Even if you go slowly, you probably can walk the circumference of Lake Nessmuk in under 15 minutes.
At only 60 acres, this somewhat oval-shaped impoundment in Tioga County is just not that big. Also, its shoreline is fairly flat and easy to traverse.
Lake Nessmuk is a great little lake for ’gills, ’seeds in Pennsylvania’s Tioga County Read More »
I liked the weight I felt on the end of the line, and I liked the way the fish was fighting. It was holding tight to the bottom, and I had to lift the tip well above the ice to bring it aloft.
Clearly this was not a bluegill. It wasn’t circling. Instead it kept its head down and surged away.
Under the ice, crappies offer the best action for Pennsylvania anglers Read More »
Ice anglers are chomping at the bit – the auger bit – to hit the ice on Minsi Lake in Northampton County.
For starters, unfortunate starters, there’s been no ice fishing on the 117-acre lake for the last two years, so when your sled sits in the garage for that amount of time it needs a place to slide.
If you don’t mind releasing fish, Minsi Lake’s ice is nice in Northampton County, Pa. Read More »
This year around Christmas, when a sudden frigid snap in Pennsylvania resulted in safe ice, feisty bluegills were most often caught. That’s typical of the first ice of the season. This season, the ‘gills seemed to prefer spikes over waxworms. Of course, how you deliver the creamy white larva is key, and there are a couple of options for bluegills.
Vic Attardo: A few tips on taking full advantage of a good bite for bluegills Read More »
Pennsylvania ice anglers who didn’t get a chance to use their equipment for the last two winters received an early Christmas present this season when waters in the central and northcentral regions of the state locked up for several days around the big holiday.
In particular, ice fishing was good to excellent in midsize lakes and ponds in the core counties of Snyder, Mifflin and Juniata, as well in the Northern Tier counties of Tioga and Potter, at the least.
Ice was nice in parts of Pennsylvania… at least for a few days Read More »
Sometimes, when I’m picking a place or places to ice fish, I prefer two lakes in relatively proximity rather than one giant impoundment.
In this way, if the fish aren’t responding to jigging sticks or tip-ups at one lake, I can pick up my gear and in a reasonably short time go to the other water – where hopefully the fish are cooperating. This strategy is important if I’m far from home. A good example of this approach is two Wyoming County lakes I enjoy ice fishing – Oxbow and Stevens – which are a 20-minute rural ride apart.
On Wyoming County ice in Pennsylvania, try Oxbow, Stevens lakes Read More »
Go shallow in the early ice season: go deeper in the shank of winter: go shallow again as the ice season melts away. Many members of the “Frozen Chozen” will attest there is truth to that three-part dictum but it is not the whole story.
Adjusting depth is one thing for sure, but adjusting places and covers is another, adjusting baits is also a consideration, and even changing the species you pursue according to the time of the ice year is important.
Go shallow for early-ice panfish in New York Read More »
My knees were starting to bang together. I wish I could’ve pulled the ice hole closer to the little fire I’d constructed but that was physically impossible.
The sun was deep into the high hills and Nature’s next act would be the appearance of dim stars. But just before that the sonar screen lit up like the top of an erupting volcano and I felt the unmistakable rap of a winter crappie on my spoon.
To get that to happen on the ice you have to pick your time and place carefully. Crappies, particularly black crappies, are notorious late afternoon and evening biters.
Try this ‘glowing’ strategy to catch more crappies through the ice Read More »
Climbing inside the “Way, Way Back Machine,” I remember a fall morning when my friend’s 25 horses wouldn’t turn over. He just couldn’t get them to crank.
No problem, I insisted, my engine will start right up. Let’s take my boat instead. We were both docked in a marina at the northern end of Pennsylvania’s Lake Wallenpaupack, practically side by side.
Fall is the perfect time for catching bass with crankbaits Read More »
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