hard for good fishing this year. The hardest that I can remember. I’m not sure if that implies the worst year fishing, but it has definately been work and challenging.

Motivation

I actually look forward to March Panfish…. that’s when it really heats up for me. I am lazy, I like to punch 2 holes, one for the camera and one for my line. I would say, this year has been toguher than years past, but as they say, “It ain’t over til its over” and thats in about a month and a half for this guy

big G

On the border we’ve likely had one of the greatest BIG Walleyes bites I’ve ever experienced. Early in the winter with the early blanket of snow fish didn’t seem to be located in “Typical” early season hot spots. Once we located the big marks we put the hammer down on them. Now Panfish activity for me will be gaining more and more attention in the next weeks. I tend to think Panfish are effected more than walleyes and pike with Heavy snow cover, and reduced oxygen levels. Some of my favorite ice fishing of the year is yet to come. I am a firm believer that late ice is as good or better than first ice. Number one you are getting an influx of water seeping through the ice which seems to bring the fish alive. Number two conditions are much much more tolerable for a little move and groove outing. Hands down our best panfish bites will come in the next month +. Not understanding the lakes you fish I would step outside the box of what is apparently not working this year. Go Deep… Go Shallow… Fish night/mid-day. GO light light light. Just keep experimenting. Have to be on fish. IF… Your not on fish nothing else matter. The single most important thing is to be on target fish…. PERIOD!! Hey if they are coming through the graph and they are shut down somtimes you tip your hat to them. That is fishing!! Get them tomorrow. Assuming your on fish and they aren’t going I’d stay with them and fish them at different times of the day to determine what time of day they seem active. Then throw the farm at them. Fish have to eat. Just might have smaller windows, and likely if they are lethargic will not be moving big distances for a meal. Might require you to be spot on with a swiss cheese drilling day or two to find some holding structure based on the fishery you on.

Chin up Buddy!! Those fish might light up soon!! Change it up!!Throw something different at them that NOBODY else is. At the very least it gives you some inspiration as you hit the hardwater. Knowing your not throwing the same ole not working program at them!! LOL!!

Good Luck!!

Been a tough season for me to, granted I have had a few good days but got skunked 3 times this year and thats never happened before in my 22 year ice fishing career. We have a hot perch bite going but I seem to only manage a few fish a trip and hear and read about others getting limits on the same water. Again their idea of keepers and mine may differ from what I see waiting to be cleaned at the bait shops. Many keeping 7-8″ perch and I prefer 10’s and up. It’s still not over I may hit it big again yet before seasons up, if not I sure hope muskie seasons better

I would say its been a pretty good pan fish bite this year in east central MN. The biggest key has been to keep moving until active fish are found. Have only sat in the fish house on afternoon this year. Have only had one off trip so far this season. Guess theres still plenty of time to mess that up.

We caught a ton of fish this year, but it was harder to stay on the larger fish… Back waters iced quickly and it really pushed out and scattered the fish a lot more than usual. I probably only spent about 1 hour in a shack all year… I was always moving, opening new holes and trying to locate more fish for guide customers.

I have never seen guide customers walk off the ice so worn out from both working so hard moving around, and jigging their buts off for the fish… because for about the last month the dead sticks have been almost worthless… to maNy small fish on them all the time.

So don’t feel alone buddy it was all in all a tough fall and so far a tough winter.

I only have one day to they year so far that I look back on and am truely proud of. Other than that we’ve had about a dozen OK days and probably 20+ bad bad bad days. I will say that the pike and bass bite is usually pretty outrageous if you’re after them. I enjoy it but the panfish just seem to trip my trigger. I’m about ready for spring, but we aren’t quite finished here yet. As long as its going to be February, I’m not praying for 50 degrees yet. I’d like to be able to continue to cross those sloughs with current to get to some still un tapped gems that I’ve been wanting to hit all winter. If I can manage to do that in March, things might get out of hand

The year started well but January was really tough. Size this year was a factor also. Remember, it only takes one or two great days to turn a season around and from past experience those day are in March
One habit I have found myself getting into this year is when finding inactive fish on the Marcum I’ll set up on them for possibly too long, throwing the kitchen sink at em instead of moving on trying to locate hungry fish. Good or bad I don’t know but it’s fun trying to figure out what they want and how they want it presented. Bring on the warmer overcast days, things will pick up in a hurry

The ice blessed us with it’s presence two weeks early this year on Pool 9 but was it a blessing? Did the fish get “caught with their pants down” as some others elude to? I know for a fact gills were in mid winter pattern well before the chubby guy dressed in red slid down the chimney which threw some local bucketeers for a loop. Crappie that I managed to keep a pretty good bead on since last fall slid out of seasonal habitat a solid two weeks early. Early ice bites on various community holes that typically yield respectable size fish for a solid 2 weeks dwindled to bait size bait thieves after only 3 or 4 days. The first holes typically aren’t punched on the Bay until late January but given the inactivity of bigger fish, the Bay looked like a pinata after the 20th kid administered his 2 swings – all before the calender even flipped January! Speaking of which….January was just brutal with front after front dumping heavy snow on the region followed by some lengthy shots of artic air. Walking, drilling, fishing – walking, drilling, fishing – walking, drilling, fishing (get the picture?) has been my fortay the last 5 weeks. Finally stumble on some fish and they just stare at your presentation like a 4 year old at a plate of spinach! It’s all in good fun though! Finding and triggering fish to strike is the cats meow for me! I’ve managed to put my fair share of fish on the ice the past 2 1/2 months but it certainly has not been a walk in the park the last 2. And there were a few outings that saw the red stuff running down the side of my noggin walking off the ice as I was scratching so hard trying to figure things out. Rest assure, male members of percidae family are beginning to get fiesty which serves has a prelude of things to come! Keep the faith! That’s 80% of the battle.

I’ve had a tough year to, but its partly my fault, I haven’t fished near enough. I had some good trips to the river in december but have struggled since.

But I did have a very good trip to Spirit Lake/Okoboji, and had good luck on some smaller body’s of water around home.

I’ve had one of my best years ever. Best muskie fishing season last year ever and it has lead right into other species for the winter. Lots of big walleyes, FAT 29″ and FAT 28″ walleyes released early ice in the same spot in consecutive days. I took my buddy out there next night and he got a 27.5″. Numerous 23″-27″ as well. Crappie fishing has been outstanding on 5 different lakes this year. I have not been out once this year while targeting crappie without being able to at least catch my limit of nice fish. Note: Does not mean I kept my limit every time, I usually gave them away to people who needed the fish who don’t get out as much as me or good old CPR. I’m on the water about 3 days a week. Had a trip to Red Lake for 2 days between 2 guys we caught 100+ walleyes, really nice fish. I can’t complain, still have the best panfish and jumbo perch fishing coming up!

Wow sounds like a great bite going on Red….That is a great 2 days of fishing……Any pics? What was working? I have a trip planned in the next week…Thanks for any help…

Whats the secret? *Mallard*

Quote:

---

Whats the secret? *Mallard*

---

Yeah, no kidding!

What is that, 1 fish every 16 minutes……non-stop……..for the entire 2 days….that’s some serious power fishing…you da man!

Calvin, are you going up before the walleye season closes on the 22nd or after?

As for Red, it seriously was as many walleyes you wanted to catch from 16″-20″. We had snowmobiles and got far away from any crowds. That is how many fish we caught in fishing two 10 hour days, so 20 hours of fishing. Fished day time hours 8am-6pm. I had a really good pattern going on. First time I have ever hooked 2 walleyes at the same time on 1 lure (1 trebel), 1 was 18″ and 1 was 19″. Couldn’t believe it. Heard of it happening in the summer on crankbaits, but unheard of on 1 single tiny trebel hook.

I changed the numbers for you guys so you don’t get too carried away, even though it was what it was.

Quote:

---

Calvin, are you going up before the walleye season closes on the 22nd or after?

---

Actually this weekend……