Selfridge--Monday morning

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Headed towards the barracks on the advise of an older guy we saw walking on the ice. Talked to him a bit and took his suggestion on fishing the barracks area. Offered him a lift, but he said he was staying close to the launch today.

Water was fairly clear in 6ft. First set up over a weed bed. Started catching rock bass. One other buddy was into rock bass also. The third was over sand and was catching a few perch.

Two of us moved and I found another weed bed. Caught 2 more 10" rock bass. Moved closer to one buddy and got over sand. Perch seemed to come and go. 3, 4 or 5 at time. Very negative mood. Got one here and one there. Saw some decent ones but they had lockjaw. Jigged with a jigging Rap and that brought them in, but seemed they were just sight-seeing. Perch were real tight to the botom.

Brought home 12-15. Rockbass were returned.

Caught the rockys on, get this, GULP minnows. They came in and just smacked them. Also I have some plastics that look like wigglers. They hit them too. Perch didn't touch them.

Very nice ice out there. Nice and smooth ride with the 4-wheeler and trailer. Ice was about 10-12 in.

[working man]

a few years ago i made it all the way over there,on foot,and our whole group limited out.never before or since have i had such a good day.
i've always wondered if it's a good spot all winter or if it was just our lucky day.

[y2ba]

Mike...funny you posted about the Rockbass. I made the trip over near the barracks yesterday...and couldnt keep the darn things off my baits. I caught the biggest rockbass ive ever seen yesterday. Since i wasnt catching any perch...i sat there and caught them until i got sick of it....and moved back down to cotton. I also released all the rock bass.

[WALLEYE MIKE]

Forgot to mention. I had 2 huge largemouths go thru the hole. Had to be 5 lbs. Buddy had 2 walleyes go thru his. Both were keepers

[William H Bonney]

Is anyone else noticing an abundance of rock bass this year??? I remember catching one or two a season,,,,, now it's 5 or 6 a trip and it doesn't seem to matter where. They're ALL OVER!!:tdo12:

[Bob T]

I did catch a few out of Selfrige on Sunday. Pretty aggressive, Hit jiggin rap

Bob

[Kuj92]

Interesting to hear about the eyes out there. I have fished that area for several years and have never seen one but between this report and seeing my buddy's wet sleeve on Saturday as he lost one at the hole, it makes the area a little more intriguing.

[Robert Hoover]

It seems every year about this time you hear of them between cotton and sang.I had a guy one year tell me that he used to walk out of brandenburg in febuary to 9 foot i think and said he use to do decent on eyes.As anything you here I have always wondered if it was true ,I never see any one way out their at night,does anyone else ?

[Joeker51]

I did catch a few out of Selfrige on Sunday. Pretty aggressive, Hit jiggin rap

Bob

Talked to a guy Sunday that said he caught a couple eye's on a jiggin rap. Red jacket with black sleeves I believe............ a bucket sitter........... was that you ?:16suspect

[Justin_04]

Where are the barracks? Is it somewhere between Cotton Rd and Selfridge?

[salmonslammer]

A little over a mile SE of the SANG launch....can be really good or really sucky...All depends on the day.

[Falk]

I know a couple of long time icefisherman that claim Rock Bass are very good table fare when caught through the ice.

[sniper's mojo]

Rock bass taste the same as gills unless they are huge. If you are catching them in the 7-10" range and you like gills then I would not throw them back.

[kobutodd10]

There was a large lake in Nebraska that Rock bass were introduced to for getting rid of the little carp and sucker population...... It was a disaster .... The rock bass reproduced at a huge rate. the lake is now full of them and the crappie and white bass numbers are next to nothing

They are next to carp for my eating

Caught a ton of them on worm harnesses out in front of Selfridge last spring

But hey when you have young kids fishing with you they love 'm