We’ve had to go a little further north this past week to find safe ice! Have been targeting panfish… crappies and bluegills. We’ve been focusing heavy on plastics and tungsten. I’ve had a chance to put some new tackle items from Clam Outdoors to work this past week (stay tuned for this upcoming fall release!) and they’ve been dynamite! I’ve also used our tried and true Drop Kick/Maki plastics combos as well. And of course the Pinhead Pro has intercepted some of the screamers that are flying higher and scooting!! Seems like we continue to try and get away with the biggest presentations possible, but we’ve downsized a little at times as well… conditions continue to go back and forth this past week with warm one day, and below freezing the next!
Anywhere from 10-28 feet this past week… yep, more inconsistent patterns! Lol. It really depends on the lake, and I think right now it comes down to safe ice and places you can get on, so you might not always get your first pick. Fish are grouped up, so it’s not hard to find them, which makes it nice! Most fish continue to relate to the edge of basins… so there is that for a piece of consistency this season.
Right now, I would continue to press on the safety side of things. Lakes are opening up, becoming weak, changing daily… so right now (if talking ice fishing) then you want to make sure safety is top priority.
Matt Johnson
Matt Johnson Outdoors
www.mattjohnsonoutdoors.com