Posts: 1,247
Threads: 91
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
7
I need some advice... I've iced the Berry pretty good the past 4 seasons, and did pretty good the first 2 Winters, then last year, and this year it's been only fair to slow..We've fished the Islands area, Haws Pt., Marina area, but mainly later in the season, like late Feb. and then most of March....Do I need to be hitting it earlier in the season to be getting in on some more aggressive bites? Or are the cutts more prone to be feeding on a low barometric pressure day like the crappie at Pineview? Later in the season (like now) are they staging in some 'secret spot' for spawning? ... I'm pretty sure we have the right bait/lure presentations, and the ice is good for a couple weeks yet, so I'd like to hit it again...not ready to throw in the towel yet - my boat can wait... Any thoughts/recommendations greatly appreciated...
[signature]
Posts: 569
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2011
Reputation:
0
Those areas you mentioned get hounded by people. Pressure slows it down big time. Early ice anywhere at the berry can be fast action but once the masses show up it slows down. I know people who are still getting into some awesome days up there but they are going far far away from the crowds on snow mobiles.
[signature]
Posts: 593
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2006
Reputation:
0
I don't have any solutions for you; however, my experience is the same as yours and I am getting away from the crowds. I am fishing mid week and my nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away. I started fishing 4 to 5 weeks ago and had a very good day -29 fish with 3 over the slot. Every week thereafter I halved my previous weeks catch - 15, 8, and this past week 4. This is the worse ice season that I can remember.
I am fishing with a Marcum UW camera. There are plenty of cutts swimming; however, they are just cruising through and not feeding. One thing I have noticed this year on the camera is that the fish appear to be skinnier and swimming with their tails much lower than their heads & swimming very slow. They appear to be very lethargic and seem to be dragging their arses. Most of the fish that are biting are biting extremely light. I do not think you would ever see the strike on the surface. In addition, the fish are not coming back for a second or third strike like they have done in the past.
I thought this was going to be a very good rainbow ice season and I have not found them in any great numbers & nothing any bigger than 14-15 inches.
I might just be in a slump that hopefully ends soon.
[signature]
Posts: 936
Threads: 46
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation:
4
Does anyone think that the Oxygen levels slowly deplete as the Ice cap Remains? Fish would slow down and exhibit less energy and appetite. Just a guess.
[signature]
Posts: 4,167
Threads: 73
Joined: Sep 2007
Reputation:
22
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Joe,[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]
[/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]You, me, and Mike - Wednesday. You in?[/#800000][/font]
[signature]
Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 83 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
Posts: 1,247
Threads: 91
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
7
Roger that, try again!
[signature]
Posts: 1,247
Threads: 91
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
7
Tks OCF,Dog Lover, and Ut Golf...I know some guys talking about areas like Renegade, or Soldier Creek side, have been doing better: I just haven't been able to get there...Less Oxygen later in the season because of persistent thick ice? That could be too...I've never ran into any live green weeds ice fishing here either....I don't know...but like OCF said, lots of cruisers and fewer biters, and then just a little tap when they do....is the bite more definite and aggressive away from these "Hounded Spots"? Anybody have better action just before or during snowy days? tks, and Guluck...
[signature]
Posts: 144
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2015
Reputation:
0
Its been a tough year all around for me too.
[signature]
Posts: 123
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2004
Reputation:
0
I have fished the berry almost every Saturday since Jan 1. My experience has been the fishing has progressively gotten tougher as the season has gone on. I travel via snowmobiles away from the crowds. For example yesterday we had 8 people fishing and caught 12 fish in 4 hours of fishing. It wasn't that slow the week before but it was slow. In contrast I had two weeks in January where I had to stop fishing 2 poles because I could not tend them both responsibly enough with constant bites. I too have noticed the quality of fish is not what I have seen in years past. Skinnier fish and very few rainbows. I still love the berry and the fishery it is. Just my observations.
[signature]
Posts: 123
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2013
Reputation:
0
Oxygen levels do play a big role in fish activity. As the season progresses the oxygen levels deplete and the fish get more and more lethargic. I had a couple good days up there this past february, both were on a low pressure swing when snow was moving in. The hot sunny high pressure days were nice out on the ice but the bite was slow.
[signature]
Posts: 1,247
Threads: 91
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
7
Good observations, and tks MakFish, Sunkee, CapnJac...I think instead of hitting our lower elevation lakes all the time early in the season, I'll change my pattern a little, and maybe hit the Berry once or twice early next season...and in the meantime, if I have a choice, I'll try hitting it on a lower barom. pressure day, like for the Pineview crappies...
tks for good ideas and thoughts...I'm not giving up yet!
[signature]
Posts: 3,517
Threads: 27
Joined: Apr 2006
Reputation:
3
We will be there Friday & Sat. if you are up that way, I know you are planning a trip up there this week with Dubob, good luck to you guys.[  ]
[signature]
Posts: 1,247
Threads: 91
Joined: Jan 2016
Reputation:
7
tks Packfan -- will post after...Guluk Fri. and Sat.
[signature]
Posts: 1,165
Threads: 22
Joined: Jun 2003
Reputation:
1
Here's a link to a pretty good article about oxygen levels, sun light, and plants.
http://www.aquaticnuisanceplantcontrol.c...eet_1_.pdf
[signature]
|
