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Cloudy skies. High 78F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph..
Overcast. Low 58F. Winds light and variable.
Chad Frantz shows off the huge pike he caught just last week at the Kinzua Dam. The big fish was 44 inches long and too over 10 minutes to subdue. The pike was caught on a big treble hook, 60 lb. fluorocarbon line on a tip up with a nine-inch sucker as bait.
Chad Frantz shows off the huge pike he caught just last week at the Kinzua Dam. The big fish was 44 inches long and too over 10 minutes to subdue. The pike was caught on a big treble hook, 60 lb. fluorocarbon line on a tip up with a nine-inch sucker as bait.
Last Wednesday, Chad Frantz dragged his sled across the bay on the Kinzua Dam.
The ice had finally frozen thick enough to fish on and he was looking forward to trying his luck. He quickly drilled five 8-inch holes in the ice and baited up with some hefty 9-inch minnows attached to a large, red, treble hook tied to 60 lb. fluorocarbon.
His goal was a large pike or muskie, big bait for big fish. Adjusting his tip ups to hold his offerings just off the bottom he set the flags; now it was just a matter of waiting.
Three hours passed when suddenly a flag snapped upright, the orange square bobbing crazily back and forth. Chad leaped to his feet and dashed over the tip-up, carefully pulling the reel from water.
The line was steadily peeling off the spool as the fish ran. He grabbed it and, when the line came tight, he struck and felt an unyielding weight.
His heart was already hammering, but whatever had his bait wasn’t moving and additional adrenalin coursed through his body as the unseen opponent suddenly stripped off additional line with an irresistible power.
Back and forth the battle raged, line gained and then lost, as the fish surged away. Slowly, Chad gained an advantage — then the leader appeared and a wide, dark shape shot underneath the hole stripping more line out.
Chad gasped; this was a fish was huge. After 10 drawn out minutes, Chad had seen the big fish flash by the hole several more times and knew it was a huge pike.
Finally, he was able to get that wide crocodile snout started up through the opening far enough to grab the gill cover and squeeze the fish up and out onto the ice. The 44-inch fish had a huge sagging belly, he couldn’t believe its girth and length. This was the pike he’d been dreaming of, and there it lay. Dreams do come true.
Ice fishing can be as simple or as involved as you wish to make it. An ice spud, chain saw or ice auger can make one hole in the ice or five.
You may put out tip-ups or use a short rod, jigging in a single hole. The choice is up to you and the type of fish you’re after.
Where to fish is very similar to summer fishing, though you’ll need a good memory to find structure now hidden under snow and ice. Points, drop offs, rocky humps, deeper bowls, river edges, old roads, weed edges and other fish habitat hold fish in the winter just as they did in the summer.
Many fish will be deep, but immediately after ice over, there will be numbers of fish in shallow waters, mainly in areas with rock, wood and creek mouths.
Tip-ups are the most widely used method of ice fishing. Tip-ups consist of a base, strike indicator flag and line spool held underwater preventing it freezing.
The base is set on the ice, the hook baited and lowered to a foot or two of the bottom when the flag is bent over and lightly placed in a notch on the spool. When a fish takes and pulls out line, the spool rotates, releasing the wire flag which springs upright — pretty exciting when it happens.
Minnows are favorite bait this time of year if you can find them. Smaller minnows for crappies and perch, meal worms, earthworms and tiny jigs baited and non-baited for sunfish, larger minnows for walleyes and pike and very large minnows or suckers for big pike, walleyes and hefty muskies.
Ice fishing wind is your biggest enemy. Dress warmly in layers with a well-insulated pair of boots.
Many use tents and other popup shelters to get escape the cold. These are often equipped with small propane heaters, stoves for chili and drinks, plus fold-up chairs.
A quick glance out the window or door shows if a flag’s up and it’s necessary to dash out and battle a fish. Some drill a hole or two inside the shelter.
Warm gloves and hats are a also must and don’t forget your sunglasses; the glare from snow and ice is literally blinding. I love the little hand and feet warmers you can slip into your gloves and boots; they make a world of difference in your comfort level.
If big fish are possible be sure and have a gaff handy. They’re indispensable when it comes to pulling a heavy, angry pike or muskie through the ice.
If hauling your equipment by hand, one of the orange, six-foot-long sleds is great. The sleds have holes on the edges you can fasten bolt eyes to. These allow you to lash down the tent, chairs, auger or whatever else you are dragging out on the ice. If your sled tips, your equipment doesn’t spill out of the sled, a definite plus.
When hunting season is finished and the lakes and rivers freeze over, you may feel like hibernating — don’t. Grab a friend or family and head out on the ice. It will not only get you out of the house and into the fresh air, you’ll have a great time and might end up with a fresh fish dinner or state record.
Dress warm, take some food and drink, be safe and enjoy the experience.
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