Help on West Bay

[stelmon]

Went fishing today with a friend for 4 hours. This was my third time out and I still have not hooked up with a single fish. Most of my ice fishing has been in between 5-15 ft of water. Is there something diff. you have to do to catch fish in T.C. in the deep bays? I thought it was just location but we switched spots 10 times and even fished some holes where people were yanking them in left and right and still didn't touch a fish. Both my poles are set up wtih 4 lb line. I am going to try moday after class and would really like to catch just one fish. That will be my final trip on the ice and I want to make it a good one if possible.

Thanks

P.S. Has anyone ever caught a steelie while ice fishing out on the bay?

[quest32a]

Stelmon, ask one of the locals. Walk up, tell them you are inexperienced and unfamilar with with the area and ask for a few tips. Normally works for me. Nothing wrong with asking for help at all.

[GONE FISHIN(LARRY)]

stelmon,
not from west bay,have takan steelhead from east bay,off the mouth of the Elk River.

[plugger]

Stelmon find the guy doing the best and tell him your with the natioal wild life angency and you have received reports that he is using endangered amphibians for bait. When he pulls up his line to show you hes using leagal bait you will also see just how to rig . One warning though, dont try this in an area like Branch or Wallahala as youd probably end up on a milk carton.

[JJ Mac]

I'm certainly no expert, I struggle with those dang whities too. Here's a couple of ideas though:

Spool up with fireline. 10 lb test, 4 lb diameter would be good. At the end put on a barrel swivel and a 4-6 lb leader. Depending on how deep you are fishing, you may need to use a 4000 size reel. All that fireline is expensive, but it makes a big difference.

Sandkickers are a popular jig for that area. I know they sell them in the bait shop section at MC Sporting goods. They look like a jigging rap with no swim fin or treble hook.

Large sized swedish pimples are a popular bait that guys use off of Elk Rapids, at least during open water times.

When finesse is needed, many guys use cured eggs on a single hook with a slip bobber and just barely touch bottom. Others use a small dead minnow, or corn.

Some folks will chum with corn.

Be careful on the bays as I saw some warnings about ice conditions on the dnr website fishing report from last Thursday.

A friend of mine has been getting a few every night on Torch Lake as well, although he said the ice was getting pretty iffy due to the late freeze and lack of ice on that lake.

While your at MC's, ask around, and see what other guys are doing. The whitefish fisherman will be in and out of there all day.

Last time I was out there last year I was fishing 120 ft of water. My freind caught three and I just couldn't seem to catch one. Finally I had a hit. Brought the fish up and it was a 15 1/2 inch perch. As expected, the pressure change blew his stomach right out of his mouth.

[JJ Mac]

I was of course assuming you are fishing for whitefish. If you were out for perch or something else I'm not sure why you wouldn't be catching fish right along side them.

[stelmon]

I was fishing for anything that would bite and obviously nothing did. I dunno, if the river is clear tomarrow I may just go steelheading instead and put the ice gear away. There's always next year though.