By: Capt. Sean McDonald
Any time you have in December, if you are an ice fisherman, and there is open water you might take a half of a day or so and go for a boat ride on your favorite lake. Take your GPS and mark the edges of weed beds. You will have an advantage over the rest of the fleet when the snow-covered ice will make weeds much tougher to find.
Battery powered auger drills for the first half of winter is the way to go. You can quietly cut a hole in a few seconds and avoid some disruption from the fish and other fishermen on thinner ice. Try and drill your holes first in an area you pick to fish and wear ice cleats if they are really needed. Having holes set up before the bite happens is a simple solution with a battery-powered auger.
Weeds are the key for first ice bluegills on local small lakes and bigger ones like Hamlin, Manistee and Portage. Shallow canals and bays often will hold good numbers of bluegill before the oxygen levels drop and they head to deeper water. Top baits for bluegill are 3mm tungsten jigs tipped with wax worms, spikes or plastics.
Be safe on first ice and enjoy the easiest time to catch bluegills while it lasts.
Capt. Sean McDonald
Katch Me Charters
(231) 510-2072
www.centurycircle.com
