This is actually a 2-day report on Silver. With this warm front and snow coming in, we decided that we had to be on the ice the 12th and 13th. The bite had been sporadic during the last freeze and we speculated that Silver's perch would explode upon arrival of a warm front. We could not have been more right!

Yesterday (12th), we were all on the ice by 9:00 A.M. I got there first at 7:30. Due to the ongoing snow and road conditions, we had the place to ourselves. Amazing....other days we'd see a dozen or more folks. I couldn't locate our hot area due to the fresh snow, so I got close and began punching a line of holes. The first and second holes yielded nothing but the third was spot on as I immediately hit a fat perch, then another. I sunk a second hole a few feet away for Motor1, who was running late. By the time Fowl Language and his girlfriend arrived 30 minutes later, I had 17 keepers on the ice. They immediately set up their shanty and got started. For the next 2.5 hours we hit fish as quick as we could get our lines down. We didn't keep an exact count but I suspect we got upwards of 100, counting those released. This spectacular bite continued until shortly after 11:00. Motor1 left with 22 keepers despite arriving last, I got 32, and the shanty people kept about 30. The perch are definitely bigger and much fatter out deep.

I was back on the ice this morning at 7:30, at the same holes. Motor1 and Fowl Lanaguage couldn't make it. Nobody else crazy enough to be out there, too. The snow cover has been reduced to slush and water and it seems as though the ice is deteriorating quickly. Nothing for 45 minutes. At 8:15 the switch was thrown. It was ridiculous! By 9:30 I had 30 keepers....they were taking as soon I put it in. I had to leave for 20 minutes to take the boys to school (2-hour delay today...thank God I live close!). Was back on the ice by 10:00 and tried some different water closer to bank, where the ice is thicker. Couldn't get a strike over the course of 30 minutes so carefully ventured back out onto the clear, thinner ice. Melt water was now flowing like rivers into my holes, creating whirlpools. Didn't matter, they were still feeding there and I got another dozen keepers in short order, as quick as I dropped it in, before I lost my nerve and headed out despite a continuing bite. It was disconcerting being out there by myself! I left fully satisfied, with over 40 keepers.

All of our fish these two days were taken right on the bottom using small kastmasters, swedish pimples and teardrops tipped with perch eyes.

This may be the end of our ice fishing season as things are melting fast. These next several warm, windy days are gonna kill the ice. I've got two new jigging rods enroute but may not get a chance to break them in....darnit! Let's hope for another good freeze like the last one. Be careful if you head out there.

Aaron

1/13/2011 3:41:00 PM

FYI there is now an option under the Method dropdown for Ice Fishing. Want me to go change it to that for you?

The Jigmiester

1/13/2011 4:07:00 PM

That ice fishing for perch is addicting isn't it? Lol Of course it is! Wish I were out there ice fishing with you! Great report sir. Jiggy

raffensg64

1/13/2011 4:19:00 PM

Sure, Aaron. Thanks. Jiggy, I'd forgotten how addicting it can be! I grew up in northern PA and spent long winters fishing for perch and panfish when the walleye, bass and muskies weren't cooperating. The really sad thing is that I've lived in Medical Lake since 2002, but haven't ice fished this lake until this year! I fished it during the summer but always got small perch and crappie. Never really heard any good things about ice fishing there. Instead, I'd head to Hog Canyon and Fourth of July, oblivious to the opportunities less than 2 miles from the hacienda!

muskyhunter

1/15/2011 7:36:00 PM

just wondering how big are those perch you're catching? I have caught a bunch of small ones in the open water. Are you walking on from the main launch on the north end? And also wondering if you fish in that deep hole by the big rocky point just to the south of the launch and or any luck out by the big hump straight out from the other resort across the lake? Thanks

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