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Wrote an extensive report, but then the darn thing locked up on me. So, this will be an abbreviated synopsis.

Fished 0830-1200. Made it out an hour late because I re-spooled two of my reels with 2lb Trilene and tied on a new lure - paid off though. I'll say that 2lb test is hard to see and even harder to snug down without snapping. Started in 28ft of water, caught a few, but had to really work at it and the larger fish weren't there for the most part. Spent too much time at this first hole. Was trying to follow, "Don't leave fish to find fish."

Finally decided the bigger fish must be sitting in warmer/deeper water. Ventured onto the "black ice" to find 'em. Water was deeper, but ice was thinner - 3-4" and clear. Was kinda spooky to be able to see the depths of the long cracks that ran across the lake and then just pitch black. It WAS neat to see the perch spiraling up from the depths though, from the clear as glass ice.

Fished 38ft of water and found bigger fish, but it was still like pulling teeth. Hot lure was my new one - #12 gill pill. Fish wanted small small jigs. Caught a few on a #12 diamond eyes. Caught my fish from 2 out of 3 holes.

Left when my sonar died. Not bad - battery lasted unused for a year and then through all this season's ventures until today. Found it futile to fish without my sonar. I've found that this season with the sonar I drill a lot less holes and move a whole lot less. Won't ever go back to blind jigging.

Pictures have a little more gore; I've taken to bleeding my perch on the ice this time out.

raffensg64

1/8/2011 10:40:00 PM

I was there from 7:30 until 10:00 or so, closer to the road in 20-25 feet of water. Had a decent bite from 8:00 until 9:00 in which my boy and I got 15 perch. After that things got real tough, with just the occasional take every 15 minutes. Very tough fishing compared to yesterday A.M. We took 10 of the nicer ones home.

BMGW

1/9/2011 9:24:00 AM

Hey Jk, if your sonar will show you the type of bottom, like a Vexilar will, ie" soft vs hard, , look for the softest bottom you can find, regardless of shallower depth. I have found the largest Perch in that lake are sitting on the softer, darker, bottom warming their bellies and feeding on the larva that comes out of the softer bottom areas...

Jay K

1/9/2011 9:50:00 AM

@raffensg64- Yeah, I saw a lot of anglers clustered up around the north end. Once I got to deeper water, I only had 1 nice quick run of 4-5 fish the whole morning. Gotta stop taking pictures and just take advantage of the feeding frenzy when that happens. Took home 16 keepers. Was trying to bring 'em up nice and slow so they wouldn't bloat too badly making release less of a reality, but I lost a jumbo right at the hole, so now I'm just cranking 'em in if they feel heavy and "fight" relatively hard for perch. @BMGW - I'll look into that. I think with my x67c the hard bottom shows as solid red, but the softer is yellowish. What you're saying certainly makes sense.

Kfedka

1/9/2011 3:16:00 PM

For 2lb line the palomar knot works good to tie with, as it doesn't break like some of the other knots do when you tie them.

aaron42ash

1/9/2011 5:28:00 PM

Jay- We had similar results today up north at El. Small jigs were the key. I tried my Forage Minnows for a hood hour with no avail. I'll report later though...

Superhunter333

1/10/2011 7:58:00 PM

I was out there too super slow at the launch. i wanna say thanks to the guys who gave us some eyes we went down to the south end to a buddies of mine poped a couple holes finally started biting on the eyes caught 35 perch and a dozen crappie. Had 7 legal Crappie ice is real nice toward the south end some kids were playing hockey.

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