Hi Folks, Finally got on the ice yesterday afternoon. Been a slow start to the ice fishing season with a good old fashioned January thaw. My local lakes that I like to ice are just coming around. My local pike lake has 6" to 8" of solid black ice though the edges need to be watched. I like to put my fixed shanty on a local trout reservoir and their I found 4" of good black ice, though the ice edges were open and or had thin ice. I had to walk in water to get onto the ice. Need good dry boots for that maneuver. I jigged for perch in about 15' of water on the first drop off from the shore. A little scary being by myself on thin ice. I had some success tugging on some small yellow bellies. I used a cream colored jig with orange and a red hook tipped with live maggots. I have been using more and more red hooks and they seem to make a difference. Trout season opens tomorrow and hopefully with the cold snap upon us I will be able to get my shanty on the ice in the next few days. Use good judgement out there on the ice and remember there is no room for error when dealing with thin ice. Carry your safety stuff like a ice pick lanyard, rope, life preserver, and tell someone where you will be fishing. Have Fun, Willy
