Tough Bite

I thought that the fish would be on the feed after yesterdays storm. Boy was I wrong. They have been tight lipped for a couple of days now and I assumed they would be on the feed. It took me about 5 hours to catch enough to eat. Every one I cleaned had full stomachs. They must have fed directly before or during the storm. Ended up throwing about a dozen back that were really small. Oddly enough, the I caught and kept were all Males (even the big one below).

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More than a dozen, they get skinned. Less than a dozen, they get scaled.

Dilema of the day.... Do I Crappie fish tonight, or do I get up at 4am tomorrow and head to Lake St. Clair and Perch fish?

Friends of mine have been fishing a couple of days and killing them. But.... there is a catch. Most will tell you they are not catching, and that is true (on rod and reel). Of the 60 caught yesterday only ten came on rod and reel. The rest....... Believe it or not, Tip-Ups. All 10 inch plus fish.

The setup: Polar tip-up with normal tip-up line. Barrel swivel tied to the main line followed by a crappie/perch rig attached to the barrel. Drop sinker on the bottom, first hook about 8 inches up, and the second about 10 inches above that. The fish seem to want to look at the bait (sitting still) for a long period of time before biting. The tip up takes the rod out of your hand and the thought of "jigging" out of your mind.

I dead stick for perch a lot. For that matter I have been getting a lot of gills on my deadstick too.

Nice mess of fish, I'm envious.

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

Dilema of the day.... Do I Crappie fish tonight, or do I get up at 4am tomorrow and head to Lake St. Clair and Perch fish?

Friends of mine have been fishing a couple of days and killing them. But.... there is a catch. Most will tell you they are not catching, and that is true (on rod and reel). Of the 60 caught yesterday only ten came on rod and reel. The rest....... Believe it or not, Tip-Ups. All 10 inch plus fish.

The setup: Polar tip-up with normal tip-up line. Barrel swivel tied to the main line followed by a crappie/perch rig attached to the barrel. Drop sinker on the bottom, first hook about 8 inches up, and the second about 10 inches above that. The fish seem to want to look at the bait (sitting still) for a long period of time before biting. The tip up takes the rod out of your hand and the thought of "jigging" out of your mind.

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Did you make it out to Lk St. Clair? The perch bite has been pretty good (it's actually been best sitting out there during the storms ), and is just going to get better close to ice-out. I use mostly hard beads and mix it up with some plastics, spikes and the occassional #2 jiggin rap, but the raps have been getting bit off by pike lately so I use them sparingly.

Your friends are up in Anchor Bay right? Give me a shout if you're making the trip and wouldn't mind me tagging along. I don't see a lot of guys out there with tip-ups and would be interested in seeing them in action. I got my eye on one of those electric ION power augers for next season and I'll need a technique for all the extra holes I'll be drilling, :).

Ended up passing on the St. Clair trip. Went fishing Saturday night. Was worse than Friday night. Ended up catching two crappies. One little one and one keeper. Something is happeneing that has not happened in a couple of years...

In normal years (like anything is normal anymore) we get ice in December and it lasts until mid March. Usually by late February, Oxygen is depleted in alot of lakes. Fish move on to deeper holes, become lathartic and only feed when necessary. The last couple of years, we didn't have ice for that long. This year, ice has been on for awhile. I think this is what is happening. Might be high time to move on to my deeper hole areas and fish them. I am marking fish all over the screen but getting them to hit is a different story.

We went to a local pond on Sunday and took the kids fishing. Tons of Tiny fish. Fun for the kids and that is what counts.

Attachment 117046

Sandy & I fished last night, got 1 little Perch and a few other bites. We had minnows, red spikes, waxies,. Fish on the Vex, but no takers. Going again tonight to a different lake. Will be in close to 30' of water. Taking lights and going to try after dark for a while.

Great report and pictures Rich

I think its all about being out in the outdoors and catching fish is a bonus

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Originally Posted by wicklundrh

Ended up passing on the St. Clair trip. Went fishing Saturday night. Was worse than Friday night. Ended up catching two crappies. One little one and one keeper. Something is happeneing that has not happened in a couple of years...

In normal years (like anything is normal anymore) we get ice in December and it lasts until mid March. Usually by late February, Oxygen is depleted in alot of lakes. Fish move on to deeper holes, become lathartic and only feed when necessary. The last couple of years, we didn't have ice for that long. This year, ice has been on for awhile. I think this is what is happening. Might be high time to move on to my deeper hole areas and fish them. I am marking fish all over the screen but getting them to hit is a different story.

We went to a local pond on Sunday and took the kids fishing. Tons of Tiny fish. Fun for the kids and that is what counts.

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4' - 9' in LSC is the ticket. I'm wondering with ice conditions this year if it isn't something like a 40yr weather cycle cycling through and we can count on some decent winters for the next five years or so.

Sandy & I fished from 5:45- almost 8pm Sandy lost one, only bite we had. Lots of marks, but no takers. Fished in 30 F.O.W. Nice night to be out. No wind and 34 degrees.

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.