a foggy swartswood ice report - NJFishing.com Your Best Online Source for Fishing Information in New Jersey

icebadger · #1 03-01-2021, 08:30 PM

I went to big swartswood lake today after the rain started to clear to see if i could find any of the bronzebacks that wanted to play. I got there around 10:00am and the fog was still on the lake. I went out by dove island and drilled a hole and found 11" of ice about twenty yards from shore. I then went another twenty yards and found only 8" of ice, as the day went on the top layer got a bit sloppy and the shores started to rot a bit. I got to my spot and drilled five holes i found the fish in the fourth one the first fish of the day the dreaded slime dart at 17" then i got two sunnies and then got hit by the biggest largemouth bass of the ice season so far a 16" fish. A bit later i got two crappies. At around 1:30pm the bite died off and it was slow fishing for the rest of the day, i got the slime dart on a mini rippin rap and the other fish on a marmooska jig with a meal worm. I ended the day at 4:30pm with a total of 12 sunnies,three slime darts,two crappies and one nice bass. The forecast does not look good for the rest of the week with only one day below freezing so time is running out on the 20/21 ice season. It looks like planking time soon.. The ice is going to go fast with all the snow ice on top and the ground thawing out the sun is stronger and the days are longer so if you go out please be safe and check the ice with a spud bar. TIGHT LINES.

bunker dunker · #2 03-02-2021, 06:14 AM

good report Badger,glad you found some fish.nice lm to top off the catch.make sure ya start getting the mini mites ready,it won't be long now.

pickerelpete · #3 03-02-2021, 10:41 AM

Good report Badger. I agree with dunker that it won't be long until the ultralights rule. Looking forward to open water.

FASTEDDIE29 · #4 03-02-2021, 07:07 PM

How many days are you up to you Ice warrior? Nice catch on a tough day!

icebadger · #5 03-02-2021, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FASTEDDIE29

How many days are you up to you Ice warrior? Nice catch on a tough day!

With today on the cong it's 26 and only one day skunked the first one with all that wind at state park back in January on 3 1/2" of black ice..

icebadger · #6 03-02-2021, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pickerelpete

Good report Badger. I agree with dunker that it won't be long until the ultralights rule. Looking forward to open water.

Hey pete we missed you out there, i had to get tom and gus to run slime dart duty in your absence. this might be the last weekend with the warm forecast. By the end of march we might be on the jig-n-bobber patrol