Pool 8, Tough Bite on the Ice

The last couple trips Mike C and I have made produced numbers of fish but not a lot for size. The plan for this Saturday Feb. 28th was in hopes of finding some size even if not in numbers……we succeeded in staying out of the numbers game

We met up at 6:30am with good friend Dave and pulling in just behind us….good friend Cade. Sorry for not recognizing you right away Cade, pleasant surprise though when you walked out

The first spot had us set up in 15-18fow with fish showing on the MarCum’s all over the water column. It was hard at first to decide which targets to go after .My findings were small gills cruising from 8-12 below the ice. They would chase up to 6 feet below ice and stop dead in there tracks. Looking for nicer fish the bait was placed 8 foot below and when pulling marks raised to 5 feet, this did pull 3 nice crappies out of the cluster with only one making it top side. The transducer saved one and the other just came unbuttoned before I could get it’s head into the hole…’sons a gun” Just as it was thought the bite was on…..it was off

The first three takers were unable to resist a pink/white demon jig. A number of other baits were dropped in hopes of loosening up another pair of lips but it just wasn’t happening…..time to move. The second spot being a hole holding 18fow between flats put us on crappies again, but only the smaller ones would take a bait. There were even a few dandy sized shiners being caught and kept with summer fishing in mind

From here Cade who was now joined upon Kyle’s arrival, moved one way and Mike C and I another, Dave had enough and was headed to the truck. We should have probably done the same but there was still hope…..so we thought Moving around never really finding a good bite didn’t put a damper on havin’ fun, plus there were a few fish finding the bucket. Cade had some good gills showing up on the camera with his move but they were fussy to say the least. A pink ratso and an orange lil cecil loosened a few lips but not many. With a bite far and few between enough was enough.

On a good note, the ice conditions were at there best for travel. The sleds glided with ease, and with just enough hard snow frozen to the top there was no need for creepers.
We left today after takin’ a whoopin’ from them finned critters swimming around but they better be on there best guard. When this weather breaks there are going too be some nice fish looking for a meal and I hope to be there with friends when it happens

Hope you all found something better today……Good luck fishing people

Nice report. I had a feeling that the finned critters would be finicky this weekend. I do, however, have the morning tomorrow to fish. Therefore, I must do what any stubborn angler should do and that is to go out and try it! Not sure where I’m heading yet, but wherever it is, I plan to see the sun rise!

I got my buck kicked here in Menomonie today

Nice report Bret

nice report big shiners my gut told me the same fishings gonna be tuff this weekend big cold front barometer thru the roof but cant get em if you dont go good work guys

Sounds familiar. I found some nicer gills suspended in 12′, but they sure were fussy. I had to use the smallest jigs I had with either no bait or artificial.

How ever upon moving to pool nine the crappies were more cooperative. They were in 6′ near a small cut that leads to main channel. The ice was good even with a fairly good current. A small demon spoon was the bait and around 30 crappies was the result.

No giants but some good action with most fish around 10″ but about a dozen in the 12″ area. Next week pool 8 should be on fire when this weather turns.

Thanks for the report Brett. Maybe I will run into you guys.

You can’t catchem in the living room. Tuesday for me.

Tough results buddy but you still put out a darn good read Sounds like you boys worked hard, I would never doubt that you wouldn’t.
Reports are still spotty a pool or three south of you Bret but the larger crappies are starting to get hungry. Thursday after the storm(by storm we’re talking thunder, big time lightning strikes and heavy rains) the crappies went wild. The next day…..you guessed it, tight lipped like it was the middle of January again
Like you said, it’s only a matter of a few short days and the bite will get hot with the best fishing of the season Good luck pal!

With an artic H sitting right smack on top of us this past weekend the previously planned trip to madtown was easily warranted.

The trout in the fishpond where absolutely on F I R E! Caught glimpses of at least a dozen poles bent like palm trees in a hurricane as I circled a nearby 1710 Predator wiping the drool. Ran out of peso’s by the time I reached the Fintech booth. Thank heavens I have enough knuckleballs for the Plano to serve as an anchor if I just add rope. The new Gold & Purple Crackers from BfishN look even better in person than any picture could serve justice! I’m an icefisherman by birth right who usually needs two weeks of heavy counseling immediately following ice out each season BUT these new crackers have me itching to close the bail on the big Mitchell!

Nice read Bret

Bret:

Great to see you turned a poor bite into a great day on the ice. That’s what it’s all about!

Joel

I was out there in the same area last night and the fish are starting to come around..I didn’t put a real hurt on the keepers but took home 8 nice ones (6 gills and 2 crappies) and caught about 30 smaller fish in just a few hours. The crappies were caught pushing 7:00 at night. I’ll be out on the Lake tonight and hopefully I can have a mid week report up here after we (fingers crossed) whack a few tonight.