Was able to get out on a small lake NE of Cambridge Thursday looking for some panfish. We had fished this lake last week and there was a lot of slush on it. It was good to see yesterday most of this was frozen up. I would say the biggest hassle out there now is all the frozen snowmobile and 4 wheeler tracks. Ice conditions where pretty fair with finding 8 to 10″s of good ice under the frozen slush. Still walking ice for this guy.
We started out drilling a bunch of holes to the edge of a deeper hole on this lake. Depths ranged from 25′ to 5′. After drilling holes it was game on with the panfish. Of the 20 holes we drilled fish where caught out of everyone.
In the deeper water it was classic panfishing with large schools of less active fish holding deeper or near the bottom. More aggressive fish coming in above them. There where even some schools of sunnies and crappies working right under the ice at this 20’+ depth. These where the most aggressive fish and I was surprised at how close tot he ice they where. When you set the hook and the jig comes flying out of the hole they are right under the ice.
Moving to the shallower holes produced good fishing to yesterday with a little better mix of fish to be caught. There where still plenty of sunnies and crappies at the 5 to 10′ range but also a few bass and perch where added to the mix. Those bass sure give a 2# test panfish rig a work out.
Lures yesterday where a couple of my favorites. The Gil Pil and Diamond jig tipped with a few euro larve. The Ratsos caught a few fish to but ended up with more bumps than fish caught.
In short the fishing was very good yesterday. I would guess between my neighbor and I we caught over a 100 panfish. Size was pretty typical for lakes in this area but the action made for a very entertaining afternoon of fishing.
Anyone else been getting out on the ice in the area?
I’ve been on Knife a couple times and have nothin much to show for it. I need to catch me some fish to eat soon as I’ve been a craving them!