3 days ice fishing report

[Cowboypirate]

Figured we are on the tail end but I still needed to scratch that itch again so I went three days after school for some quick trips. 

D1- Rockport off the East side. Fished some rocky areas next to mud flats. Had to hunt a little  but finally found them out at 60ft. Size was okay. Ran out of light quick. Edges were crap. See video. I used my poky stick a lot checking. 

D2- Echo mid Lake. Started in the grass creek cove. Limited marks. Moved south and ran into a group of young men and leaders from our church. Sat and BSed the evening away. They tore up a lot of fish. Let them use my sonar so I only fished a bit but caught plenty. Very good size. Edges very bad where i got on. Watch my poky stick pop through with one hit for to few before it firmed up  

D3 - Echo by the dam. Edges had improved a bit from a cold night. Hit a big school mid way across the dam. Picked up 10 big ones for dinner really fast. Saw crappie in the camera but they did not want to play with me. 

My rigs were small ice jigs, meal worms and perch eyes. Nothing fancy.

Had one of my students go through the ice at Echo a couple days after this. He was close to shore so only up to his belly. Did not have his poky stick. Did have his floating pants thought. I was not with him.

In short i will not recommend going as I don't want to be responsible for that decision and I am done with low country ice but I expect those who like the risk can still pull it off with waders and boards. Main ice on both was 5-8 inches of grey crap and starting to rot in places. 

Here is the video link

https://youtu.be/v-ikTBedFv0?si=e5TSwzoz9hrby4ns

[Mildog]

Thank you VERY much for the reports!!

[wiperhunter2]

Great video and info on being aware of the conditions as you get on the ice this late in the season. thanks for sharing it with us Lance. I remember those days when I would get on the ice using planks but those days are gone for me, just not worth taking the chance. It will be interesting to hear if anyone gives it another go this weekend. Were you just using an underwater camera to see the fish and the depth or is that a combo of both, camera and depth finder? What brand is it?

[Jmorfish]

Figured we are on the tail end but I still needed to scratch that itch again so I went three days after school for some quick trips. 

D1- Rockport off the East side. Fished some rocky areas next to mud flats. Had to hunt a little  but finally found them out at 60ft. Size was okay. Ran out of light quick. Edges were crap. See video. I used my poky stick a lot checking. 

D2- Echo mid Lake. Started in the grass creek cove. Limited marks. Moved south and ran into a group of young men and leaders from our church. Sat and BSed the evening away. They tore up a lot of fish. Let them use my sonar so I only fished a bit but caught plenty. Very good size. Edges very bad where i got on. Watch my poky stick pop through with one hit for to few before it firmed up  

D3 - Echo by the dam. Edges had improved a bit from a cold night. Hit a big school mid way across the dam. Picked up 10 big ones for dinner really fast. Saw crappie in the camera but they did not want to play with me. 

My rigs were small ice jigs, meal worms and perch eyes. Nothing fancy.

Had one of my students go through the ice at Echo a couple days after this. He was close to shore so only up to his belly. Did not have his poky stick. Did have his floating pants thought. I was not with him.

In short i will not recommend going as I don't want to be responsible for that decision and I am done with low country ice but I expect those who like the risk can still pull it off with waders and boards. Main ice on both was 5-8 inches of grey crap and starting to rot in places. 

Here is the video link

https://youtu.be/v-ikTBedFv0?si=e5TSwzoz9hrby4ns

Hey Cowboy..you're having way too much fun here..Goodonya...thanks again for good video..from a previous video of yours, I can see why Cookie wasn't with you on these 3 trips...Ice fishing is still a passion of mine, esp. perch, bluegill, crappie..past few years mainly perch because of decline at Mantua and Pineview for crappie and 'gils...Like some others, however, I've become hesitant to make the attempt in late season due to decreased ice integrity..I know it can be done..planks, waders, ice prods, safety gear...I've done it too, but more and more see the safety issues, like you also point out...So What?...maybe we should have a way to get a group of guys together, that are more willing to take a risk, but know there's others there for back-up...share safety gear, 1 plank, safety in numbers...we know the rewards of late season can be good..probably too late for RP, Echo, and others this year, but maybe next season?

[Cowboypirate]

Great video and info on being aware of the conditions as you get on the ice this late in the season. thanks for sharing it with us Lance. I remember those days when I would get on the ice using planks but those days are gone for me, just not worth taking the chance. It will be interesting to hear if anyone gives it another go this weekend. Were you just using an underwater camera to see the fish and the depth or is that a combo of both, camera and depth finder? What brand is it?

Both camera and sonar unit. They are fun to use but i don't bring the camera as often as I should

---

Figured we are on the tail end but I still needed to scratch that itch again so I went three days after school for some quick trips. 

D1- Rockport off the East side. Fished some rocky areas next to mud flats. Had to hunt a little  but finally found them out at 60ft. Size was okay. Ran out of light quick. Edges were crap. See video. I used my poky stick a lot checking. 

D2- Echo mid Lake. Started in the grass creek cove. Limited marks. Moved south and ran into a group of young men and leaders from our church. Sat and BSed the evening away. They tore up a lot of fish. Let them use my sonar so I only fished a bit but caught plenty. Very good size. Edges very bad where i got on. Watch my poky stick pop through with one hit for to few before it firmed up  

D3 - Echo by the dam. Edges had improved a bit from a cold night. Hit a big school mid way across the dam. Picked up 10 big ones for dinner really fast. Saw crappie in the camera but they did not want to play with me. 

My rigs were small ice jigs, meal worms and perch eyes. Nothing fancy.

Had one of my students go through the ice at Echo a couple days after this. He was close to shore so only up to his belly. Did not have his poky stick. Did have his floating pants thought. I was not with him.

In short i will not recommend going as I don't want to be responsible for that decision and I am done with low country ice but I expect those who like the risk can still pull it off with waders and boards. Main ice on both was 5-8 inches of grey crap and starting to rot in places. 

Here is the video link

https://youtu.be/v-ikTBedFv0?si=e5TSwzoz9hrby4ns

Hey Cowboy..you're having way too much fun here..Goodonya...thanks again for good video..from a previous video of yours, I can see why Cookie wasn't with you on these 3 trips...Ice fishing is still a passion of mine, esp. perch, bluegill, crappie..past few years mainly perch because of decline at Mantua and Pineview for crappie and 'gils...Like some others, however, I've become hesitant to make the attempt in late season due to decreased ice integrity..I know it can be done..planks, waders, ice prods, safety gear...I've done it too, but more and more see the safety issues, like you also point out...So What?...maybe we should have a way to get a group of guys together, that are more willing to take a risk, but know there's others there for back-up...share safety gear, 1 plank, safety in numbers...we know the rewards of late season can be good..probably too late for RP, Echo, and others this year, but maybe next season?

I am pretty careful when I go. I don't like late season ice. To many hidden spots of rotten ice that you don't see. I am done around me. Both of them looked like trash as I made my way to the high country today. Still some good options up high to help scratch an itch.