Interesting trend on panfish ice depths this season (2011-2012)

[Lusid]

So I was out in a northern lake this weekend and we were fishing in 5-8 feet of water and we were catching fish for 8 hours non-stop. Mostly Crappies and gills.

Also trust your vexilar, we were catching them literally 1-2feet below the ice due to their aggressiveness and suspended fish.

So I'm guessing either the Oxygen levels were good, or the food supply was good.

Just something to note. Happy huntings!

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I've seen that and other people that I have talked to have been fishing the same depths. Manly of the typical "Mid-Winter" spots aren't seeming to hold fish like they normally would. Instead of targeting the deep basins (30 FOW or so), I have been finding the most active and better sized fish to be in shallower water (4-20 ft) and most of the time they are suspended up off the bottom.

P.S. I think you meant 2012-2013 Ice Trends instead of 2011-2012

[Lusid]

7am with no coffee. Dang it.

Yes 2012-2013. Durrr

[clayton08]

What I have seen this year from my experiences is that all of my big crappies have been coming from shallow water. Sure i could go out and slam lil crappies in the deep water and have to keep a couple because they wont swim away or i can go drill 20 holes and slam decent to big crappies might be smaller ones mixed in but what do you do. It also helps to get away from the cities!!!! Sure there are good fish around here but it usually doesnt last long if someone finds out. I have some bomb lakes out west and can pretty much guarntee I will not see another sole out there except the 2 people that fish it with us. If you want to catch slabs over 13 inches regularly and gills over 9 start driving and fish shallow if its a break by big water id start there and just keep popping holes it all maters on what kind of situation it is but the drops by basins have been good for me.

[otterman91105]

I have read many articles that say shallow water like that is good for crappies just never tried it.

[fish_eat_sleep]

This is nothing new.. people love the idea of marking "things" with the vexilar. easy to mark a few "things" in 30ft when the cone is covering so much area. in 6ft however, you wont mark anything at all in many of the holes. the cone angle only covers a few feet at most. and half way down it might only allow you to see a few inches to either side of the hole. I blame years of electronic brainwashing I like having my own fish.

[GSP4ME]

now it might be just the piece of water I am fishing but I have caught more big crappie and by big I am talking over 12 inches in water that is darn near 45 feet deep this year. Most have been about 5 to 8 feet off the bottom but I have never caught so many bi crappie. This past weekend I fished Balasam on Sunday and killed the big gills in water no deeper then 11 feet. Really varies. God Bless the Marcum

[fish_eat_sleep]

I love my marcum too! I do think its a valid point to make though, you arent always going to mark things really shallow after drilling. you actually gotta fish each hole.

[Lusid]

If you are drilling holes in 7 feet of water, when the auger screams the vibrations will scare the fish away no doubt, so you do have to spend 10mins at the hole before you make the move.

I like watching people pop 2-3 holes, mark nothing then go. What do you expect the fish will do? Wait? Probably not, but they will return if you drop your bait down and make some noise. I typically like boring 4-5 holes in the area I would like to try, and try to fish those areas until i get a bite.

[Lusid]

[Scott M]

Nice video Lusid. Looks like you, Matt, and the gang had a nice day. Saturday was awesome weather too!