Remember the age old saying: "First ice and Last Ice are Hot"? Over the last couple of years, we never much had to worry about it as most of our lakes never really had good ice. Fish seemed to be convinced that they had first/last ice all the time!
I think at this point in time in the year a couple of things will put fish on the ice. If you find a hot lake, everything will bite. Otherwise, you either have to play the weather (before, during, or after a storm) or use dynamite! I don't know the right answer. Only thing I know is that you can't catch them from the couch.
I would rather be on the ice and not catching them as opposed to be on the couch wondering if I can catch them. Anyone can catch fish, tough times are what seperates the good ones. I love the tough times when I catch fish, makes me think I'm one of the good ones.... then, at the same time, we are humbled by not catching any. Funny how you can go from a hero to a zero in less than 24 hours.
That is why we fish, catching is part of it, but we all like the chase! It would be no fun to be able to go to the same spot over and over and catch the same fish.
