Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Good Evening Ladies & Gents,

I met up with NJBassman and Iceehot for a little "Rumble on the Reservoir". I had to take advantage of such a nice day. It was gorgeous today and even though it was only for a moment, it was nice to feel the temperature climb up out of this Nuclear Winter!

Like many of you, I'm sure, I've been cooped up in my place wondering if it was worth driving to a non ice locked river or meeting up with a few people on the Ice. While debating I've been watching Yul Brynner films, weeping, reading NJfishing reports, weeping some more, playing double dutch with the street toughs of Paterson and tying jigs (Thanks AndyS for showing me the way to a fine jig!)

All kidding aside...
Headed out onto the Ice around 10:00AM and fished until about 3:30PM. We didn't see another sole the entire day. Tip-Up flags were flying up all over the place, but the Jig bite was very slow. NJBassman hooked up to a couple of perch while Iceehot missed what I'm sure would have been a new state record ;). I didn't jig up a thing, even when tipping my jigs with wax worms, but hey that fishing.

Here are a few photos of myself and the Lads:
http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/...ps772745ae.jpg

http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3211ab4c.jpg

http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0216b7ff.jpg

All in all it was an incredible day, no wind and the warm sun was shinning. Ice was nice and thick/safe. Between the three of us we managed about a dozen fish and even lost a few. We had lots of great conversation about fishing, locations, and technique. It was a real treat getting to pick a couple of brains about something we all love to do, FISH.

Thanks for a wonderful time fellas.

Best of luck to everyone this season! GO NJFishing!!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Awesome day to fish and a great catch to boot... smallies thru the ice... NICE !!!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Damn good report! Really nice to see the Smallies put the feed bags on. That's a banner day in my book. Not too many places in NJ where you can get consistent SMALLIE action like that. Great day to be out. Really wish I was there. Great, great report!!!!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Gr8 report !!! and Gr8er catching...:)

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Lotta fun out there gents... Keith's first ice experience...he brought the bite with him...kudos to fins and Furs...bait is CRANKING. One of the traps brought 3 fish and the biggest of the day by Keith. I got to it for one flag...ripped the bait out of his mouth...put it back...ripped it out again...back down...forth time was a charm...pulled out a small SM...all in a matter of a minute or two...

Wet heavy snow on top...tough trudge with the gear... Hope rain knocks it down a bit for next week..

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Keith it was really nice to meet you and fish today w/ you and break your cherry for ice fishing.....I really am happy that you were the one that got the better fish as that is what it is all about, getting the new guy on the fish ......We had alot of fun watching the flags pop off every 20 minutes or so.....Pete, thanks again for another good day out......and saving the day w/ the tip ups.....Here's what happenned for you guys that weren't there....I rushed out of the house this morning to meet these guys at a certain time and got there and realized that I left not only my tip ups all at home(!!!!), but my jig boxes also, so all I had was 2 jigging rods(which was fine by me anyways!!)..I swear I had my stuff in the back of my car....DOH!!!.....so Pete, thanks again for having extras for us to use......I got my first 2014 Sammy Hagar, now I need a crappie and a Walleye thru the ice for the grand slam this season.....maybe it'll happen, maybe not.....ready to do it again this weekend..........Here's a few more pics......And Keith, thanks for that Bagel, Egg, Taylor Ham Sandwich, it hit the spot!!!.......

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...10406783_n.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...58308120_n.jpg

http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/...17450187_n.jpg

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Looks like you guys had a great time and for a guy to ice fish for the first time and you all had a good day of fishing is always good to hear. Keep catching them!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

I mentioned the seemingly high ice fishing bass activity in another post...

I'm putting out a prediction... early season bass bite will be hot this year... when it's still cool, they're gonna come in hot... let's see...

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Jim, I agree with you 100 percent but this year it's going to be probably a little better than other years due to the amount of snow we had this year....when this mess finally does melt and we get open water, that snow is going to put so much oxygen in the water, which will provide weed growth and cover for feeding fish, as well as fresh water which the fish are more than welcoming(again that relates to oxygen and stimulus) that alone is going to make the fish very active and feed heavy..... I believe this spring is going to be excellent all around for those who put the time in!!!....Let's get em good everyone and to all have a great year fishing this state for everything it has to offer!!!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Hey Keith...good stuff. What was the ice like...thickness-wise?

Good looking bronze... Gotta be a treat through the ice!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Very nice smallies, that 1st ones a hog!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

First smallie report of the year....AWESOME!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Very neat!!! Good fight through the ice!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Footballs in February, sweet!

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Gentlemen,

Thanks for the kind words and the support! You guys are sweethearts, you're great! I can't begin to tell you how much fun we were having out there, hooting and hollering! We kept it classy and respectable though...lol.

As for me I'm now hooked. I'm looking at Tip-ups, more jigging rods, and augers as I write this...

NJBassman, Pete, Thanks again for the invite. I learned so much from you out there. It was like a crash course in brain surgery! Getting the opportunity to Hand-line Smallmouth was EPIC! I'm hoping to get out there a bunch more (on the Ice) this coming week.

Iceehot, Mitch, Thanks for all the incite, not only about the body of water we were fishing and others, but it was more about the many different (seasonal) tactics and techniques to trigger strikes.

It will be nice to eventually climb out of the beginner Ice fisher ranks and move to the novice, but like so many of you have said in the past "You gotta be in it, to win it" Right now I'm just enjoying this new found art!

Eddie, we would have loved your company and I feel really comfortable saying, that you would have had a blast hanging out with us! We kept it light had a lot of laughs. I don't take life to seriously, after all, nobody gets out alive.

Jeremy, The Ice was thick, maybe 9-10'', possibly more. I'm certainly not complaining when I say this, but the snow was rather deep in areas, making it a bit of a challenge to relocate.

I really hope I have the opportunity to meet up with many of you this season (2014). Please don't be a stranger, drop me a PM anytime. I'd love to fish with you.

Best Wishes...

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

That's a "near" quote from Van Wilder!

Good stuff dude...I caught the ice fishing bug BAD this year.

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

You're right...about the quote

And Thanks Pal..

I'll give you a buzz sometime soon, maybe we can wet the line.

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Nice catch guys but PGA don't use ICEHOTS dress code on cold days

Re: Smallmouths, Non-Liquid Diet!
 

Cold?...It was 48 degrees yesterday and we were all sweating!!!!...I got a tan on my face it looks like I just got back from Florida....:cool: