Pool 8 Ice Fishing Report

Friday night plans were made, Steve, Mike C, and I decided to fish pool 8 early Saturday morning. With a new 10” snow cover, cold snap and the river rising and falling a foot Friday, we knew the bite would be early and tough. When I left Sparta it was -20 degrees without the wind chill. It was cold on the ice. I had trouble getting my propane going. If things are going to go wrong, it always seems to be when you don’t want to be messing with stuff. But the fishing was a reward!

As predicted, the crappies were feeding as soon as we were set up and fishing. Steve with his new LX-3 was having a blast using the unit. He ordered it one day and had it the next. Thanks Scott, you made his day! We were fishing in 5FOW. The trick was to get a fish to follow off the bottom then, drop the jig back at a (hopefully) open mouth. It was a tough bite, sometimes you had to play with them for minutes to get a reaction. The best bite was from first light until 9:30. At this time it was warming up to a balmy -7 degrees.

The jig producing for me was a purple purest without tipping it. The crappies hit it on the drop, watching your line close was a must. We had minnows tight to the bottom for walleyes without any takers. Steve and Mike were tipping an assortment of Lil Cecils and tear drops picking up crappies also. I was playing some catch and release, Both Steve and Mike iced them selves a fish fry. We were not finding anything large, just some nice fryers. My nicest crappie (pictured here) was just at 11 inches. With a bite at a dead stop by 11:00am, it was time to load up and head for home.

You know you have diehard fishing buddy’s when they will meet you on the ice, on such a day as today. Things worked just as planned, quick bite and head home. Steve was going (so he could play with his new LX-3) even if it was a hundred below. After thawing out propane and getting set up, it turned out to be a fun few hours! This cold snap is a welcome in my book. We have ice now guys!