coming to an end

Hi folks, Guided on the hard water all this last week with 3 trips.  Been a good guiding winter for me as more and more folks seem interested in ice fishing.  Lots of snow pack on the ice currently.  Still 2' of ice under my shanty with another 2' of snow and slush on top of that.  Needed snow shoes to get to the shanty.  Trout season concludes on Tuesday March 15 and then I will be guiding and fishing northern pike after that.  Trout fishing this last week was pretty slow.  Still catching tons of smelt and some nice 10" plus perch.  The perch have been holding to the bottom in 30' and the smelt have been suspended.  Most of the smelt we located with electronics and caught them at 12' to 15' off the bottom.  Hali jigs and bibbits in copper, silver, and gold have worked well.  Tipping the jigs with maggots certainly help on the smelt.  Pike fishing should begin to heat up and the next month and a half is the best time of the year to hang a big northern.  Just remember any pike over 30" is definitly a female laden with eggs and they should be handled with care.  Remember to obey the bait laws and keep VHS at home.  have Fun, Willy