Shenango Report

Late afternon @ Golden Run the crappie were hungry...especially for wax worms on a bright green swedish pimple. Watching on my underwater camera the fish responded to a free falling bait that went below them and then back up past them to a stop, where they would take it. Fish were clustered about two feet off the bottom.

One problem...how do you successfully land a 14" plus crappie thru a 6" hole??? I went with a six inch auger this year rather than the eight inch..lost every larger crappie at the bottom of the hole. I know..drill a larger hole....but other than that what suggestion do you have?

And a friendly reminder....be aware of the course of the river channel throught the lake, still open water above the channel at east end of lake, ice may be thin else where in the lake above the channel.

+1. I use mine for crappie. Lost a bunch of big ones at the hole over the years.

   Ain't  you supposed to bring a buddy along , so he can " Get The Net "  

ORIGINAL: hurricanewg

Late afternon @ Golden Run the crappie were hungry...especially for wax worms on a bright green swedish pimple. Watching on my underwater camera the fish responded to a free falling bait that went below them and then back up past them to a stop, where they would take it. Fish were clustered about two feet off the bottom.

One problem...how do you successfully land a 14" plus crappie thru a 6" hole??? I went with a six inch auger this year rather than the eight inch..lost every larger crappie at the bottom of the hole. I know..drill a larger hole....but other than that what suggestion do you have?

And a friendly reminder....be aware of the course of the river channel throught the lake, still open water above the channel at east end of lake, ice may be thin else where in the lake above the channel.

Take your time. If you dont try to horse it, it will stop running in circles under the hole. Dont get excited. If you have a transducer in the hole, get it out quick. Keep the fish at least a foot below the ice until it slows down before you bring it into the hole. A lot of the bigger ones come unhooked just as you get their head out of the hole so dont raise it before you can get your free hand on him. I use a six inch until the ice is 6" and this has worked well for me. Just dont get excited and you'll land them.

catch smaller fish!

Thanks for the excellent ideas.

Friday was a great day on the ice at Golden Run, a lot of people having a lot of fun!

East end of lake is all open water as of today.

8 inches at the swim beach. Fishing was slow this morning. 2 slabs. 8 or so dinks.

Got a few nice crappies at the SB. Sorted thru 30 small fish to keep 9 7" gills. Left just as it started to snow.