Presque Isle Ice Fishing Season 2011

I think its fair to say at this time that this ice fishing season in the bay is a lost season.

And yrs the bay is horrible bit there are few spots that are still decent

ORIGINAL: NeFiShNeTiMe

i have to disagree with this post there are days that i went out and limited out and days that i went out and only got a couple on the bay but have yet to be skunked. you have to be willing to move more and use a variety of baits and jigs. i have had most luck on perch with the minnow than grub. also i am a firm believer that a camera is pretty much a must have for fishing the bay for perch, they are hitting so light that you cant see your pole move or they hit but they are just chewing on the tail or the head of the minnow. my camera has been used way more than my vexilar this year with all of the gizzard shad it is for the most part uselis. try to hook the minnow in different spots and try stirring up the bottom a lil bit then let your bait hang about a half inch off the bottom with another jig tied on about 8 inches up. but all in all without a camera you midis well twiddle your thumbs cus you are not going to get as many as a guy with one... perch also have been coming and going verry quickley this year so moving 10-30 foot is a great idea i have done good just moving a few feet.... good luck and sounds like ya better try some different tactics

Nice post.....

I agree with the fishing. It has been a fairly productive year, but not quite as good as the last couple years. We have had some different weather this year, and yes, the shad are making it difficult. I look at it as good and bad. The good part is that the pressure has been off this year at the bay.....I think we are in for a fantastic spring. The bad is that a lot of families fish the bay and I believe this had detoured family from taking their kids out. It is a convenient spot and a lot of people fish nothing but the bay. Inland lakes can be intimidating for a family outing, especially new to ice fishing, mostly due to the lack of people out. It can be nerve racking to drag your wife or kids out on un-explored ice. Safety is first with family.

I also agree with being mobile. Too many times we set up our shanties and sit in the same spot even when the bite is off. It can be a huge pain to move all your equipment around numerous times. A few feet does make a difference, especially when you are fishing the "channel". If the fish prefer 24' rather than be in say 21' of water.....a few feet can put you in the sweet spot. Also, a lot of people overlook a few very good spots. Right now the panfish are way down in the weeds (except most perch). You have to get down into the weeds even if it is tough fishing. No one likes pulling out weed after weed, but you have to find them. I look at it like this : you are sitting in one spot, so eventually if you pull enough weeds out, there will be enough room to weasel your jig down into the deep weeds. Also, my best outing at Misery this year was not more than 15 feet off the bank. The deeper I moved, the more shad I seen. I did not see many in the 3-5' of water. We had a great day of catching gills and crappie. Try those spots and fish where you have never fished before. Fish don't always go back to the same spots year after year....you might be surprised.

I sort of dis-agree with the camera deal. I have both a vex and a camera....and yes, I find my camera most useful in the bay. The vex is great when you are over 25 FOW, even with the shad. You need to zoom your vex into the bottom 5-8 foot to stop the false signals from the shad. If you try and view the entire water column, you will just see the shad primarily. Of course, you can't beat the camera for weeds. You can really see how to get your jig way down there.

by the way....does anyone have good info on large #s of fish....so i dont have to be patient, move, try new things, or talk to everyone...info would really help alot of people out

BTW...The fish were active at the stink hole today. I just talked to a buddy (Bassackwards...AKA..My dumbass SON !)). He is there and the crappie are pretty active down low this evening. He is in a blue clam expedition, roughly 9-11 FOW, over weeds. Not a lot of keepers, but a few nice fish. Said the gills were on and off...mostly off....A nice 5-7" of ice from what he said...not a lot of slush. A far walk anyways off the city side.A couple nice perch and and three 12"-13" crappie. He just set up at nightfall. It's a long walk from the chestnut street boat launch...but he has been out there all day. A couple perch off the convention center, then worked his way across the bay. Said the ice right off the yacht club was a little slushy/sketchy. Went right across the bay to the lighthouse...but decided on the stink hole. He is fishing till morning and I am meeting him around 7:AM for breakfast.....then back off to the bay ! At least he does not have to walk...but I worry.Ice and 4 wheelers make me worry !

I Wish I left my hut in storage and never tried going out to PI..  Out of over 20 outings, counting on fellow anglers and myself, we managed 0 keepers(we moved and tried everything).  I am not doubting that people are catching them, but those days are far a few between in my opinion.  

I would have to disagree also. I have caught near limits of perch every time out. Be patient, it has been a very very light bite every time out, but pretty much biting like crazy. FISH RIGHT OFF THE BOTTOM!!! Seems to be a mix of sizes, half will be keepers, half will be dinks. The abundance of shad in my opinion has not slowed the perch at all (maybe just made them a little pickier than usual). So unless you rely on a fish finder I don’t think shad have anything to do with it. Go back to good ol' fashion fishing techniques is my suggestion.
Quick tip: Jigs have only managed small ones!

With all due respect, you have no idea what you are talking about. Electronics are tools. All things being equal, I would outfish you with my flasher.

How well do you see the fish that is 6 inches above your field of view? Oh wait, you had no idea he was there.

I'm def not tryn to Argue or start anything I just prefer to fish with no electronic devices and I don't even know what a flasher is lol

I'm Talking about the cameras being cool I take it a flasher is a sort of a camera too Im not into the underwater electronics so all I know about is the camera. But it's whatever I catch my fair share of fish without one and I didn't think someone would get all upset and offensive from what I said.

i hope i didnt offend anyone

Use the right tool for the right job,flashers can be indespensible,if you don't own one i would say start big. Anyone who fishes perch would agree perch go after baits they have no business going after. Start large and down size systematicaly based on your response.

Has the bay ice fishing improved, I have been so busy working that I have not had a chance to get out, looking to get out tomorrow! how thick is the ice?
alaskan
hookem' and cookem'

Thanks alot great info