Today brought back memories

Yes, today brought back memories of just how good first ice fishing for panfish can really be. Mike/HOF and I went to the backwaters today near Wabasaha/Kellogg. Did we catch lots of fish? Oh Yeah, we did quite well thank you.
Fished in between 3 1/2 to 5 feet of water. Used Ratso’s. I tipped mine with waxies and Mike tipped his with Spikes.
Caught fish in the entire column of water, but better/bigger fish were up high, like only a foot below the ice. Could actually site fish them without having to be in a dark house. What a blast to see a 9 inch bluegill come in and attack. The majority of fish were very nice Bluegills, then couple of crappies and a few keeper sized Perch. Yes, there were small ones to sort through, but the nicer ones this time were the majority. Both of us kept a nice meal. I am adding todays catch to some I already have in the freezer toward a traditional Christmas eve fish fry.
Thanks Mike for a great day and some NEW memories.

Did you guys go down to Wilcox or somewhere else? Have you heard anything about the finger lakes down by the Pioneer Club or isn’t that safe ice yet?
Thanks Al

I think the word is out, so I guess we can say that we were at Wilcox.
The Finger Lakes are producing some fish. The ice is good except around the culvert and by some springs. Stay on the trails and you should be fine.

Good Fishing,
Mike

Judging from all the cars there Saturday that must be the happening place.
Thanks Al

Sounds like you guys had alot of fun iceing some nice fish. We need to get down there guys.

Ron, did you bring your new Marcom and if so how did it work?

Thanks, Bill

No Bill, have yet to take the new MarCum out. Wilcox isn’t all that deep. Yesterday, I only site fished, so a flasher wasn’t necessary. However, yes, I am anxious to get the MarCum out there and see just how good it is. Still love my old Vexilar FL8 tho. Dusted it off, polished it up and put a charge on the battery. It is in mint condition but I will never get rid of it. It was a close fishing buddy for years. Vexilar is a mighty fine product, I now want to know if MarCum is up to what they say. You can be sure that after a couple of uses, I am going to get on here and make my observations and give my impressions.

I have the Vexilar FL8 SE so anytime you want to compare the two together just let me know and you can borrow it as you do alot of your fishing during the week days when I’m working. Am very interested in how these two units compare. Will make for a good product review report. Are you guys using hand augers or a gas auger? Reason I’m asking if I don’t know if a gas auger would sppok the fish where you are at or not. Depends how deep of water and how big of an area you are fishing. Mike had today off so I would imagine hes right back down there fishin. Lucky guy.
Thanks, Bill

Too early for a power auger. About a half dozen turns of the hand auger and you are through the ice. Yes, when the ice is this thin and most likely you are up in shallow water, I am sure a power auger would spook the fish.
Even a hand auger will scare them. When I drill a hole, I know I will probably have to wait a good 10 to 15 minutes for the fish to settle down and fade back into the picture.
Guys are using power augers already, hardly get to throttle up and zip you are through. Oh they are nice to have later on in the season when the ice is over a foot thick. Saves a lot of time and back aches.