Ice Fishing., Sort of.

Went ice fishing for the first and probably last time this season last night. Almost no ice around the shore so took the canoe out to where the ice started. Sat there where the water comes up from 15 feet deep to about 4,5, and 6 feet deep. Waited with the canoe resting against the ice. Waited some more....Waited some more.....nothing. Did not have minnows because I wasn't planning on going anywhere. A last minute decision I was starting to regret. Tried all my plastics until I got to this one with sparkles in it on a pink 1/8 ounce jig head. Finally after dark the crappie showed up and a few walleye. The walleye were big, there was no small ones. The crappie were between 11 and 15 inches. There was one that was much smaller, not sure what he was doing there. LOL. Only fished a few hours because the fish moved on. Also only kept 2 crappie because most of them were skinny. 1 keeper was fat and just under 15 inches and the other was fat and just under 12 inches. It was cold because of the breeze. Also picked up (bought) a new ice fishing rod from my friend, never been used. Here is a picture of the rod, and the bait used, and the fish.

Fishing rod. And new pail as well. The handle of my old pail finally gave up after 13 years.

Bait.

Crappie.

Good to see you're still at it. good plan using the canoe!

I need to buy a small hovercraft or a small fan boat but I do not have 100,000 dollars. Doesn't matter spring will be here soon.

Thanks for report and bring on open water i'm sick of this half winter weather and crappy ice.

Nice slabs too bad the ice situation isn't great this year. It was probably nice sitting in the canoe...I would be dreaming of spring.

I would say it will be an earlier spring in the Kawarthas anyway. I have never seen so little ice at this time of year. As the temperature dropped last night you could hear the ice contract and crack, that's such a creepy sound when it happens. There is some cold weather coming so winter is not over yet.

The crappie on the top of the picture was very fat, the other a bit less. All the rest were thin so I'll wait until April for the fish to start the spring feed. The walleye were very nice, but that's three months away.

Were you using an ice rod in the canoe fishing straight under the canoe or a regular soft water rod? Just curious.

An old ice rod with a slip bobber. I casted out a few yards and watch the glow stick on the bobber. The eyelets freeze up quick, so I just dip the rod in the water.

Shoulda entered the derby, nobody has a 14”+ panfish yet.

I always say I am lucky because of so many big crappie caught over the years. Luck does have a big part in it, you never know what size fish you are going to catch. Going back to the same areas that have brought me some monsters, is like going to the well for water. If you don't need a full bucket, just take a little. This may sound weird to most of you, my friends think it's weird. If I use my fishing spots for a Derby or Tournament or for my fishing guide business, Mother Nature might take my fish away. I would hope she sees me as a modest man without greed. Even posting pictures on this Fishing Forum worried me at first. LOL. I release hundreds of crappie as well as the other fish every year. Superstition plays a big part in my fishing. My set up is always the same, lucky hats etc. etc. etc. Too many to list. I am just as superstitious when watching the Maple Leafs play. LOL. Not enough talent or just bad luck. They have not won a cup since...forever (67). MAYBE THIS YEAR. Actually the Bruins look to good and should win the cup this year. DBfish will be happy with that. Good luck to everyone in the fishing derby. Stay safe.

I would say it was not a typical scene to see for mid Feb and lakes covered with ice. But you were able to get to your most loved conditions and fish for crappie from soft water at night, just from a canoe moored to the edge of ice....
Well done! Glad you got what you came for.
I even had a thought that crappie had a quick meeting where they said "Well, Crappeeeman is here. We must sacrifice few of us or we are all doomed"