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My boys and I were on the north end of Fishlake today. West around the shore from the roundabout by the bathroom which is plowed out with enough extra room for about 5 vehicles. Quite a few other groups out today. There was some ice next to shore that was cloudy on top but still slick and the main lake looks to have all capped at the same time, it was clear and super slick. I set the boys up in 20 feet of water, they were each working one pole on bottom for perch and one at 12 feet down for rainbow. They caught tons of perch and rainbow and a few splake, biggest being about 16". Meanwhile I tried out in the deep for lake trout with a second rod up shallow for splake and rainbow. Usually atleast the rainbow will keep me entertained while trying for lake trout out there, but not today, not even a nibble. Eventually I gave in and joined the perch crowd. The clear ice looked scary, but everywhere I drilled I measured and it was 7" solid aside from one spot, a patch of snow I found out on the clear ice that looked like the perfect spot to set up without sliding around, under that it was only 5", snow must have insulated it a little. My phone froze on me out there so no pics.
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Thanks for the report. [cool]
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Thanks so much for the report.
I have been itching to go down there but the 3 hour drive causes me to wait until I hear it is safe ice!
Any size to the perch? Last year they were decent, though not large.
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We caught plenty of the bigger ones to have a fry, if you have the patience to fillet them, but there were a lot of small ones mixed in.
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Anyone have any idea if you can get a wheeler out on the ice or is there to much snow?
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I would say too much snow unless you have tracks. With this snow storm coming in tonight the snow will just get deeper. I was in the same area and had similar results the fishing was fast and fun for perch or trout.
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Fished Joes Bush on 12/31. Plenty of ice for an ATV. Fishing was real slow. Not even much on the fish finder. Fished at 80', 50',45',20' and ended up getting into the perch. One of the slowest fishing days I have had at fish lake
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What was your average size perch? Is Joe Bush a fee area? Thanks for the info.
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There are not any fee areas around Fish Lake in the winter. Shorelines are always public access.
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Thanks JustJim! I'm a fish lake newbie. Hoping to change that in the next week or so.
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[quote iceonly]Fished Joes Bush on 12/31. Plenty of ice for an ATV. Fishing was real slow. Not even much on the fish finder. Fished at 80', 50',45',20' and ended up getting into the perch. One of the slowest fishing days I have had at fish lake[/quote]
Good to hear I wasn't the only one. Was my first time there on the ice. Fished between the big lodge and the north marina. Never fished for lakers so had no idea on depth to target. Went out were most were setup from shore, was 25'. Hit two small lakers at 16 ft. A snagged a half dozen rainbows. Had a few what looked to be spake come through in the top 6 feet of water but couldn't get anything that would entice them. About 1 decided to brush up on the perch skills and ended up with 46 by 3:30. Got a lot of learning to do up there.
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