Ok,, finally got my first steelhead thru the ice,,she was not a huge one but,was a lot more fun than the gills and bass I have been getting thru that 7 in hole,,,lol ,,,fished a marina near cleve,,,, had like 16 inches of safe ice,,got her on a stone fly and wax worm

 Since I haven't been able to fish for my favorite ( wading for steelhead ) I have been hitting some ponds. Today was real slow for gills, managed about 15 and maybe 6 keepers,,,,, butttttt the bass cooperated just right
 Landed 3 nice ones... an 18, 16 and a 14 incher...was fun thru the ice.

I have fished four diff places lately and I always start near the bottom within maybe 6 inches... but on every lake or pond the fish have all been within 4 feet of the ice... seems like maybe the oxygen levels there must be the key... hope this may help....

This was a funny report to me,,,, Just started back ice fishing after close to 30 years of not going. Well the post described exactly how my dad taught me to ice fish. So that being said ,that is the way I still tied up my poles. I have been hitting some small waters close to me here in Mentor and been catching quite a few. Today I hit a pond and we caught at least 50 gills (  including 4 double headers ) and was able to keep at least half of them that were approx 9 inchers....It is fun doing it what I call the old fashion way...large sinker to determine the depth clipped on line.. and drilling holes till ya find em..no depthfindes, no cameras,, just search away
  I did discover that when they have quit biting lately that they moved up and suspended to within 4 ft of the surface...usually I start approx 6 inches off the bottom. Usuing the dopper fly this way allows you to cover two depths at once if you keep them about 12- 14 inches apart on your line. I hope this helps the next time you venture out.
Don