01-31-2009, 09:49 AM
[size 2]If You Think Your Ice Hole Is Big Enough, Think Again
Filed under: captain morgan, fishing
One lonely tip-up, by virtue of it being the only one never raising a flag, stood motionless. Not even an occasional gust of wind tripped the spring-like staff. The red cloth seemingly refused to budge, save a flutter or two. Others in the group tripped time and time again—a small bass here, a larger one next, a few pickerel there, and in between many perch for the fillet board.
Two or three times out to check the release, simple drag, and semi-frozen hole resulted in the same result—all well and good! Frustrating as it was, we stood fast in our determination to claim a fish (a good fish) from this carefully hand picked location. From the cut, there was a gradual drop-off leading to a shallow bank and a natural intercept from which a larger predator could overcome its prey.
It was a crisp day, hovering in the mid-teens, but body cores were kept warm from energy generated by the constant hand-over-hand motion of bringing in fish and resetting gear. Subconsciously, we scanned the area for raised flags often from holes being attended as fish were either released or kept for the table. Invariably, there was one flag that refused to yield.
Without warning, flags that had previously flipped abruptly stopped. In the distance and unobtrusively, there was one flag proudly swaying. Trying to make as little noise as possible when approaching this tip-up and also avoiding a ‘butt bounce,’ we hurriedly approached the hole. Judging from the amount of line pulled in, it’s fair to say there wasn’t much left on the spool.
There was a point when much of the line quickly retreated back through the hole. Fish caught through the ice shouldn’t have that much life, one would think. At any rate, hand over hand, the process restarted. With the swivel just below the ice, a shadow of a figure swam horizontally to the opening. It was a northern. After a bit of maneuvering to position its head, it finally was lifted and slid onto to the ice, barely fitting through a hole that should have been two inches larger.
No wonder all of the other flags ceased to flip. With this brute swimming below, smaller feeding fish retreated to the cover of vegetation and/or other structure. The one point of interest was this big ‘ole shiner moving about within sound/sight range and right in the middle of restaurant alley. This prized northern came from the depths and into the shallows to feed and would have retreated if not so rudely interrupted. So, if you think your ice hole is big enough, think again and then think what’s the apex predator in this food chain.
[/size]
[size 2]On the Water/Ice[/size][size 2]
Ice is the operative word as frigid cold again sweeps the area building upon a solid ice base. Although wind has been variable with minimal impact on ice-fishing anglers, there were times it became too much for even the best flag releases. Pretty much the entire state of Connecticut has been on ice alert and fishers of all ages have been experiencing good fishing.
It’s been a period of excellent multi-specie fishing with action across the board. Salmon have been active in Crystal and Mashapaug lakes as well as Beach Pond with fish caught weighing in the high teens. Fishing the rivers like the Shetucket or Naugatuck has been iffy due to cold and ice either putting fish down or making them unreachable.
Most fishable trout lakes/ponds have been producing fish resulting from fall stockings and holdover populations. Look to Cedar Lake, Black Pond, Bashan, Tyler, Rogers, and Mt. Tom to name a few. Gardner and Coventry lakes including Bigelow Pond could make your early morning/evening outing surprisingly good for walleye. Live shiners are the way to go here using tip-ups and jigs/grubs on the short sticks.
Mansfield Hollow and Bantam have taken center ice for the big guys. Northerns have turned on and are cruising into the shallows taking live and carefully prepared dead bait/spinners. Several coves dotting the Connecticut River like Wethersfield, Wrights, and White Oaks are locked in and have been havens for feeding pike. If big fish is your goal, these may be worth the trip!
Largemouth bass have been flipping flags at Branford Supply Pond, Squantz, Messerschmidt, and Black Ponds (catfish) as well as Wyassup, Taftville Reservoir, Pickerel, and Pattagansett Lakes, Moodus Reservoir, and Mashapaug. The bite increases with live shiners. Try jigging for crappie, perch, and other panfish for some non-stop action once depth and structure are pinpointed.
Note: Captain Morgan’s has all 2009 fishing, hunting, trapping licenses/permits (rifle, shotgun, archery, muzzle loader, HIP, CT duck stamps, etc.) available including shellfish licenses for Guilford and Madison. Don’t wait until opening day. Git’er done now!
Whenever and wherever fishing, think Captain Morgan’s for all things [/size][size 2]fishy including the latest gear, bait, flies/flyfishing, rod/reel repair, clam/crabbing supplies and licenses/permits. Swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...
Tight Lines,
Captain Morgan[/size]
[signature]
Filed under: captain morgan, fishing
One lonely tip-up, by virtue of it being the only one never raising a flag, stood motionless. Not even an occasional gust of wind tripped the spring-like staff. The red cloth seemingly refused to budge, save a flutter or two. Others in the group tripped time and time again—a small bass here, a larger one next, a few pickerel there, and in between many perch for the fillet board.
Two or three times out to check the release, simple drag, and semi-frozen hole resulted in the same result—all well and good! Frustrating as it was, we stood fast in our determination to claim a fish (a good fish) from this carefully hand picked location. From the cut, there was a gradual drop-off leading to a shallow bank and a natural intercept from which a larger predator could overcome its prey.
It was a crisp day, hovering in the mid-teens, but body cores were kept warm from energy generated by the constant hand-over-hand motion of bringing in fish and resetting gear. Subconsciously, we scanned the area for raised flags often from holes being attended as fish were either released or kept for the table. Invariably, there was one flag that refused to yield.
Without warning, flags that had previously flipped abruptly stopped. In the distance and unobtrusively, there was one flag proudly swaying. Trying to make as little noise as possible when approaching this tip-up and also avoiding a ‘butt bounce,’ we hurriedly approached the hole. Judging from the amount of line pulled in, it’s fair to say there wasn’t much left on the spool.
There was a point when much of the line quickly retreated back through the hole. Fish caught through the ice shouldn’t have that much life, one would think. At any rate, hand over hand, the process restarted. With the swivel just below the ice, a shadow of a figure swam horizontally to the opening. It was a northern. After a bit of maneuvering to position its head, it finally was lifted and slid onto to the ice, barely fitting through a hole that should have been two inches larger.
No wonder all of the other flags ceased to flip. With this brute swimming below, smaller feeding fish retreated to the cover of vegetation and/or other structure. The one point of interest was this big ‘ole shiner moving about within sound/sight range and right in the middle of restaurant alley. This prized northern came from the depths and into the shallows to feed and would have retreated if not so rudely interrupted. So, if you think your ice hole is big enough, think again and then think what’s the apex predator in this food chain.
[/size]
[size 2]On the Water/Ice[/size][size 2]
Ice is the operative word as frigid cold again sweeps the area building upon a solid ice base. Although wind has been variable with minimal impact on ice-fishing anglers, there were times it became too much for even the best flag releases. Pretty much the entire state of Connecticut has been on ice alert and fishers of all ages have been experiencing good fishing.
It’s been a period of excellent multi-specie fishing with action across the board. Salmon have been active in Crystal and Mashapaug lakes as well as Beach Pond with fish caught weighing in the high teens. Fishing the rivers like the Shetucket or Naugatuck has been iffy due to cold and ice either putting fish down or making them unreachable.
Most fishable trout lakes/ponds have been producing fish resulting from fall stockings and holdover populations. Look to Cedar Lake, Black Pond, Bashan, Tyler, Rogers, and Mt. Tom to name a few. Gardner and Coventry lakes including Bigelow Pond could make your early morning/evening outing surprisingly good for walleye. Live shiners are the way to go here using tip-ups and jigs/grubs on the short sticks.
Mansfield Hollow and Bantam have taken center ice for the big guys. Northerns have turned on and are cruising into the shallows taking live and carefully prepared dead bait/spinners. Several coves dotting the Connecticut River like Wethersfield, Wrights, and White Oaks are locked in and have been havens for feeding pike. If big fish is your goal, these may be worth the trip!
Largemouth bass have been flipping flags at Branford Supply Pond, Squantz, Messerschmidt, and Black Ponds (catfish) as well as Wyassup, Taftville Reservoir, Pickerel, and Pattagansett Lakes, Moodus Reservoir, and Mashapaug. The bite increases with live shiners. Try jigging for crappie, perch, and other panfish for some non-stop action once depth and structure are pinpointed.
Note: Captain Morgan’s has all 2009 fishing, hunting, trapping licenses/permits (rifle, shotgun, archery, muzzle loader, HIP, CT duck stamps, etc.) available including shellfish licenses for Guilford and Madison. Don’t wait until opening day. Git’er done now!
Whenever and wherever fishing, think Captain Morgan’s for all things [/size][size 2]fishy including the latest gear, bait, flies/flyfishing, rod/reel repair, clam/crabbing supplies and licenses/permits. Swing by the shop (203-245-8665) open seven days located at 21 Boston Post Road, Madison. Until next time from your Connecticut shoreline’s full-service fishing outfitter where we don't make the fisherman, we make the fisherman better...
Tight Lines,
Captain Morgan[/size]
[signature]