I know its a bit early to discuss but,.....I got to get out on the ice a few times the season b4 last and really enjoyed myself. I always assumed I wasn't a big enough drinker to ice fish but low and behold....anyway, my buddy who lives at the lake has an 18 yr old son who is GREAT for spinning that hand auger. Last yr he was diagnosed with cancer and spent the year kicking its butt but needless to say, we didn't get out on the ice. Really looking forward to those laughs again this yr. I have a short vid on the home computer, ill post when I get out of work.

Anyone else getting the early itch for winter?

I'm thinking about my annual last-week-of-October trip to New York's Salmon River for steelhead.

During the hard water season in western Mass you'll find me at the bench pouring bismuth/tin into molds for next season's jigs and weights and rearranging tackle boxes.

While I am not longing for it..........I welcome it. Both the break from bass fishing, and the change of pace. You will find me in the boat from ice out till ice up, and I'll be on the ice from first safe ice till last safe ice. I mostly chase bluegills, fill the freezer first, then it's all for fun. Occasionaly a perch outing creeps in to my routine as well.

We only show up with mealworms for the bluegill but then the bluegill gets a 2/0 thru the back and thru the hole he goes......and then mix another drink,lol.

It's nice having my buddy live right there. His wife packs up the sled with all kinds of goodies from a full bar to the wine and cheese platter

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=SnhisoERuA0

We rarely get enough ice for me to chance it. I've gone ice fishing a few times in the distant past and discovered that it's just not for me.

Tom

NO ! ~

My open water season is not nearly long enough up here in the North Woods -

So I'd Like to postpone / refrain from any and all thoughts, casual mentions and even hints regarding the other thing.

A-Jay

Me and my Brother in law were discussing it when I stopped there last week hopefully we get enough ice this year last year was rough but helped him cuz shanty's and augers were CHEAP so he stocked up and is all ready for when i get back late December mid January to go ice fishing up in ww2farmers neck of the woods probably.

We don't have ice except in coolers or marinating in whiskey!

However, autumn marks the beginning of our best smallmouth fishing.

I'm ready!

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I am looking forward to ice fishing.

Last winter was so warm we didn't have very much safe ice. The river didn't have any, which was a bummer because the winter before I had gotten into early morning walleye fishing. Nothing like sunrise on a frozen river in the middle of January.

I'm not, however, looking past the fall smallmouth bite. Bring on the cooler temperatures!

Last winter I had shoulder surgery and didn't get out until March. This year I'm getting out if the water isn't hard.

We don't have ice except in coolers or marinating in whiskey!

However, autumn marks the beginning of our best smallmouth fishing.

I'm ready!

x2!!!

Jeff

Im looking forward to it to a extent lol but still got alot to get done. Ice around here means a hell of a lot of snow coming with it. I prefer soft water vs. hard any day but ice fishing is a blast. Its more enjoyable with good people. Hope your buddies son has many more years of hole drilling and laughs. Plus I still have white tail season and I agree with Will Wetline on the steelhead run. Salmon and browns should be starting to run next week.

I think ice fishing might be my favorite fishing of the year. Nothing like jigging shallow water for big gills and seeing that spring bobber SNAP down hard. I make my own inline fishing rods that are 4 to 5 ft long and it is a hoot to land a 9 or 10 inch gill on that noodle. They fight so hard!

2 powerplant lakes within an hours drive for me with good fishing for a variety of species means I never have to fish hard water . Last year was so warm that everything stayed open and I caught fish bank fishing local ponds all winter long. If the powerplants are both producing poor fishing at the same time (which they rarely are) then I go hunting instead.

Never heard of fishing for ice.....guess any ice we'd have down here would be too thin and we'd have to throw it back!!