Finders Keepers

Got on the ice at O'Dark thirty and set-up in my honey hole. Before I could set-up my third hole the first flag went flyin'. Iced a nice 6 lb pike. Got the rest of my spread out and it was a steady bite until about 10am when they shut off (or so I thought). Ended the day 6 for 6 on pike (6, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10 lbs), and a few keeper perch, although I only did about 20 minutes of solid perch fishing, the rest of the time I was trying to thaw back out after fighting the pike. It was BRUTAL out there today with a 20+ mph wind! When I pulled the tip-ups I found 4 of them twisted up and knotted (so they had to of been a good 8 to 10 ft off the bottom) and the other had no minnow on it. So that last hour could have produced, but none of my lines were in the strike zone apparently. Re-strung them tonight by the wood stove and now they are ready for action tomorrow when Woody and I head out to do some damage and find that 15+ lb'er!!

Way to go fellas - sounds like a good time! You guys didn't have any tip-ups for pike did ya? I have been contemplating hitting up Port Bay one of these days, if and when the pike bite at Sodus slows down.

Hey JR, Woody & I will keep an eye out for ya if we target the Islands. I've been contemplating trying some new waters in search of bigger gators, but we'll see. Woody's going out tomorrow, so we'll have to see how he makes out... I wear an all-blue outfit and sport a Frabill shanty. Just look for two guys running back and forth between tip-ups pulling gators and slob perch on the ice!

Hey Gator, No wheels for me, I make the walk with my shanty and gear. It's actually not that bad (unless there's a lot of LES), about the same as walking out in front of Third Creek. So far the perch really haven't shown up in teh "honey hole" yet, but the pike are plentiful! However, the pike have all been average-sized with nothing over 10 lbs., so I am contemplating trying some other waters in search of bigger fish. It's hard to move elsewhere when you're slammin' fish... Are going to fish the Sodus Tourny in a few weeks?

I gave the "boat anchor" back to my buddy yesterday, and apparently when he got home, it started right up after two pulls. I guess it just needs the right mojo to get going or something. So he's going to show me how he starts it next time to see what I was doing wrong. Any of you guys planning on fishing the Sodus Point Polar Ice Fishing Tourny? I just hope there's still ice left in March... Hey Gator, where on Sodus do you typically fish?

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family...

I had the same murky waters up the north end too, but they were still hungry there! I did hear of other people doing better in the murky water if they set their lines closer to the bottom, like 6 - 10". Something to try if the normal set-ups aren't working...

They do look sweet. How much do they typically run?

The issue is that I like an 8" hole for the toothy critters (especially those over 12 lbs), which requires a bit of work, even with new blades. I upgraded my 6" manual auger last year after losing a couple large pike at the hole. That 6" auger cut through a lot easier simply because of the size difference. I will probably look into a power unit for next year...

In and around the islands, using shiners set 2 to 3 ft off the bottom.

Got on the ice just after daylight with my buddy Skinner to fish the Bayside Tourny and set-up in my usual honeyhole. I was looking forward to not having to drill holes today as I had my friend's power auger. However the darn thing wouldn't start! So it ended up taking me 2.5 hours to get the full 10 tip-up spread set! Needless to say I got quite the workout today! There was a good 12"+ of hard, clear ice to drill through. Ended the day at 12:20 and had iced 8 pike (4 to 8.5 lbs) and around 15 decent perch. The pike hit in pairs today - always either had two flags go at the same time or one would go while I was fighting another. Kinda weird how that happened. Well, we didn't win the tourny, but it was a banner day on the ice - although it was C-C-C-OLD!!!!!! Hoping to get back out next Saturday...

Well, fished Sodus today for the tourny and unfortunately didn't get into any tourny fish. However, my buddy and I had a banner day on the ice going 8 for 12 on pike ranging from 4 to 8.5 lbs, and iced about 15 decent perch, one of which was about a pound. Does anyone know what the 2nd and 3rd place pike weighed? I thought about keeping the 8.5 for weigh-in, but I caught it first thing in the morning and I figured I'd need one 10+ lbs, so I let it go. I got quite the workout today drilling holes through the 12"+ of hard, clear ice on the bay, so tomorrow is re-coop day... Congrats to those who placed in the tourny!

It's on!!!!!!!!!!! See ya on the ice ladies and gentlemen!

Yeah, if any tournies are taking place this weekend, I hope everyone exercises caution. On Sunday there was a good 12-14" of ice between the islands on Sodus, so I would imagine that should be ok despite the short thaw. However, like you said, especially where the creeks come in the bays, we'll have to be careful. I just hope we don't get dumped on with lake effect over the next couple days - there's the potential for 12"+ of snow... I haven't fished the Bayside Tourny before, but I am hearing good things from people who have. I hope it's a "go" for this Saturday!!

Scheduled to run this Saturday, however the owner will make a final call on Friday at noon. If it is called off, it will be rescheduled for the following Saturday. $10 entrance fee per person, pike and perch divisions with top 3 places awarded, payout to be determined by number of entries, can fish anywhere.

Access is good both at the south end boat launch and the north end by the lake. However, the ice at the north end has been real sketchy this year, so exercise caution if targeting there. It can be good fishing off Tompkins Point. I haven't been out on Port Bay yet this year, as I have been targeting Sodus.

Hey Coup! I was out there further north in front of the blue house on the lake. I ended up with 3 pike (5, 6, 8.5 lbs) and 20 nice perch (4 of which were 1 lb+): I wish I knew you were out there, I would have stopped over to see you! I'll probably be out again next weekend...

Talked to a couple guys on the way in who went over to see it and they said they had a scale that read 19 lbs. I believe it, as when I saw them taking pictures with it, the guy holding the fish had the head above his waist and the tail was on the ground. When I saw that, I said to myself, "Man, that's a big fish!". I wonder if that got sent to the taxidermist or they just sliced and diced it? I'd mount it!!

On the ice solo at dark 'o' thirty today and worked the area between the islands. Ended at noon 7 for 7 on pike - most 6-8 lbs and one just shy of 10 lbs. No perch to speak of, probably because of all the pike. Some other guys across the way from me did well on pike and bass with at least 6 of each, including a 19 lb pike!! I didn't see it up close, but it looked BIG from across the ice! Will be out again tomorrow in the am until about 10:30. No ice issues with a solid 12"+ everywhere around the islands - many motorized vehicles on the ice today.

You never did mention whether they were caught jiggin' or on tip-ups... How much water were you over?

Yeah, I'm aware of the ice issues there - thanks for the reminder Jeff! If someone reported from there I was going to ask about the ice. I'll be heading there only if I have a companion with me... It's always safer with a second person, and more fun!

Thanks for the report! I'll be heading out tomorrow, not sure where yet... Seems to be slow anywhere you go... Has anyone tried in front of the old coal trussel?? I haven't fished there in a couple years, but have done well there in the past...

That would be nice!

Fished the north end of Sodus yesterday from 11 - 3 pm between LeRoy and Newark Islands. Did 6 keeper perch and got spooled twice on the tip-ups, but the bait got dropped both times. Wasn't too bad walking out as I had thought - few inches of snow and an occational drift with some slush here and there. Still had a good 8" of solid ice. Hoping to get out again next weekend...

Ok, thanks for the report! Looks like I will head back to my stomping grounds between the islands tomorrow...