01-05-2015, 06:03 PM
[#0000FF]Don't have any first-hand info for you but a couple of reports from late last week indicated that safe ice was forming in most areas of the lake. But be careful and drill test holes before you get too far out. Better yet is to look for holes drilled by others. Last week's report indicated no holes visible then. Might have had some action since then.
Attaching a couple of maps. Best spots for icing pike have been across from the Painted Rocks ramp and around the island...and several spots around the narrows. Also a few taken near the Oasis ramp and along the shoreline to the west. Also some fish reported east of the ramp and around into the rocky shoreline off the camping areas.
Not sure of the water levels but that will play a role in where the fish will be holding. They can be caught in water as shallow as 15 feet but are usually deeper. They will follow their food...perch and small carp.
Some anglers fish large whole minnows on tandem hook rigs...with wire leaders. Anchovies will work too. Others prefer jigging with large spoons, tubes or other plastics...with a bit of perch meat or other fishy parts added. Lipless cranks in perch colors can be effective...especially with good rattles. But lots of pike have been taken on "sweetened" jigs deadsticked just off the bottom.
Hope you have a good sonar. That will be vital in finding the right depths and locating fish.
Should be some others offering help...I hope.
Good luck and post a report.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]
Attaching a couple of maps. Best spots for icing pike have been across from the Painted Rocks ramp and around the island...and several spots around the narrows. Also a few taken near the Oasis ramp and along the shoreline to the west. Also some fish reported east of the ramp and around into the rocky shoreline off the camping areas.
Not sure of the water levels but that will play a role in where the fish will be holding. They can be caught in water as shallow as 15 feet but are usually deeper. They will follow their food...perch and small carp.
Some anglers fish large whole minnows on tandem hook rigs...with wire leaders. Anchovies will work too. Others prefer jigging with large spoons, tubes or other plastics...with a bit of perch meat or other fishy parts added. Lipless cranks in perch colors can be effective...especially with good rattles. But lots of pike have been taken on "sweetened" jigs deadsticked just off the bottom.
Hope you have a good sonar. That will be vital in finding the right depths and locating fish.
Should be some others offering help...I hope.
Good luck and post a report.
[/#0000FF]
[signature]