I moved to Ohio in ‘95 and I lived in the red triplex on the south shore that sits up on the hill. I grew up on St Clair chasing walleyes. I did not know what a saugeye was, but they were stocking them at that time, and a local guy told me about them. Fished Nimi 2-3 times a week until I moved in ‘99, and we used to catch limits constantly.  When I left, the biggest saugeye class was pushing 6 lbs. curious if they are still stocking saugeye, or are there natural walleyes there?  Loved that lake!  The grass island out about 300 -400 yards from south shore and the area to the east of that to the next island was unbelievably productive for eyes and bass. Also caught my personal best northern pike out of there at 39 inches in the middle of a thunderstorm. Miss that lake a lot. I will make it back there someday.

I agree drilling is the answer. My issue is my mobility is somewhat limited as I had knee surgery late summer. Bout all I have to drag the sled when I get to a general area , and don’t then venture too far. I believe this to be a temporary 1 ice season issue. The tiny tails do the trick for sure, working up the column certainly drives action when I am on them. That’s the best thing about the vex, watching them follow it up.

I hear of more snow later in week. That will really limit my travels, but I’m going to be on the ice somewhere. Might have to break out the Polaris 850 but I hate to do that on these small lakes. I hate the noise.

I knew Monday would be the day!  I scrapped up three eyes Sat and 2 whopper crappies in about 3 minutes, then zero. I had a great crappie day earlier in the week. With these weather patterns I think there will be days of hit or miss. History has shown that if we have ice the last two weeks of Feb, the crappie will be hungry. I think we may get lucky.

For what it’s worth, I always “check” many of the channels where I know there is some good structure including subtle depth changes. I have far more misses than hits in the last 25 years on that lake when there is ice. But, I have had plenty of unreal days in channels with no one around and when a quality fish couldn’t be bought in a community spot.  I never get disappointed when they are not there, I kind of expect it. When they are it’s well worth it. Also, I have found them on one day and they are gone the next, many, many times. My best crappie day on IL ever with 4 15 inchers (c&r) and balance 12+ came from a channel I had never caught a crappie from my boat. I could not catch a small fish that day. Likely it will never happen again, but I will always remember it. Right place right time. Good luck.

Drove around today. 4 guys at first pull of LI were they only ones I saw on ice. North fork/bay wide open. Between LI and Pony there remains ice and will likely form up the next few nights. All various channels I checked that had ice was about 2 inches. Many had areas of open water though due to wind and current. Good news is that my favorite crappie channel is locked in fairly tight and should be good by Sunday. Lastly, let’s hope we don’t get the .50 rain they are talking about Monday or north fork and that bay will be a mess. Didn’t check Lucy’s/Blackhawk because I never fish there.

Yep , got it thanks. 

Thanks for the report.  I sold my place up at Indian after 15 years . Now, I need to drive 1hr 20 minutes and fight for a parking spot.  But I know it is worth it upon occasion.  Ill be there Mon and Tues, maybe tomorrow.  Do you know if anyone was at North Fork?