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Do you guys think a gas auger spooks fish too bad in shallow water? Theres one lake i fish Willow Slough that has an average of 4ft. I used to do pretty good there till i got a gas auger now its kinda hit or miss . I havent noticed any diff. on any of the other lakes.
Thanks I know you will have a solution.
I read an article about this. It said to drill all your holes that you plan to fish, in the area. Wait about 10 minutes then drill a few holes away from the area. If the fish moved out when you first started, they may move back to that area when you start drilling the new area. I'm gonna give it a try this season to see if it helps my shallow water fishing.
Only ENJOYED the wonderful experience of watching 2 other slightly younger bucks chew 8-9 holes in an approx 40` area in less time than typing this took. They had insisted to fish at and after dusk that we show up 1 1/2 hrs prior, as they sweetly bored each 6" hole myself quickly cleared the considerable ice slushies out and added a thin layer of vegitable oil to keep them open. We of course fished immediately , and amazingly caught fish within minutes! Admit was fishing in front of CJ Handicapped spot, (#16), 9" of ice. Would have figured sound travels 11? times further underwater, probably further in colder denser water, they`d have cleared out. Possibly rang the long range dinner bell instead? Remember several walleyes caught (no keepers), 50 keepers caught, close to 100 total between 3 of us in 4 1/2 hrs, mostly on moon- glo jigs and small minnows/ waxies.
Water depth, ice thickness and snow cover pretty much determines if the fish will get fussy. Some ares we fish early on in the season will have a couple inches of snow on the ice over 8 feet of water and the fish won't go ballistic over drilling. Take away the snow, different story.
Whether its clear and sunny or overcast can make a difference at times. The shadow your body casts down thru the ice over shallow water can mess things up worse than the auger.
People need to remember that ice is naturally noisy stuff and fish get pretty well accustomed to the noise. More than anything it will be noises like something hitting the ice that will startle them. Every once in a great while I'll find the fish on edge after cutting my holes so I find another area nearby and drill there, then come back to where I wanted to start....sort of corral the fish. Fish that want to feed will settle down well after they start to see food in front of them and I find drilling bothering the fish very little.
Amen Brutha!Quote:
Originally Posted by CTom