The Skinny On Bulls.... My Theory

[BIGFISH.JZ]

The article "The skinny on bulls" is spot on! I am going to briefly add a couple points that may help understand this bite. First, the north end/side is better than the rest of the lake, If all other conditions are equal. Second, muddy bottom is king, and I think I can explain why and exactly what to look for. Once the edges of the lake melt away the connecting ice and the snow has melted away the ice will typically rise/float up. The pencil reeds are mentioned as being prime structure but they actually provide very little cover under the ice. What they do provide is bugs that get dislodged when the reeds are pulled up with the floating sheet of ice and the rootball pulls out of the mud. Those bugs/invertabrates then rise to the bottom of the ice, providing an easy meal for panfish. When I am fishing this pattern I drill holes all over the emergent reed patch with my 10" blade. This will provide a nice "window" and will they rarely freeze up this time of year, in fact some will probably get larger as warm surface water goes through them. Then you won't need anything but a rod to fish the next day. I will generally hop from hole to hole dropping my presentation just a foot or maybe two under the ice, give it a few shakes while watching for incoming fish and after a minute or usually less, I move to the next hole and repeat. Man, have I caught some nice fish with this pattern!! I generally leave the vexilar, portable and auger at home once holes are drilled. Things that I do bring are a rod or two with 6-8 pound test, Waxworms or gulp, a bucket and a 14'-16' 2x12 plank to get out to the walkable ice. If you haven't read the article on the home page yet, you should, since this is just an added supplement to that well timed article. Stay safe and good luck. Keeping the 8"-9" gills and 10"-12" crappie to eat and the larger ones to spread the superior genetics will result in larger fish each year. See you out there!

[BIGFISH.JZ]

I forgot the word "release". Release the bigger fish!!

[IceHawk]

Great info and read