Perhaps a silly question…

Okay. So I went out to check on ice conditions and also to see if ducks were flying. Tomorrow is the end of duck season, and there isn’t enough ice to angle. Why can’t a guy slip into the traditional “hot spots” with a boat and do well fishing? Does the actual ice make a difference. I understand that it limits light, but the water turned over a long time ago.
Point is, if I have an open (basically) landing that I can get my boat in, why can’t I do well fishing for crappies and gills? Or…can I

You probably can do good. I think it is more about oxygen levels and water temperature than it is about the ice. Fish hang out by the shallow weeds early in the winter, then move deeper, generally. Maybe someone will chime in with something about the ice effecting the fish, but idk if it does.
Die hard ice guys probably just get sick of being in the boat all summer and then wait to hit those first ice spots on the ice.

Why not? Try looking for some submerged wood where there isn’t a ton of current, but you have some water depth.

Ofcourse you can, if you can get to where the fish are they will bite. The best first ice spots are the spots that were last good in the fall with your boat. Then as ice gets thicker and oxygen levels decrease they begin to move into deeper water. You definitely don’t have anything to lose, good luck to ya!

There is no dumb ice fishing question!!!! The anwser only makes you better.

There are no dumb questions, only dumb guys answering – like me. Go fish, that is the first half of the fun. The second half is actually getting something to bite. They will not bite if you are sitting on the coach watching one more silly football game.

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sitting on the coach watching one more silly football game.

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I’ve never sat on a coach! I’m heading out this afternoon to mark some cribs with my Marcum.