Chesterfield ice check

[SkunkedAgain]

I'd like to fish Chesterfield tomorrow has anyone checked the ice lately and is it still safe to take kids on? Thanks J
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[ridcbr]

It was 16 inch 2 weeks ago so it should still be good maybe take a plank to get on
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[SkunkedAgain]

Thank you, that sounds like we should still be good to go... Appreciate the assistance... J
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[Groundtrac]

Let us know how the edges were when you get back please?
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[SkunkedAgain]

Will do, just getting ready to go now. Later J
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[TubeFisherman]

Maybe too late to answer, but I was there Monday. Ice is plenty thick, but the sides are for sure soft, be cautious. Curious how you do since I probably will be going back up there Monday.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Had fun today, found 14" of ice and the edges are soft but the water isn't very deep when you go through. I took a plank but didn't use it. The ice is plenty strong even though it looks like the top half is rotted. We landed 8 fish and most were 9-14" but my nephew got a nice 20"er. I found out why most people aren't using more than two or three rods. I spent all day running chasing bites that I couldn't hook and rebaiting hooks. If I caught half the bites I would have had a great day. The fish are masters at stealing bait in one little bump. Fun but frustrating. Later J
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[SkunkedAgain]

Hey the edges are soft and break out about a step and a half but the water was only ankle deep so I didn't get wet. Good luck J
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[curt69]

Thanks for the report and pictures .
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[SkunkedAgain]

You're welcome, thanks for your help getting me ready to try it. Later J
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[curt69]

Your welcome . They sure bite funny , don't they ?
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[SkunkedAgain]

Yes they do bite funny. I laid on the ice and put a tarp over my head to make it so I could look down the hole and watch the fish take it and they hit it with the side of their mouth and never really take it they just graze it and knock the bait off, so now I knew why I couldn't ever hook them off the rod tip indications. Instead I would watch and jerk just as they bumped it. I still missed a lot, but I did get on to catching a few. Usually the fish take it straight on and it goes right in their mouth, but these fish seem like they have learned how not to get caught. At least that's the excuse I'm trying to peddle. Later J
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[Tazasorus]

They bite lite because of all those tiny planters they put in before the ice came in. We put on large baits and don't jerk unless it is a big bite. Those big one will usually hit it hard in my experience. We iced close to 60 planters on our last trip and you are right, you are absolutely wore out from chasing the little bites.
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[TubeFisherman]

I was determined to catch one of those planters last week. I finally did. It measures at 5 inches. So I guess there is at least one planter that is on the small side.
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[SkunkedAgain]

So they will still take bigger presentations. That's a good idea where you can fish more poles. Thanks for the tip maybe they won't run me around as much that way. Later J
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