More gills (Page 3): Yeah, they seem to stay in deep water in winter on that lake. Maybe it has something to do with the springs. I hope you had a fun time in the UP. I would have had...

davedumont Loc: Oscoda, Michigan

fishyaker wrote:

Great fishing on those bluegill's Dave! Wow...that's some pretty deep water they were in! Glad you coaxed them onto the hook!

I've just returned from a 3 day snowmobiling ride in the UP (Michigan's Upper Peninsula) and I'm pretty tuckered out...but hope to squeeze in some local ice fishing over the next 2 days once I rest up! It was really cold, and back home pretty much the same so the ice thickness should be even better than when I left!

Yeah, they seem to stay in deep water in winter on that lake. Maybe it has something to do with the springs. I hope you had a fun time in the UP. I would have had to sneak in a little fishing while I was there. Lol. Good luck if you get out there. My son-in-law and I are fishing in a local tournament on Saturday. I don't expect a hot bite with the bitter cold temps on friday but you never know!

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

davedumont wrote:

Yeah, they seem to stay in deep water in winter on that lake. Maybe it has something to do with the springs. I hope you had a fun time in the UP. I would have had to sneak in a little fishing while I was there. Lol. Good luck if you get out there. My son-in-law and I are fishing in a local tournament on Saturday. I don't expect a hot bite with the bitter cold temps on friday but you never know!

It was hard "not to fish" being in the UP...I know what you mean! I did purchase a few lures when we made stops to buy fuel. Those places always have some good local and unique tackle to browse!

The lakes are pretty safe now and guys were hitting them hard. The owner of one place we stayed has been ice fishing on South Manistique Lake and done well on yellow perch, some walleye and lost a monster pike right at the hole recently. The lower edge of the fishing hole cut his spider wire line!

I'd like to get back up there and just fish...nothing else!

Good luck in the fishing derby!

davedumont Loc: Oscoda, Michigan

fishyaker wrote:

It was hard "not to fish" being in the U... (show quote)

I hear they're doing pretty good all over the UP right now. I know what you mean about the lures in the stores up there. Lots of unique ones.

Thanks for wishing me luck in the tournament. I think we'll need it. Lots of competition and not great weather.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

Just for fun I'm adding a snapshot of the old river crossing. The planks are covered in snow...but it was only wide enough to carefully drive a sled across. No margin for error!

Captain Nick Loc: Ecorse, Michigan

fishyaker wrote:

It was hard "not to fish" being in the U... (show quote)

Yank dual purposed a getaway like a professional. Reading the severed braid is a popular song when the ice gets in good. A buddy of mine pretty much is married to his suffix braid on the hard water, he advises to drill at an angle and/or several angles after the first strait down hole. Not in shallow but double digited depths and preferably an electric auger. Sometimes he still will plunge his rod tip below the hole but even then is no guarantee of making contact. What an experience that must be.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

fishyaker wrote:

Just for fun I'm adding a snapshot of the old river crossing. The planks are covered in snow...but it was only wide enough to carefully drive a sled across. No margin for error!

Oops! I made this reply by mistake on your thread here Dave. It was meant for a different spot! My apologies!

davedumont Loc: Oscoda, Michigan

Captain Nick wrote:

Yank dual purposed a getaway like a professional. ... (show quote)

I use Suffix Ice Braid as well and shove the tip of my rod in the hole to get it under the ice whenever I hook a bigger fish that goes on a run. I don't bother drilling on an angle but I know others that do. I just play them out until I can ease their head into that hole.

davedumont Loc: Oscoda, Michigan

fishyaker wrote:

Oops! I made this reply by mistake on your thread here Dave. It was meant for a different spot! My apologies!

Lol! No big deal. I used to snowmobile a lot when I was younger. It was fun.

Captain Nick Loc: Ecorse, Michigan

davedumont wrote:

I use Suffix Ice Braid as well and shove the tip of my rod in the hole to get it under the ice whenever I hook a bigger fish that goes on a run. I don't bother drilling on an angle but I know others that do. I just play them out until I can ease their head into that hole.

Dave you got skills sir, I neglected to mention how my buddy uses I believe is a six inch diameter auger or maybe smaller. I also think he targets panfish mostly, and he will get a bonus bite while working um. I never imagined the lost fins due to ice rubbing. One should probably keep a spool of line in case those small 500/1000 size reels get a workout like that.

davedumont Loc: Oscoda, Michigan

Captain Nick wrote:

Dave you got skills sir, I neglected to mention how my buddy uses I believe is a six inch diameter auger or maybe smaller. I also think he targets panfish mostly, and he will get a bonus bite while working um. I never imagined the lost fins due to ice rubbing. One should probably keep a spool of line in case those small 500/1000 size reels get a workout like that.

I used to use a 6" auger but upgraded to q0" years ago for that reason. My son-in-law recently bought an 8" electric auger which is MUCH lighter than my 10" gas auger. It seems to work fine so far. P. S. I do keep an extra couple spools of line with me just in case!

Captain Nick Loc: Ecorse, Michigan

davedumont wrote:

I used to use a 6" auger but upgraded to q0" years ago for that reason. My son-in-law recently bought an 8" electric auger which is MUCH lighter than my 10" gas auger. It seems to work fine so far. P. S. I do keep an extra couple spools of line with me just in case!

Great to know I'm receiving good tips and advice. Lord's will I get the chance to use this ice gear one of these days. I bought and sold my equipment 4X b4 finally committing to keep the last purchases thanks to a co-worker giving me a deal on a two person shanty with a floor.