2024 on ice
Contributors to this thread:Massachusetts
From: Shanation
15-Jan-24
Not sure how many of you gentlemen are ice fishermen but I figured some of you are so why not start a chat about it with cold weather setting in. I finally got out lookin to jig up some pondies for pike. Scored big time with 40 in the bucket including one giant. Looking forward to grilling venny steaks and watching flags pop!
From: Dthfrmabove1
15-Jan-24
That’s a fatty !!!
From: Wilgabeast
16-Jan-24
I’ll be out for pike Saturday and Sunday in western mass
From: Mhg825
16-Jan-24
Hopeful for ice this year
From: Big Dog
16-Jan-24
I grew up on a chain of lakes connected by rivers. On weekends my friends and I were ice fishing all day. I would bring venison and cook it over an open fire , an island on the lake the perfect wind break. The frozen lake was another world devoid of telephones, responsibilities, and homework. All the ice fishermen out there formed a community of sorts and it was a perfect way to decompress from the nagging rigors of everyday life. I'll never forget the happy comradery and the thrill of seeing that red flag dancing in the wind.
From: Will
16-Jan-24
I have to think some where has legit ice, but that somewhere is no place near me. Most of the water within 30 mi of me is only just starting to harden... And I need = ice to a truck to feel safe on it ha ha ha!
That said, that golden is frigging huge!
From: Lunker
16-Jan-24
That's an awesome shin dawg.
From: Blood
16-Jan-24
You guys got 5-7 days of ice making ahead of you. There will be safe ice this coming weekend. Just be safe out there!
From: Notime2fish
16-Jan-24
Managed to fish some fishable hard water yesterday.
From: Notime2fish
16-Jan-24
From: hickstick
16-Jan-24
is that a Dace, Shanation??
From: Mtman
16-Jan-24
4 inches on a small private pond in northwest Ct. they were biting??
From: Shanation
16-Jan-24
Notime is that a salmon!!?? Hick it's a golden shiner. Hopefully getting some big dace tomm. Bd I can just picture that beautiful scene you described perfectly!
From: Dthfrmabove1
16-Jan-24
Nice notime!!!!
From: Notime2fish
17-Jan-24
That’s a brown. Thanks dth.
From: Will
17-Jan-24
Shan - Brownie. Salmon tails have a bit of a V (sometimes a lot - when young) vs a brown with a squared off tail and brown's upper jaw goes past the eye, salmon tend not to.
They look a hell of a lot alike otherwise at many life phases.
From: Shanation
17-Jan-24
The markings and slightly hooked jaw threw me off. Beauty of a fish!!! Looks very similar to this salmon I got out of the swift years ago
From: Will
17-Jan-24
Shanation - Every fall since then I hope for a Quabbin overflow event... That was amazing! Unless you mean the West Branch - in which case every fall it's amazing!
From: Shanation
17-Jan-24
Will that fish was in bondsville early spring flood. I went to the y pool last week and they had lock open, no salmon unfortunately
From: Les
18-Jan-24
Looks like there should be some ice this weekend, I’m going to try to get out on Sat or Sunday in Z9 north.
From: Wilgabeast
18-Jan-24
Loooks like I’ll be able to get on my favorite pike spot this weekend around home
From: MA_Bowhunter
18-Jan-24
I plan to fish Z9 north (most likely) this weekend also!
From: Wilgabeast
19-Jan-24
I was on 2” yesterday checking coves on my favorite pike spot … that means by tomorrow morning we should have 3.5-4”! Looks like I’ll be after some toothy critters tomorrow
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
19-Jan-24
2”? Don’t fall down you’ll go swimming. I might have ice down here by Sunday as well. Maybe I’ll teach all the southern folk what ice fishing is..
From: Shanation
19-Jan-24
Goodluck wilga can't to see some pics!
From: Big Dog
19-Jan-24
Ice fishing is so much fun. Good luck to all.
From: Pi
20-Jan-24
Ice, as in, on the water ? But not in a glass ... I don't believe it.
From: Wilgabeast
20-Jan-24
Believe it pi it’s 230 am and I’m getting ready to go on the ice
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
20-Jan-24
230 AM is wayyyyyyy to early for ice fishing lol!
From: Will
20-Jan-24
My friends and wife pick on me because unless the ice is near 10" thick I wear a life jacket. Sorry, dying by trying to swim through ice, freezing, and sucking water into my lungs is less appealing than a fish.
2". No chance in hell for me Wilga. Be safe man. One thin spot and your family could be giving your hunting gear away... Let it get at least 5-6" so any thinner areas are likely still safe.
From: Blood
20-Jan-24
If Wilga goes under, I have dibs on his archery gear ;)
From: Pi
20-Jan-24
Will, did you consider bringing a long rope ?
Maybe an ice saddle could be invented for thin ice.
From: Wilgabeast
20-Jan-24
From: Pi
20-Jan-24
Wilga, come to the coast and see what I'm talking about. Bring a boat... and a glass.
From: Don_Keedic
20-Jan-24
Quabog
From: Don_Keedic
20-Jan-24
Jesus Will, you know 10" can hold an F350 right?
4 inches, like what we currently have in Zone 8, is plenty for the human body.
From: Rooster
20-Jan-24
Holland pond?
From: Jebediah
20-Jan-24
There is a small pond in that I remember near the Charles River that used to freeze up pretty quick, was popular for ice fishing. There was really only one access point, at they kept some rescue gear there—like some really long poles and some other things. I always thought that was smart.
From: Wilgabeast
20-Jan-24
From: MA-PAdeerslayer
20-Jan-24
You can have the bow blood…I want the saddle and sticks….as of now he’s still above water tho ;)
From: Shanation
20-Jan-24
Very nice!!!
From: Lunker
20-Jan-24
That's a good sunfish
From: Dthfrmabove1
20-Jan-24
There he is. Nice Wilga !!!
From: Shanation
20-Jan-24
Will, rock that life jacket without shame . It's saved me once before! Good luck tomm gents!
From: Wilgabeast
21-Jan-24
Just to be sure you guys know . I was standing on 2” of ice Thursday 5 feet off shore … knowing it was gonna be below freezing for two days I knew it would be safe . Was a solid 4.5” of black ice yesterday . We iced 11 pike . Biggest one was 12 pounds . What a day … my buddies are going back for more . I promised the neice id take her jigging for Perch and crappie
From: Wilgabeast
21-Jan-24
From: Wilgabeast
21-Jan-24
From: Wilgabeast
21-Jan-24
5 quads on the lake here in Dudley
From: Blood
21-Jan-24
Fished a lake on the CT MA border with my brother today. 4”-5” of good ice. No fish. Nada. Everyone we talked to had nothing. Too cold and high pressure maybe? I hate days like this. Stay safe all.
From: Jebediah
21-Jan-24
Beautiful fish!
From: Arrownoob
21-Jan-24
I found plenty of ice up wildcat mountain this weekend- but no fishing! Temps were 6f as a high. I went with my son’s Boy Scout troop and we stayed the night.
From: Wilgabeast
22-Jan-24
Took the neice and nephew out in south central Mass yesterday … 8” of ice and four wheelers flying all around …. Glad to say I’m pretty confident atleast that ice will make it through the rain this week! My pike spot will be a no go though
From: Will
22-Jan-24
Oh I know 4" of quality ice is safe for me. I just dont feel like a pickerel and some bass is worth the risk unless it's thicker. I do go if it's less than 10, I just feel nervous about it... though I dont think I'd go at this point under 6. More is better for me.
Pi, yep, I have a rope in the gear bucket and also have the spike necklace thing so if you go in you can use the spikes like handles to stab the ice and pull yourself free.
It's a bit irrational, and my wife and friends love to remind me of that.
From: Will
22-Jan-24
Nice fish folks!
From: Shanation
22-Jan-24
Got out on 4" in the valley. The pike were hungry! I got the biggest of the day at 35" my buddy got 3, biggest at 34'
From: BAT
23-Jan-24
Got a few nice bass today (released) and brought home plenty of perch and calicos for a fish fry! Zone 8, had 5 inches of ice with open water in the center, upcoming weather does not look good for holding ice….
From: Will
23-Jan-24
Congrats guys - beautiful Fish!
From: Dthfrmabove1
23-Jan-24
Awesome job everyone. Love the ice fishing pics. Incredible pics Shanation !!
From: Big Dog
24-Jan-24
Shan....nice
From: Big Dog
24-Jan-24
From: Deerdawg
25-Jan-24
Nice Fish Men, Wilga you need too part with some fur and stitch a new Mountain Man Hat! Bobcat, Yote should do.
From: Shanation
21-Feb-24
Got out to the berks yesterday, no pike but my buddy's mom got a tank of a smallie weighing in at 4.7lbs! Got to test out the new shanty from aimdor archery, excellent product for a great price! Hoping we get another 2 weeks of good ice
From: Wilgabeast
21-Feb-24
Heading to the Belgrades tonight for 4 days of pike fishibg
From: Shanation
21-Feb-24
Goodluck!!!!
From: Notime2fish
21-Feb-24
Spend some time in search of Lakers up north this past weekend. Solid 12” on the lake which will hopefully hold on for a few more weeks. No lakers but got into plenty of 1lb - 1.5lb perch. Wilga, good luck.
From: Jebediah
21-Feb-24
Those are outstanding pictures!
From: Wilgabeast
22-Feb-24
3:28 am and we’re off with trailer and quad in tow
From: Big Dog
22-Feb-24
Wilga, good luck up there
From: Shanation
22-Feb-24
Thanks Jeb! Can't wait to see some big maine pike from wilga!!
From: peterk1234
22-Feb-24
From: Wilgabeast
23-Feb-24
Might be waiting a while Shan. We fished 7 am till dark yesterday with 30 tip ups and not one flag …. The group next to us got one flag all day and it was a 39” 16 lb pike . It’s slow but I’m fishing 8-10” baits for a DOG!
From: Jebediah
23-Feb-24
Almost want to try ice fishing so I can get pictures like these. Almost. Plus I doubt that lady with the monster smallmouth would go with me, me being a stranger and all.
From: Shanation
23-Feb-24
Beautiful pete!!
Wilga sorry to hear!!! We both know that's the pike game for ya! Sometimes the big ones like the smaller baits, good to have a mix out there and then adjust.
Jeb your stranger danger is real lmao!!! Would love to fish with you sometime! That lady has shot more animals in different continent's then a lot of hunters! Very cool that she gets so pumped over a tank smallie after all the adventures she's had.
From: Wilgabeast
24-Feb-24
GIANT ALERT!!! 23 lbs 42.5” length 20 3/4” girth
From: Wilgabeast
24-Feb-24
From: Lunker
24-Feb-24
Very nice. Congrats. Big bait big fish I guess.
From: Wilgabeast
24-Feb-24
From: Shanation
24-Feb-24
What a beast!!
From: Wilgabeast
24-Feb-24
On a jig stick and I fish pro 2.0
From: BAT
24-Feb-24
Wow, beautiful Pike!
From: Wilgabeast
24-Feb-24
Pb took me 16 years to beat my 21
From: Big Dog
24-Feb-24
Wilga...wow....congrats
From: Jebediah
25-Feb-24
That is a monster for sure. Was that in Maine did you say?
From: Josh22
25-Feb-24
Congrats Wilga, that’s a tank!
From: Wilgabeast
25-Feb-24
Yup up in Maine in the Belgrades
