Ice Fishing => General Discussion => Topic started by: deerslayern on January 08, 2013, 09:24:46 AM
Title: finding gills ?
Post by: deerslayern on January 08, 2013, 09:24:46 AM
Every year at Willard res during open water gills r everywhere, as soon as hard water arives it seems like they dissapear. Been all over tryn to target them but it seems like perch r the only thing to b found. If any one can make time to look at the structure map and clue me in on what i mite b doing wrong not to find them. No reefs only points drop offs and flats just perch lurking around. thanks.
Title: Re: finding gills ?
Post by: erierider on January 08, 2013, 12:34:24 PM
I have never fished Willard but here is a general guideline for gills through the ice that I had from some notes. Hope it helps. ------bluegills will change habits as the season changes. Not adjusting will leave you frusterated or with dinks. The big bluegill tend to gather in small schools, while the dinks who harass you will be found in swarming schools. Bluegill tend to stray into "deeper" water to spend winter. They will hang around close to shoreline ridges or points, near brush and weed beds in 15 to 20 feet of water, if your lake has that depth range. Schools can move onto flats to chase bait and feed, which may be shallower then back deep deep water. Guess I am a little anal but I keeps stupid little files on locations and where to start fishing on a flash drive. By anal I mean, I fished a tourney in a the fall with my bro, printed out starting points for prefishing, hit the water and never came with an exact pattern for hitting those spots. But this is what I have from a Bass Pro Ice Seminar I attended many years back! But at least I still have my notes!! Either way, look for the above features in your lake and use them as a starting point. If you first do not suceed try a move. Sometimes as little as 25 to 30 foot of a change may put you into some fish. Good Luck and hope this helped a little
Title: Re: finding gills ?
Post by: futurestrader on January 08, 2013, 01:39:06 PM
Erie is right you have to move to get on them. I have found start shallow on early ice and as winter progresses find the deeper water holes and they should be there. If you have a Vex that helps a ton.
Title: Re: finding gills ?
Post by: deerslayern on January 08, 2013, 01:45:27 PM
I do thank u. willard is a pretty plain jane drink. it averages 25 to 30 ft and some 48 to 52 max depth. ill try to find them. stay safe and good luck this year
Title: Re: finding gills ?
Post by: futurestrader on January 08, 2013, 01:48:55 PM
You will find them just swiss cheese the lake with your auger and keep moving around.
Title: Re: finding gills ?
Post by: slabslayer on January 08, 2013, 07:51:54 PM
That's where the power auger is nice. I'll drill 50 holes in a pattern, then use my Vex to isolate the fish and BAM! You're on bull gills! ;D ;D
Title: Re: finding gills ?
Post by: deerslayern on January 10, 2013, 01:39:03 PM