Hey does anyone target bass thru the ice?
When on Hay Lake near Carlton, I caught a nice Largemouth thru the ice on maggots.. Yeah the same rig I use for bluegills. It was a nice sized fish. Kinda a surprise to me, but fun.
Just wondering if anyone knows any ways to catch them on hard water.
Bass are pretty much dormant and larthargic? during the winter months. I've never caught a smallmouth thru the ice, but not saying it's not doable.
The only time I've seen largemouth bass caught is while ice fishing for sunfish and bluegills using wax worms. So if your ever fishing a lake that has largemouth while fishing for panfish, chances are that you might hook into a largemouth bass. My 2 cents worth, but only worth 1 cent
In 3 years of serious ice fishing I have really never targeted bass. I've fished many lakes that hold them just have not stumbled accross them. Might be the style of fishing I stick to in the winter that keeps me out of their habitat. 2004 was actually the first time I landed any bass through the ice and it was a Largemouth on a little known crappie lake. Quite the suprise on the tip up.
From reports I know they do alright on hog smallies out on chequagamon but I have yet to catch one out there. I guess for the most part people just stumble onto them.
I too have not been out to target Largemouth that often....what I have found is that they tend to stick to the weeds....and usually shallow water...which would explain the panfish/bass correlation. The only bass I've caught or been there to witness were larger baits than what you fellas described......a jigging rap and shiners on tip-ups. I was on a kick for awhile where I'd only fish 10' or shallower.....all weeds and drop shiners just above the weeds. Plenty of pike....but a few largemouth would tug on my line.....since I have tried to pay attention to any "bass through the ice" advice........what I've heard is that weeds are a must......and when jigging for them....find the pockets in weeds. Quite frankly I think looking for pockets in weeds...through the ice....is a waste of precious fishing time.
For what it's worth.
Thanks for the info Chopper and welcome. Maybe its shiners that they are more interested in, then say large chubs or sucker minnows. I'll will try a shiner on a tipup when I'm on a bass lake next time.
I don't think a lot of people fish just for bass through the ice, maybe just because no one has figured them out yet in the winter. Catching bass must be more of a accidental catch when fishing for other fish like pike and walleye and panfish
Later..