12/08/14: Time to dust off the hard water gear and head out on the lakes. Ice conditions are near perfect this season with twelve to fourteen inches of pure, clear ice with just a few inches of snow on top of it. Folks in the Ely area are dragging out the fishing shacks with full size pickup trucks, a sure indication of solid ice. Walleye fishing has begun to satisfy those early season anglers that have been out for the past week or so. Due to the ideal conditions, travel is easy which opens up nearly all of the lakes with the exception of moving water. The most aggressive fish tend to be higher up in the water column, so break out the lipless jigging lures, and ratting spoons and get busy. If the fish seem to be relating more to the bottom, drop a dead stick line down with a live shiner or chub just inches to a foot off the bottom. Big pike are very active during early ice and will readily hit a live sucker minnow when fished near weed beds and on the upper edges of drop-offs where forage fish tend to gather. They will stay in these shallow areas for the next few weeks until the smaller fish move to deeper water. This is the main reason spearing is so effective during early season. Crappies and sunfish are on the menu as well. Tiny micro size baits are becoming more popular these days as both of these species rely on tiny zooplankton to make up a large portion of their diets. Use the lightest line and gear that you feel comfortable with and you will be rewarded with a good bucket of fish by days end. Whether youre an old pro or someone who has just developed an interest in ice fishing, you couldnt ask for a better scenario, so get out there and take advantage of these great conditions.
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 04:28:27 +0000
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