Went out this morning to Echo with my dad. Hit the ice a little after 8:00am. Left around 1:30pm. We set up and drilled some holes a ways south of the boat ramp. We were in about 18-20 FOW. We were trying to target trout. However, we found that if we dropped our lures to the bottom tipped with shrimp, we were pulling up mostly perch pretty consistently. If it slowed down, jigging a bit would pique their interest. Smaller ones mostly (6in or less) with a couple nicer ones (over 8in).
Didn't have much luck finding the trout. We were suspending our lines at 5ft, 10ft, 12ft and shifting depths and drilling new holes closer to the shore or further out trying to find the shelf from time to time. Occasional flashes on the fish finder, but nothing consistent. Finally hooked into a rainbow (he was fat, albeit only about 10-11in) while jigging for the perch just above bottom around 16ft. Had another one on the line, but he shook off. Caught the trout on a white paddlebug tipped with shrimp. The perch were biting anything and everything we had (didn't matter color or anything) as long as it was tipped with shrimp.
Definitely a weird day for us out there. Haven't ever had one like it. But weather was great! Not sure if this will be helpful for anyone, but thought I would share either way. Good luck out there!
Didn't have much luck finding the trout. We were suspending our lines at 5ft, 10ft, 12ft and shifting depths and drilling new holes closer to the shore or further out trying to find the shelf from time to time. Occasional flashes on the fish finder, but nothing consistent. Finally hooked into a rainbow (he was fat, albeit only about 10-11in) while jigging for the perch just above bottom around 16ft. Had another one on the line, but he shook off. Caught the trout on a white paddlebug tipped with shrimp. The perch were biting anything and everything we had (didn't matter color or anything) as long as it was tipped with shrimp.
Definitely a weird day for us out there. Haven't ever had one like it. But weather was great! Not sure if this will be helpful for anyone, but thought I would share either way. Good luck out there!
~ A bad day fishing is better than a good day in the office ~