Good day on Shag

[Steve Foss]

Located a spot on Shag I saw on this forum, 16 FOW just west of an island along the lake's western shore.

Between 12 and 13 inches of strong clear ice where I was, and very little snow. Two pickups, a compact one and a full size one, pulled up about 10 feet from each other about 75 yards from me and set up to fish. Nobody went through.

Bite started at 4 p.m. sharp, just like every time last winter on Shag. This one lasted until a bit after 5 p.m. Five 'eyes on the line, four on the ice, all from 16 to 20 inches. One that looked like about 22 came off just as I had his nose out of the hole and my hand an inch from him.

No. 7 jigging Rap in firetiger green perch with minnow head dangling on the jigging rod, rainbow on a bare hook under bobber on the other rod. Four off the Rap, one off the minnow. Very soft biters.

But two home for the frying pan. Mrs. Catfish was NOT happy to learn I let two eaters of her favorite fish species back down the hole, but selective harvest means selective harvest (and I SELECTED to let two go so I simply HAVE to go back out fishing if she wants more 'eye to eat.

Freshly cleaned, they're smelling pretty good right now as I type this.

[NAMAKANWALLEYE]

Nice job STF.

Not a bad spot if you were where I think you were. Water must be a little deeper this year.

Ive never tried perch looking jigs in the winter. Always trolled perch blades there in the summer and quite honestly, I think it is the best walleye hole in Ely.

I've caught some huge perch there. I also caught a 20lb northern there on a walleye spinner in the summer.

I had my shack there for 3 years in a row. I usually fished the east side of the island though.

Punch some holes for me. I will be there this winter!

Mark