1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I actually think Livescope is a good idea for ice fishing. What else is there to do?  Stare at each other and talk about my feelings?

 

It is a huge advantage for ice fishing.  It cuts down on the amount of holes you need to drill by ten fold.  People used to look for fish the old fashioned way by drilling dozens of holes until they found a school of fish.  Now they just drill a few and use this new technology to locate the school, and then move over top of it.  Crappies are the primary target and they are taking a beating because no one releases them.

 

Most ice anglers are out there to do exactly what you indicated: socialize, drink beer, and do other things while they "wait" for a fish to show up. They park over dead water for however long and just wait.  Then they wait some more.  Its extremely boring.  The guys that use portables with this new technology are dedicated and have some success.  The people that park their ice castle on a spot for a month catch very few fish.  Think about it.  How long would you sit in one spot without a bite?  10 minutes?  Certainly not a week at a time.

 

I know quite a few people that ice fish here in the winter.  None of them target bass, specifically.  When they catch one by accident, its like bringing in a wet shoe.  Completely dead weight in that cold water.

2 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Love to catch a burbot or whatever that fish is.

Only freshwater species of Cod

 

Also known around here as 'eelpout'.

8 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

Only freshwater species of Cod

 

Also known around here as 'eelpout'.

also called 'cusk'. The NH state record was broken last year. You have to fish through the ice at night to catch them. 

1 minute ago, MassBass said:

also called 'cusk'. The NH state record was broken last year. You have to fish through the ice at night to catch them. 

Ya, the International Eelpout Festival runs day-and-night for 3 days.

 

Though they're having issues with population control. It's held in Walker, MN on Leech Lake and it gets crowded. Had to cancel a couple years cause they couldn't get enough LEOs to effectively patrol.

Walker population - just under 1000

Festival attendees last time - 11,000

On 8/29/2022 at 8:14 PM, gimruis said:

The thing a lot of people forget is that we also had the warmest fall on record here in the north last year. Winter never even really showed up until almost Christmas.

 

Fall is my favorite season though, wished it would last longer.

 

I do pretty well in the fall here too.

 

These last few weeks have been BRUTAL.  I go fishing 3-4 times a week.  I've caught THREE bass this week.  I catch that many in the first 20 minutes any other time of the year.

 

We had multiple fish kills all over the place this year though.  I can't tell you how depressing it was to see 7-8lb fish floating.

 

Things prob won't recover here til spring.

8 hours ago, CrashVector said:

I do pretty well in the fall here too.

 

These last few weeks have been BRUTAL. 

 

Its not necessarily just because of the fishing.  I like to hunt, I like football, and I like cooler temperatures.  All of those factor into why fall is my favorite season.  The fishing can be really good, but it seems to be hit or miss.  Last fall was our warmest on record.

 

August has been my most productive period of time this season, by far.  At least in terms of quality fish.  Last year was the same way.  I think its because of the weather too.  Last year, June and July were sweltering hot and dry for weeks on end with constant high pressure.  Then in August, the pattern shifted.  The same pattern has developed this summer, although not quite as extreme.  August has been an absolutely glorious month here.  Its been 70-80 degrees with consistent rain for weeks on end.  Yesterday was a picture perfect day: sunny, calm winds, not humid, and 77 degrees.

 

Hope the fishing picks up for you soon.  A pattern shift in weather would likely help.

20 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Though they're having issues with population control. It's held in Walker, MN on Leech Lake and it gets crowded. Had to cancel a couple years cause they couldn't get enough LEOs to effectively patrol.

 

The real problem is that no one cleans up after themselves.  So the City of Walker has to do it when everyone leaves.  They said "enough is enough" and cancelled the festival.  Slob city on Leech Lake is what it really is.