Presque Isle - Sun 1/3/2010

Got a late start today (appx 8-8:30AM). Brutal weather conditions, but furious action!

- PI Bay (parking lots vista 1,2,3) only saw one ice-hut out there today in the morn appx. 9:00AM. Ice looked very solid in spots, but still very sketchy in other spots. Also still a few patches of open water further towards mid-bay. Did'nt feel like being paranoid all day so I passed.

- Horseshoe Pond: no huts or buckets - just did a drive by. Was solid early last wk with about 4"-5" and lots of icemen, so I figure that with the weather we have had since then, It's probably thickened a tad.

- Misery Bay (about 18-20 huts): Settled down here for the day, loaded up the sled and headed out about 100-125 yds. The weather was brutal (25mph wind w/ 30-35 gusts), 15-20 degrees. Thick ice 4"-5", not really black though - still kinda clear and white in spots. Lots of black ice further-in twoards shore though. After getting the hut screwed down and the heater goin, We fished for about 5-6 hours and ended up just shy of 2 limits of large gills and 1 "fat" crappie just a bit over 12". The action was pretty solid all day long and you could afford to be real choosy on the keepers, which was nice as there were many lunkers. Despite fighting with the weather, wind and freeze it was a great day on the ice.

FuNK

ORIGINAL: Big Tuna

Not too be a jerk,but really how big are the gills you keep? I've fished the bay years ago and caught huge Pumkinseeds mostly in the 9 inch range out from the monument in the weeds.I'm ready to go gill fishing but I'm spoiled,the lake I fish has huge gills,but is a little short of ice.If the gills you are getting are at least 8 inches,I'll head up 120 miles,but if there 7 inch fish I'll pass,thanks Tuna, Good post DaFuNK,it's nice went someone post an honest post not some sketchy crap.

usually keep 7-8"+ depending how fat they are...

This is what we're really after..

2 lb 9 oz I think

here it is:


NEW STATE RECORD ALMOST GOT AWAY
February 6, 2001

A 2-pound, 9-ounce yellow perch has been named the new state record for the species by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.

The perch, which measured 16.25-inches long, was caught by Keith Meck of Macungie, while ice fishing at Beltzville Lake, Carbon County on February 9, 2000. Sensing he had something special, Meck had the fish weighed on a certified scale. When the fish weighed in at an ounce more than the 2-pound, 8-ounce record perch caught by Anthony A. Karuzie at Hunters Lake, Sullivan County in 1992, he knew he was right.

Although the fish was landed, state record status almost got away. The Commission, the only entity which can certify a new state record fish in the Commonwealth, requires applications for potential state records be submitted with specific documentation on an official form. A Commission volunteer supplied Meck with an application - but accidentally provided him with the wrong form. As a result, the perch was initially entered into the Angler Award Program logs. The Angler Award Program recognize anglers who make exceptional catches of fish that don’t meet state record standards. The error was eventually discovered, but as the Angler Award Program requires less stringent documentation, some of the information needed to confirm the fish as a new record was not immediately available.

"Fortunately, Mr. Meck was able to produce most of the missing information. And after a thorough review, we were happy to certify his catch as a new state record. We’ve all heard of the big one that got away, but this may be the first state record that almost got away because of confusion over paperwork," said Carl Richardson, who coordinates the program for the Commission.

To be considered for state record certification, a fish must be caught using legal means, in season, from Pennsylvania waters open to the public without charge or fee. Fish taken from farm ponds, fee-fishing lakes, ponds or streams or in waters restricted to use by club members or their guests do not qualify. Potential record fish must exceed the established benchmark by at least one ounce, as weighed on a certified scale. The fish must be examined by a Commission biologist or Waterways Conservation Officer.

you'd think you'd get an occassional burbot through the ice at PI.  Anyone ever do any good on those through the ice at PI?  Actually, you'd think you'd see walleye a little more frequently too.

Did you have a view camera?  What else did you see.  I never had much luck at Misery myself.  I think there's usually too many people walking around; that's got to have an effect on the fish.