If you like the thrill of catching sumo almost football like fish, then this report is something to read. I am just like any fisher person in the world; I will fish for anything that will give me a hard fought battle. Today we stumbled across some fish that gave us the battles we were looking for. Not your typical species for ice fishing however these smallmouths fought just as hard under the ice as they do in open water.
Typical early ice patterns are sometimes quite simple; fish the same area that you caught fish last in the late fall. Today that was the key. About a month ago I was jigging up a good number of walleyes on this lake, marking spots on the GPS as I went along and thought this might be an excellent first ice spot, once ice is safe enough for travel on this lake. Our intentions were these same walleyes, but to our surprise we were greeted with some fantastic smallmouth fishing.
This spot today was a classic walleye spot that sticks out on the Lakemaster chip. It was an outside turn along rock/weed transition area with deep water nearby. Typical walleye gear gave us a slight advantage over these fish today, not much but just enough to ice these beasts. Thorne Bros rods, along with a variety of different colored Custom Jigs & Spins slender spoons in the 1/8oz size. The slender spoon has an amazing flutter with a slow fall that simply drives these fish crazy, often times these fish would aggressively chase the spoon only to have us open the bail and allow the bait to flutter back down to the bottom. As soon as we picked it off the bottom the smallmouth couldn’t resist…the fight was on.
I would say that this maybe a fluke to stumble onto these fish; however I am glad I got to battle these fish under the ice today. I am extremely confident that these fish caught today were not harmed in anyway. All of these smallmouths swam away with great authority to fight another day. A few things I learned today while on the ice…you never know what type of fish your going to catch and don’t be afraid to check out those great fall fishing hot spots yet during this early ice season.
Be safe and we will see you on the ice.
More pics of the day…BTW we had a very solid 8 inches of ice..Very smooth ride out except for one little area of some rough ice. The ice is shaping up almost perfectly for a nice long winter of fishing…..
Here is a link for Thorne Bros for the rods used, also for Custom Jigs & Spins slender spoons.
Very nice fish guys
What a great day to be out on the ice
thats ridiculous!!!! Where’s my phone call!!???!??
Great fish boys!!
Smallies in the winter,way nice.
Here is the video for Calvin’s Report
Not all that often you hear of guys getting on a hot SM bite through the ice. You guys are fishing machines!!
Awesome job guys, great looking bronzies!! Great camera action too
very nice!
Did they all survive? Typically Smallmouth winter in deep enough water on Lakes where catching them through the ice can be a concern for blowing their air bladder. Not bagging on your report because the fish are nice, but I put my favorite species first and foremost…
Majority of all these fish were caught in less than 25 fow….A few fish (2) caught between 25-30 fow….all of these fish swam away with a huge tail splash.. I am 99.9999% confident that these fish swam away to live to fight another day.
Smallies…through the ice….cool dude’s
Thanks for a great read and some awesome pics
That had to be a blast
How is the carp bite, Sausage Fingers
Nice find guys
I would have to agree that most of these are fine. I have caught smallies in deep water, 40+ feet, that rocketed to the surface in the summer.
Those fish would be a blast icefishing.
Great stuff Cal and Matt, looks like you guys had a blast.
Great job Matt and Cal. Looks like a lot of fun!
Wow does that look like fun. Nice job fellas
Fishing Mille Lacs today early in the morning in 13 feet of water….I thought I had a great walleye on….well looks like I cannot shake these smallies. I caught two of them…thought the first on was a fluke, so I had to take a picture of the 2nd one…..
Those smallies are a blast through the ice aren’t they. Great looking fish Cal!
Looks like you guys had a blast!
Those are beautiful Smallie boys, and if any of you fisherman have yet to battle with Bronzebacks through an 8 inch circle you DO NOT know what your missing. Although I always hear these fish winter in 40 plus feet of water, and that cathing them in the winter is hard on the fish I have yet to ever catch them in those deep haunts. Our big smallies are often caught in a seemingly similiar pattern over 12-20 f.o.w., and I have yet to notice ANY ill effects to these fish, and we release unharmed every single one. I will say as I’m sure the boys will agree that IF you can locate these fish they are willing biters, and will rip drag!! Awesome!! Now I’m thinking about Smallies!!
Welcome to my world
I’m done thinking about it…….Back to Walleyes!!