With the weather being quite unusual and temperatures being much warmer than normal winter is sure taking it’s time with settling in in our area. We set out in pursuit for a multi- species day of fishing. Our targeted species were northern pike,Smallmouth bass and Bluegills.After a couple of hours jigging for panfish we found the action to be very slow.
The Smallmouth bass however were providing us with plenty of opportunities. We were very limited with the amount of area we could safely fish being that there was some open water in some areas that I wanted to fish. We were fishing the edge of a weed line on a lake that is basically featureless of structure. We fished both soft plastics on jig rods and live bait on tip-ups we caught fish on both presentations but with the lack of snow cover and very thin ice it seemed that the tip-ups set further away got more action.
As a Smallmouth bass fisherman I will always appreciate the catch of a bass weather it is through the ice or open water.With constantly drilling new holes and changing location it seemed it triggered new bites for us.As far as baits went we used Bros blood worms in the colors of white an red.On our tip-ups we used both fat head minnows and shiner minnows.
With all of us being very comfortably seated in our Otter Ice Lodge Ice houses it was a wonderful morning to be on the ice even if we have limited pickings on where we can fish. I know winter will settle in soon after all it is winter What ever water freezes I will fish it and lets all hope that the real cold settles in soon.
Paul Delaney
www.lateeyessportfishing.com
Great pics. of some nice fish and a great report.
Great Report and looks like a lot of fun!
Some very nice looking smallies indeed.
That had to be quite a bit of fun on a jig pole.
Very cool Paul! Thanks for the great photos and details of the bite. I’ve fished smallies through the ice, but never on weedlines, sounds very interesting. Are you able to catch these fish throughout the winter this way? What other bites do you have in mind up there?
Great to see a report from up that way, and thanks so much for sharing!
Joel
Thanks for the report Paul!! Chasing those big smallies has got to be unbelievable fun on the hardwater.
Hey Paul !!!
Thanks for the e-mail reply… I will be keeping in touch with you on your ice conditions… Really looking forward to doing some trophy walleye fishing in your back yard !!
Wow!
Nice Fish 
Nice looking smallies
.Kangaroo lake brings back memories of fishing Heins creek.A nice place to go when everything south of Algoma was running mud.
Love getting the smallies through the ice! Great report!
On the bay of green bay off the shores of Door County we have A world class walleye and whitefish fishery.I generally put the walleye fishing in high gear come the month of march while doing lots of whitefish trips throughout Jan and Feb with 50 to 100 fish days not uncommon. If any one is interested in finding out more about the fishing feel free to contact me.
Paul Delaney