Bluegill huntin on ice...

[DitchPanda]

Got out with a buddy for a few hours Tuesday and the ice was kinda sketchy. Maybe 3.5 inches and some water sitting on top. Since then we have been well below Freezing non stop with the high the past two days in the single digits. Looking to get out tomorrow to hopefully gather the main ingredient for a delicious fish fry. I'm not a big winter guy but I've always tried to make the best of it...the best way I've come up with is a nice plate of fried bluegill fillets from cold clean water.

[TnRiver46]

Sounds delicious 

[The Bassman]

I used to live for this when I was younger. Would stay out all day. Here in central IN we didn't set up shanties, just toughed it out. As I've gotten older I much prefer fishing open water in temps above 40. Good luck and eat a few for me.

[Bluebasser86]

I've had fun the times I've been but the ice rarely gets thick enough for it here.

[DitchPanda]

1 hour ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I've had fun the times I've been but the ice rarely gets thick enough for it here.

This year has been strange weather wise..we usually have fish able ice by Thanksgiving but we are 4 or 5 weeks past that and we just got enough to walk this week.

 

2 hours ago, The Bassman said:

I used to live for this when I was younger. Would stay out all day. Here in central IN we didn't set up shanties, just toughed it out. As I've gotten older I much prefer fishing open water in temps above 40. Good luck and eat a few for me.

 I'm in this camp as well. I used to love ice fishing as much as open water but after 20 years that enthusiasm is waning some. I still do it mainly because I don't want to go months without fishing...but my trips are getting less frequent every year.

[12poundbass]

5 hours ago, DitchPanda said:

I'm in this camp as well. I used to love ice fishing as much as open water but after 20 years that enthusiasm is waning some. I still do it mainly because I don't want to go months without fishing...but my trips are getting less frequent every year.

I’m heading in the opposite direction. I’m not a fan of ice fishing at all and I could count on one hand how many times I’ve been out in the last decade or more. My 10 year old son has been wanting to go more and more the past couple years and is turning up the heat after he got a late Christmas gift last year that was an ice shanty. I’m not going to discourage it one bit so I guess we’ll be ice fishing more this year. If we can get on fish it isn’t that bad. 
 

 

[DitchPanda]

1 minute ago, 12poundbass said:

I’m heading in the opposite direction. I’m not a fan of ice fishing at all and I could count on one hand how many times I’ve been out in the last decade or more. My 10 year old son has been wanting to go more and more the past couple years and is turning up the heat after he got a late Christmas gift last year that was an ice shanty. I’m not going to discourage it one bit so I guess we’ll be ice fishing more this year. If we can get on fish it isn’t that bad. 
 

 

Oh it definitely isn't bad my biggest hurdle is getting the motivation to get out and get started. Its hard when its 7 degrees at 630 your sitting in a 67 degree house with a 50 inch flat screen with plenty of food and all the fishing you could ever watch. Once I'm out there breathing some fresh air taking in the scenery I'm glad I went.

[12poundbass]

9 minutes ago, DitchPanda said:

Oh it definitely isn't bad my biggest hurdle is getting the motivation to get out and get started. Its hard when its 7 degrees at 630 your sitting in a 67 degree house with a 50 inch flat screen with plenty of food and all the fishing you could ever watch. Once I'm out there breathing some fresh air taking in the scenery I'm glad I went.

I hear ya, it is difficult to get the motivation to go freeze your arse off. I work outside all year long, when I’m outside for work in the cold during the week it makes it more difficult to go freeze on the weekend. 

[DitchPanda]

33 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I hear ya, it is difficult to get the motivation to go freeze your arse off. I work outside all year long, when I’m outside for work in the cold during the week it makes it more difficult to go freeze on the weekend. 

At least with an ice shanty you guys shouldn't freeze once you get set up