2010/2011 Questions

imr...we saw quite a few crappie in the stinkhole with the uw cam but the perch seem to have first take at any presentation...we did catch a few when the perch were scarce...as for east ave i did hear of very good steelie action and a few perch but not too much else...ice fishing the lake proper has always been a little scary to me...as for the other questions about lk chat and superlines i cannot offer any info but will be checking out any info posted here as to a good light line for perch...thanks for the info you have given this year as it has helped me out considerably

Been using 14-6 lb. Fireline since it came out for perching and flat line trolling harnesses. Use 30 for the dipsies. I love it.Use it for steelhead with florocarbon 5 ft. leader. No problems.

Good ?'s imrinc...

I have to say, this turned out to be my best season on the ice. Was the first full year for me using a flasher & my gps. Increased my catch exponentially. Can't wait to mark some spots this summer & check them on the ice next year.

Only fished PI at the freeze out, so can't offer my opinions there....
but I had good luck on crappie at pyma....here's the last batch I brought home...


As for the fireline...love it for perchin...
but have had bad luck fishing it outside the hut on windy days. I've tried the regular & the microice...
I don't know that it 'absorbs' the water, but it seems to me it's the texture of the braid itself that doesn't let the water run off like it would on mono or floro. So when jigging in the wind, it ices up pretty quick. Just my take on it. I still keep one ice rod spooled up with it for use in the hut.

I use the palomar knot for braids, don't like how it sinches & holds on mono.
The easiest knot I've found to tie mono on the ice is a simple surgeons loop.
Quick, and you don't have to try to twist line around itself with frozen fingers. Just hold it close to the jig when you sich it tight & you'll end up with a small loop, perfect for horizontal jigs. Lets them hang free.
I usually retie a few times a day, but didn't have a knot come loose all season.

Lures/jigs; I had great luck with the fiskas wolframs...did last year too, really like the tungsten. Got some marmooshkas this year, but never tried them much, could bring myself to cut the fiskas off. I'll make a better effort next year. Agree on the gentz bug...have them in clown & red/white, work good. I had good results with plastics this year too. Never could bring myself to leave the bait at home, but a couple times I could have. Bare platics impressed me.

Tight lines on the soft water.

Bring your quad, stay on the trail, bring a gaff and LARGE jigging spoons. Some days are bust, some days are brilliant.

I saw as many muskies and pike on camera in PI Bay as I did crappie (1 each) until mid Feb.  when I hit the stinkhole (no bites, but 1 large school of BIG crappie) and 1 school @ condos.  I caught a total of 1 crappie this season.  I wondered the same thing about PI Bay's crappies all winter.  I even got to the point where I was hoping to catch some steel... they also never showed until late Feb. in any numbers. 

Perch fishing was intense most of the season.  Great numbers early and mid, and great fish late.  The catches were better and more exciting with working cameras, but my best night was without.  East Ave. has tempted me, but I just don't see myself ever targeting steel exclusively thru the ice.  With food-fish to be had, I'll go for them.  The exception is pike @ Eaton.  THAT was fun! 

Genz bug jig-heads above an orange kastmaster was by far my best bait rig for the second straight yr, but only with emeralds.  Strangely, grubs only brought smelt and tiny perch, except for the gills when I went after them.  To get the perch in a frenzy, I used the smallest rainbow Rapala I could find.  I caught prob. half my perch on that, and brought TONS of them to my camera and bait lines.  Used pimples for the 1st time, and they're fish catchers all right.  I'll be expanding that tray also.

I use Berkley Trilene XL in several weights exclusively for all my ice rigs, even tip ups (leaders off the braid).  I have nothing but great things to report on that line.  It doesn't get brittle, knots are strong and easy to tie, and it takes a beating from the holes and fish.  The fact that it costs under $10 for 300+ yds makes it my go to for everything from ice lines to fly fishing tippet.  I guarantee it's never cost me a fish.  I can blame lost fish on several other things, just not my XL.

I'll be selling my Frabill Recon and buying the Trekker next season.  I love the Recon, but need the 2nd seat.  Extra space while alone will be nice, too.  Also on the list for next season is a fish finder of some sorts for inland waters.  Cameras are great (dare I say mandatory) for clear water, but there's not much of that besides PI Bay.