GW

I've gotten LM thru the ice, and I can't argue w/ Steve's answer. For
the most part, LM are a first ice and late ice critter. At first ice,
they are still in their late fall 'mode', and at late ice, they are
getting just the slightest hint of the coming spawn, and becoming more
active as the water begins to warm and become more enriched with
oxygen as the ice melts. Right now, I'd say that we in MN are done
with first ice and are entering the "mid winter" period.

The problem we have in MN is that during late ice, the season on bass
is closed, so you can't target them. The folks who catch LM during
late ice are actually targeting panfish. Find the right spot during
late ice, and you'd probally find them stacked up like cordwood.


On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 02:59:00 -0800, GW
wrote:

Help me figure this one out please. I live and fish in
Minnesota and have never found even a half respectable
answer to this question. Al and Ron Lindner ought to be
ashamed.

In the thick of the winter I can almost always find northern
pike, walleye, and a plethora of panfish through the ice.
But I have never caught a bass through the ice. Where the
hell are they and what are they eating? I' ve asked around
and nobody seems to know. Nobody even fishes for bass in
the winter up here.

Bass just dissapear after ice-over it would seem. I've
never caught a bass through the ice. I've never *met*
anyone who's caught a bass through the ice. I HAVE met a
few people who have HEARD of someone catching bass through
the ice but nobody who has witnessed it.

I fished Lake Minnetonka today. I can run this lake in the
summer and catch bass all day long. Nobody even bothers to
fish for bass in the winter though. What do bass forage on
and where are they during the thick ice of the winter? I
know they're in there and at least assume they're eating
something.





Jim

2003 R.O.F.B. NWC
Largest Non Bass Trophy Winner