Finely made my 1st trip out on the ice today. Just couldnt handle sitting around the house any more hoping the river would open back up. Fished one of the smaller less popular lakes near Mora today. We had fished this lake a few years ago with very little luck. Today with a little searching around on the internet we found another access point to this lake that we wanted to try.
We got to the lake around 2pm and after a quick walk out the 1st hole of the was opened up. Next the Marcum was dropped in the hole with a Ratso headed down right after it. Then it happened. Nothing, and it was time to move. 
We headed out a little deeper and punched another hole. Our depth had moved from 6.5′ to 7.5′. Dropped the Marcum and the Ratso and to our surprise there where fish down there. A couple of bumps on the Ratso, some small marks on the Marcum and had a pretty good feeling we where dealing with a mess of small perch. On a second hole I had drilled in the area there where a couple of bigger marks that showed up on the Marcum but did not hit. Had a feeling these might be the pan fish we where looking for.
Figuring we might be on to something in this area we drill a half dozen holes on direction and then again another. It was time to start hole hopping and see what could be found. 1st off a few small perch hit the ice. Then a small crappie and gill. As I moved in shallower more perch seemed to show up. Farther out but still only a few inches deeper and it was more sunnies and even a school of small crappies.
Ended up punching 25 or so holes in this area and spent the rest of the afternoon just moving from hole to hole picking up a half dozen or more active fish out of each before moving on. Most of the panfish where just medium sized but did end the day with a half dozen big enough for a nice meal. Never did get anything going on the ratsos I had started with. A gil pill with a few Euro larve was the lure of choice.
Ice conditions where pretty good on this lake. We walked out as there where no tracks in this area. Looking across the lake there where a few trucks on the ice near the landing. Snow depth was about 6″s. Ice depth I would guess around 10″s.
So for our 1st trip of the year numbers where pretty good. Size was fair with enough for a meal but I would guess the high light of the trip was finding fish on a new spot. A great afternoon for sitting out on the ice catching fish.
Anyone else been out in the area? Good luck to you that are getting out.
