La Crosse Area Ice Fishing 12/22/07

By bret_clark 0

Things are wet making for the need of dry boots and creepers if you plan on taking a walk. I was joined today by my good friends JP Mason and Eric for a crappie hunt and maybe a flag or two if a toothy critter happened by. The shiners were placed on the edge of a flat and staggered from 6 – 10fow. With all the flags set we walked out from the flat into deeper water to look for suspended crappies which we found. The tools that were a necessity and responsible for icing a couple fish fry’s were the Stikemaster Lazer Mag Express and the MarCum LX-5.

The auger was lit on fire and put to work, the idea was to make Swiss cheese out of 40 – 45 yard radius starting at 9fow working our way into 11fow. The crappies were cruising through 5-7 feet below the ice and they were hungry, as long as you stayed on them. Staying on the move watching the flasher was key too keeping busy catching. If a drop was made in the hole and a fish not marked after that jig hit 7 foot, we moved on. We caught fish out of ever hole but instead of waiting for them to show up we followed them around. As for jigs or should I say jig, I started with and never changed from a Glow Brite Pink Shrimpo by CJ&S with no meat

After playing catch and release with the crappies (after keeping a few for football tomorrow) and no flags I wanted to try something different hoping to drum up some pike action. I pulled out a heaver rod and armed it with a leader and 3/8oz hair jig. I moved up onto another flat and proceeded to make cheese again, this time staying in 4 – 8fow. I tipped the jig with a dead shiner and started drumming in the first hole. I moved into the second hole and pulled a big mark. I kept telling JP…he’s lookin’, he’s lookin’ then the Snot Rocket grabbed a hold and went to the side of the hole. Hook was set and fish on, the little critter made for some more fun in the day. The set up produced 2 other good marks and hits only for me to swing and miss.

So to sum things up….. a good pair of boots and creepers, power auger (even with 6 inches of ice), flasher, plastics, and being willing to change things up made for a great way to spend a wet foggy day on the ice. The best bites in the La Crosse area have been early am and late pm.
Good luck on the ice people

Bret

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0 Comments

  1. Thanks for the report Bret. I see you put the new auger to work. How do you like it? I hear the Lazer Mag Express model is pretty nice. I sure like my Lazer Mag. Took your advice and added a 5” Lazer hand auger to my aresonal of drilling power. It should make for some faster hand auger drilling in the backwaters. Hope to use it next weekend.
    Thanks, Bill

  3. Good going guys
    The ice sure looks good with no snow on it for a change Too bad that may change after tonight though

  5. Thanks Again Mr. Clark. The ice was wet and slick, but gave a good morning to chase a few crappies. Shortly after first light, the bite slowed down, and you had to keep hopping to find fish.

    I used a orange/white little cecil with meat. Well I’m not sure what will happen now with the snow in the air, will need to wait until AM to see what we get . Thanks again Bret and Erice for another good morning.

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