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[font "Calibri"]Tips for beginner ice fisherman? I almost exclusively fly fish and have gone ice fishing a few times but never had much luck and this why I don’t ice fish much. My son is getting old enough that he wants to go fishing with me but I’m not comfortable taking him on the rivers with me, he is only 5. I would like to take him ice fishing, with good ice, it would be much safer and then we could spend time together. The only problem is I want him to enjoy it and catch at least a few fish. Could anybody give me a few pointers on ice fishing? How do I even know where on the ice to go? How deep do I fish? I live close to Manuta and even Pineview, I just have no idea how to catch fish when ice fishing. Thanks All![/font]
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Pineview shpould be a good trip for your son. Usually a small jig or ice fly 8" below an attaracter like a kastmaster or sweedish pimple tipped with a wax worm will get you fish.
Off cemetary point is a good place to start. Try fishing in fairly deep water.38-40 feet at first and stay close to the bottom. The perch are not always big but should keep a 5yr old busy. The bite can be light at times so I suggest a spring bobber. Just drop your offering to the bottom and raise it so the bait is 3" to a foot off the bottom then watch the spring bobber. If you go good luck and let us know how you do.
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Thanks for the info on the ice K2. In general I believe he can do well at pineview but as you said thin ice is no place for 5 year olds or 60 year olds for that matter.
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[url "http://www.standard.net/xplore"]www.standard.net/xplore[/url]
Open the January 2 issue, and scroll down to the ice fishing article.
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Thanks for the info guys! At Mantua, do you need to be in deep water? I went there last year I tried two spots. The first was about 1/2 out from the west side of the lake, we caught nothing there so we moved to about 100 yds out from the west boat ramp and caught one fish. In general is it better to go to coves or out in the middle of any given lake? Sorry for all the dumb questions, I just don't get the ice fishing lake fishing thing yet.
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Hank,
You would likely learn the most by just coming out with someone. I'd be glad to take you and your son out sometime and show you what I know. A fish finder is a great help to see what depth to fish; a finder can spoil you though!
Mantua can be a lot of fun once you learn how to fish it! I learned some tricks from locals there and have done quite well when others have gotten very few.
If you're interested in hooking up sometime, send me a PM and we can arrange something.
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My son is 6 and we tear it up at Echo. White jig heads, white artificial bug of some kind, tipped with wax worm. Get about 10 to 20 ft deep about 9 AM. I also would recommend hand warmers and maybe a propane heater of some kind out on the ice for the little guy. I have to drag my boy off the ice to go home!
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Go to Pineview at Cemetary Point, about 20' out off the South sand beach side in 15' of water. Drill a hole. Put a small piece of worm or wax worm on some SMALL jig. Let anything small below a bigger flashy type lure. Wiggle twice... if nothing happens wiggle a couple more times. By now I woulda had 4 fish... it was so fast I'm taking the grandkids soon. Ice was about 4" thick then, now more like 5 I would guess or more!! Supposedly the bite was better earlier in the day, but ya wouldn't know by asking me!!
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I gotta get up the view sometime this season! Love to find some crappie.
Never done much good from the west side of Mantua, beyond early early ice. The inlet is in the SE corner, and with all the weeds starting to decay as the season goes on, but fresh water, fresh oxygen.
Plus - take note - where are the most people hanging? Could be a reason. If you can find a transition - where it drops from 8ft to 15ft - you're on a hot spot!
I think the Gills like the horizontal style jigs more, though I've had em nab tear-drops plenty too.
You folks are being great to help out a guy and a young ice-fisher with some good advice. Dig it.
Colors? Pink, green, white-glow. They loved my orange Marmooska to pieces (literally!). You might find trout running higher in the water column, even right under the ice sometimes.
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