Hard Water Winter

Lake Nockamixon, fully frozen across

I didn't post over the winter months at all but that doesn't mean I wasn't fishing.  I experienced ice fishing for the first time this winter and enjoyed it immensely.  I was lucky enough to go out several times close to home and also to take an extended weekend trip up into the northern portions of the state. 

3lb Bass through the ice on a tipup

There is something incredibly awesome about standing in the middle of a lake, such as Nockamixon or Wallenpaupack, and having access to portions of the water that would normally be out of my reach from the shore.  Being that this is BC Bank Fishing, ice fishing might not sound like it fits but in reality it probably fits the bill more than anything since hard water fishing is like having one big bank. 

Each trip out we ended up catching something and had a great time even if they weren't trophy fish.  From our various trips we caught Bass, Perch, Pickeral, Blue Gills, and Crappies.  I pulled one particularly large Bass out through the ice, caught on a minnow below a tip-up.  The thrill of seeing a flag fly and running across the ice, seeing the spool just bleeding out line, and having to set the hook and hand line it in, is almost indescribable.

If you haven't tried it and get the chance, don't pass it up.

Smallest one of the day