Ice on and perch on at Rockport

[perchinski]

Fished middle of the dam face midday.  What was 4" last Friday is now 5+.  Entire rez capped with recent overnite single digit temps.  Even where it was only 1" below that last restroom pull-out on the SW it is now 3+.  In fact, there are two hockey rinks off that shoreline shoveled off and ready for play.  Anyway, put in at 40' and started yanking 'em at every drop.  Didn't even move spots. They hit everything I dropped down, from waxied tungsten jigs to unbaited rattle spoons.  Once again, best all-around rig was a drop-shotted mosquito hook with a perch belly sliver.  No perch under 8", but nothing over 10".  Probably should have moved around, but it was my first time back on the hard deck in 5 years after a hip-job and assorted visits to the grandkids, so I was having a ball and content to sit tight.  Two other parties doing the same.  Nice 1" skiff of snow atop, so no cleats necessary, but plan on dodging some rocks on the way down to the lake.  Gonna be a city out there this weekend.

[T-Boz]

I was thinking it had to be getting close and was already planning a perch hunt there in the morning.Cats going to be outta the bag soon so hopefully I can get me a mess for the frying pan.

[Mildog]

Last year it was good from first safe ice to the very end. Hopefully this year will be the same, from the weather forecasts, the ice should continue to thicken and provide some good hard deck fishing opportunities, although it took a bit longer than “usual”.
Good luck!
May see you up there tomorrow.

[MWScott72]

Thanks for the report. Been looking forward to some perch jerkin’ for awhile now!

[Kokaneeaddict88]

Thank you for the report, I drove by today and saw a few groups out on the ice, might have to make a trip up for some perch to fry up

[wayno945]

I went out there at 4pm today. Ice was too thin for me. 3.5" at the dam and 4" near the bathroom parking. Was 26 degrees so I'll probably try again on Thursday or Friday. Zero people on the ice when I was there.

[percheye]

Thanks for the report.  I stopped by on 1/9 and the lake still had areas of open water.

[BearLakeFishGuy]

If anyone is interested, I'll be out there tomorrow. Might start at the dam but likely will go off the State Park boat ramp and head south. Hope to see a fellow BFT'er out there.

[MrShane]

If anyone is interested, I'll be out there tomorrow.  Might start at the dam but likely will go off the State Park boat ramp and head south.  Hope to see a fellow BFT'er out there.

Be careful out in middle!
I would expect it to be only 2” or so?