Kayak Ice Fishing for YP

[chex]

Shadyfisher85 and I launched out of Jean Roberts Park near Havre de Grace this morning around 9:30 in search of yellow perch. Air temp: 26. Water temp: 32.

We marked a lot of fish but did not catch much. I caught only one... a 10"er in about 60' under the railroad bridge. Ryan caught a half dozen undersized fish. We were using minnows.

There was a lot of thick ice in the water.

[J.A. Veil]

Good work guys. You were adventuresome.

[M_Duong60]

Very cool...I wonder if there are YP at Occoquan Reg Park now might try going there in a week or two.

[Sun]

Looks like fun! 60 feet of water?! That is deep. Did its stomach bloat out? Did you keep it? If so, was it a lady fish? Much roe?

did you guys try the area that we had success in last m&g?

[Mmacro]

Live bait or rubber minnows?

[chex]

We used live minnows.

Yep, 60 feet... It gets to at least 75 feet around there. I tried the spot we caught some last year too, but no success. Didn't see the stomach bloat out, but it was a lady fish full of roe, so she had a big belly, and yes, I kept her. She was my first fish of the year... Got my January fish in the nick of time!

[ComeOnFish]

Very cool...I wonder if there are YP at Occoquan Reg Park now might try going there in a week or two.

Minh,
YP should be in the deepest part (30') and 15' of water (channel) in front of the covered docks by now in Occoquan. You can catch both crappie and YP now I believe
Joe

[ComeOnFish]

Safety reminder

Safety reminder to the kayakers who try to fish first time when the ramp is iced up and the water in front of the ramp is frozen:

The ice in front of the ramp (on the pictures) is too thick to me. It was good thing that someone already cracked the ice and made the path. If the air temp wasn't supposed to rise for sure, I wouldn’t go out. If the Air temp drops below 30F, coming back to ramp becomes an issue.

I would semi-crawl on the iced ramp (I always do on the iced ramp). Usually I am the only one fishing early in the morning. If I am unconscious by falling backward, I won’t have any help for a long time.

Two years ago I was at the park, the ramp and the water looked the same as the pictures Mike provided. I leashed myself to the kayak that time. Because I saw children died under the thin ice (Rice field – shallow water) when I grew up. None could help once a child was under the thin ice. The depth of water is more than 5-6’ immediately at the ramp. No person can crack ice and come out once the person is under the ice in front of the ramp

Just a thought
Joe

[Memory Maker]

Yeah .......... gotta watch the ice and the forecast. That ice didn't look good from tthe pics. Many times you can get out because a boat broke the Ice but it refreezes and you can't get back in. Just be VERY careful ......... glad you had a nice trip ........ that perch looked good.

[DanMarino]

Great photos of the ice and that 10 incher looks healthy.

[Kiko]

Safety reminder to the kayakers who try to fish first time when the ramp is iced up and the water in front of the ramp is frozen:

The ice in front of the ramp (on the pictures) is too thick to me. It was good thing that someone already cracked the ice and made the path. If the air temp wasn't supposed to rise for sure, I wouldn’t go out. If the Air temp drops below 30F, coming back to ramp becomes an issue.

I would semi-crawl on the iced ramp (I always do on the iced ramp). Usually I am the only one fishing early in the morning. If I am unconscious by falling backward, I won’t have any help for a long time.

Two years ago I was at the park, the ramp and the water looked the same as the pictures Mike provided. I leashed myself to the kayak that time. Because I saw children died under the thin ice (Rice field – shallow water) when I grew up. None could help once a child was under the thin ice. The depth of water is more than 5-6’ immediately at the ramp. No person can crack ice and come out once the person is under the ice in front of the ramp

Incredible awareness, readiness and preparation....

Ernie

[M_Duong60]

Where did you guys buy minnows?

[chex]

ComeOnFish brings up some good points. Luckily, there were a few boats using the ramp so the ice was somewhat broken up. I did have to use my paddle to break some on the way back in though. The ice cover seemed to get worse throughout the day.

Where did you guys buy minnows?

I got my minnows from shadyfisher85. Not sure where he got them.

[Shady]

[QUOTE=Sun;51034]Looks like fun! QUOTE]

Not sure fun is the appropriate adjective, but it was definately quite an experience. I've never kayak fished around ice like that. The water by the ramp is only about 2-3 feet deep so I guess if need be we could have got out of the kayak and walked in.

I got the minnows from Clyde's in Halethorpe, they carry them year round and are only about 10 minutes from my house.

Not sure where all the perch are but they werent there in numbers like they should be...

[Memory Maker]

Ryan ......... alot of times the perch are shallow. We used to catch them from the piers in the northeast and through the ice. Also they are netting them again. Netters tons of them