Kayak Ice Fishing for YP

[Shady]

we tried from 15-70 feet

[sparky1423]

Please let me know of the next outting in that area. I live close by, but not comfortable enough to enter the susquehanna alone. I would love to see some professionals in action.

[Shady]

May be trying again this weekend

[Shady]

I've been working in Harrisburg the past couple of days. Here is a view of the susquehanna from the 83 bridge to Harrisburg.
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Anyone up for some real kayak ice fishing?

[Sun]

Please let me know of the next outting in that area. I live close by, but not comfortable enough to enter the susquehanna alone. I would love to see some professionals in action.

The February Meet and Greet is on the Susquehanna. You could join us then, if you're free. You should see a thread go up soon for the M&G.

I've been working in Harrisburg the past couple of days. Here is a view of the susquehanna from the 83 bridge to Harrisburg.
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Anyone up for some real kayak ice fishing?

Woah, we could have kayak sled races too.

[Memory Maker]

we tried from 15-70 feet

I'm talking about 10 ft or less

[ictalurus]

Pretty wild, guys, and cool pics. Sorry the fish weren't more appreciative of your efforts.

Joe--I never thought about the area around the ramp refreezing. That's something to keep in mind.

[J.A. Veil]

I am far from being an expert ice fisherman. But on the two times I went, the guy who took me with him had me wear metals spikes that strapped over my boots and a safety device that hung from my neck (the orange plastic cylinder in the photo). If needed, the two halves of the cylinder pulled apart and had sharp spikes on the ends. If I had fallen in, this would have given me some ability to get a hold on the ice to pull myself up.

I certainly hope never to have to use a gadget like that, but for those of us who choose to kayak under heavy icing conditions, it might be a good addition to the safety kit.

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P.S. -- That photo was taken on the tidal Magothy River on Feb 1, 2009.

[ComeOnFish]

John,
That is a nice picture. Now I want to try ice-fishing at least once
joe

[J.A. Veil]

John,
That is a nice picture. Now I want to try ice-fishing at least once
joe

I have used two ways to ice fish. The first is shown in the previous photo. You use a portable depth sounder with the transducer floating in the hole. The one I used was not a modern fishfinder -- rather is was the old flasher style that displayed a lighted band on a circular dial. We fished with tiny jigs tipped with live maggots. If you jigged slowly, you could see the jig move up and down on the depth finder. If you saw a second band of light converging on the first, it was fish coming to take the bait. This allowed the fisherman to be ready for the gentle bite and set the hook.

The second method involves a device called a tip up. You put bait (we used live minnows) on a hook and lower it into the hole. You can then bend the flag over and tuck it under a clip. If a fish takes the bait and swims off, the flag is released, and it pops up again. We fished about 10 tip ups and periodically looked around to see if any of the flags had popped.

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It is definitely better to go for the first time with someone who has the gear and knows what they are doing. My fishing buddy Virgil loves ice fishing and took me twice. I am glad I got to try it, but don't plan on making it a regular event.

[J.A. Veil]

Here are some LMBs we caught under the ice on a lake in western Maryland in January 2010. They were caught on live minnow under a tip-up rig.

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