Mississippi River bluegills

[heath19]

Today i hit the ice instead of going to the catfish seminar but it wasnt a waste. Ended up at Millers North of Savanna and left with 21 nice bluegills ranging from 7 3/4" up to 9" and one 10" crappie. Would have a picture but my i gave my brother all the fish so didnt get a chance to snap a picture.

[zim-cat]

sounds like you had a good day. Me and gofish are going to hit one of are honey holes lol. we will post our report!

[Illinoisgiller]

Way to go Chris, No suprise to this ole feller. I'm thinking you got those river gills figured out for the most part.:icon_cool::icon_cool: I might slip off for a little exploring myself today. There's a little patch of weedy lilly pads I've been too lazy to get on. Also close to the main river, so keeps me easily intimidated. Thanks again Chris, Mike

[gofish]

sounds like a nice mess of gills......missed out on the best part though.....eatin em !lol

[heath19]

i got some crappies in the freezer so i figured i could manage since brother wanted fish bad,lol

[Illinoisgiller]

Got out late to try a spot on the Mississippi River. Nice little pocket of lilly pads ,and current free. I walked out 10 long paces and drilled my first hole. Drilled right into MUD and rock. Dulled the 6' lazer . Another 25 paces got me 6" water but had to force the drill down. Went out quite a bit further and found a foot and a half of water. Sit there a while watching the river sliding by and just couldn't go any further ,even on a foot or so of ice. Something REAL intimidating about being out on the ice near moving open river water for me. I went home and got my 5" lazer and tried the canal. Ice was running from a foot to 8". .Never found a fish though. Drilled lots of holes in the nice weather. Hardly needed a coat. :icon_cool: Mike

[Fishaholic]

sure was a great day be out!! I didnt make it out on hard water but man a couple days like this and that boat'll be in the water soon!!!!!! I even wore shorts today!!..lol...

[heath19]

Went back to millers today and couldnt catch the size i caught yesterday, and couldnt even catch that many little ones. yesterday there was 30 people at the most at one time and me and my brother were the only people out away from everyone and thats where we did good. Got there today and there was pry 60 guys out there and they were all over, including on our spot and the big ones were gone, only seen 2 or 3 the size of the 21 we caught yesterday. the water was dirty today too and the ice kept shifting and cracking with all the guys out there..too much noise or something, whatever it was the big ones had lock jaw or were just plain gone.

[gofish]

giller that ranks up there real high on the "not good"list bout that auger....sounds like a tough day fer more than just us

[capt.kirk]

You guys stay SAFE that water under the ice is fixin to give you a bath
that you really dont want to take.Question does anyone wear Life Jackets
while Ice Fshing,Havent seen any in the pictures,maybe i missed them
or Do you need them???????? :confused0024: Kirk

[Illinoisgiller]

I think most of the time we don't need them. Yesterday I had one on standing on a foot of ice.
The moving water so close prompted me to wear it, and should have been reason enough not to be there in the first place.lol Mike

[gofish]

i never wear one but ive always got my ice picks and 200ft of rope with a fast snap on the end of it.the snaps so if a guy goes thru and cant hold on to the rope all hes gotta do is clip it on,plus extra wieght fer throwin ...lots of people round here dont even have the picks.....an we dont often git real thick ice,dont understand that one.

[heath19]

I have a set of picks and when i think there might even be a slight chance i might go through i will wear them around my neck all day, or have them ready if somethihg happens, i also carry a rope in case it happens. I have never felt scared enough to wear a life jacket though. i wont go onto water very deep if i think i might fall through, nothing over my head.

[dipper69_2000]

never wear a life vest or carry picks but........... never fish soft or thin ice over chest deep water. get wet almost every spring pushing that last icebut usaully by then we r ice fishing in t-shirts n jeans

[heath19]

i have done that a couple times, ice fished in a thin sweat shirt and blue jeans, or even a t-shirt. thats usually when you get wet feet though too,lol

[dipper69_2000]

yea but that is the best time to catch fish threw ice. anymore tho that is when i am after rock river walleyes and cats. gotta love those cats outta cold water.

[heath19]

Yeah, by them im trying to find me some of those rock river walleyes too. Im heading for Browns tomorrow, heard they really caught them there all weekend so i think i better go check it out after my interview tomorrow.

[zim-cat]

Kirk, gofish is scared of the water more than any one i know.joe can walk on water . On that note i met a guy that his wife would not let him go icefishing unless he sat in his boat. Felt bad for him he pulled around a 10 foot boat on the ice to be safe for his wife.fished right beside of him. I only go out on 4"of ice or more He's a local fisherman

[gofish]

thats why ya were fishin on 3 ta 3 1/2 last weekend huh?....it was clear ice an safe nuff though.......ya shoulda figured sumptin was up when i spaced them holes so far apart:confused0068::icon_biggrin:

[zim-cat]

It was 4" if you count the snow on top