Splake on ice

This is where it's all going on. One can ask for advice or general information or simply chew the fat about fishing tackle, tips, and locations.
Post Reply
User avatar
Nyarlathotep
Participant
Participant
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Ottawa

Splake on ice

Post by Nyarlathotep »

2 of us hit an MNR-stocked lake in the Madawaska/Whitney area on Christmas Eve; we got there at 7:15 am and caught our limits by 9:30 am. We chiseled 4 holes through 6 inches of ice over a boulder-strewn shoal, with water depths ranging from 3 to 8 feet. 7 fish were caught on 3 set lines baited with 2 inch live minnows, while 3 were caught jigging a small chrome Kastmaster with red flash tape tipped with a 1/2 inch piece of minnow.

Hole #1:
-Depth, 6 ft.
-1 fish caught jigging, 4 caught on set line

Hole # 2:
-Depth, 3 ft.
-2 caught on set line

Hole # 3:
-Depth, 3 ft.
-1 caught on set line

Hole # 4:
-Depth, 8 ft.
-2 caught jigging
Attachments
20171224_093110.jpg
20171224_093110.jpg (2.21 MiB) Viewed 6028 times
20171224_091831.jpg
20171224_091831.jpg (2.98 MiB) Viewed 6028 times
User avatar
banjo
Silver Participant
Silver Participant
Posts: 718
Joined: Fri Jan 24, 2003 9:18 am
Location: Ottawa

Re: Splake on ice

Post by banjo »

Nice.
Just need the finished eating plate (nomnom) photo for the tri-fecta.
Never got a splake on the ice...while jigging do they hit on the drop or the up-sweep?

Note to Mods... This post is more fitting now for the 'feature report':-) ;-)
User avatar
Nyarlathotep
Participant
Participant
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Ottawa

Re: Splake on ice

Post by Nyarlathotep »

The 3 that bit on the jig were hooked while it was still (after a few twitches and lifts), if you can believe it. I like to process the splake into boneless, skinless fillets.
Attachments
20171224_120737.jpg
20171224_120737.jpg (1.97 MiB) Viewed 5997 times
riverdog
Silver Participant
Silver Participant
Posts: 628
Joined: Sun Feb 25, 2007 9:25 am
Location: Prescott Ont.
Contact:

Re: Splake on ice

Post by riverdog »

Beauty Splake one of the best fish I've ever eaten!
Fishing the St.Lawrence 12 months a year!
RJ
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 8445
Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2003 9:18 pm
Location: Prospect, Ontario

Re: Splake on ice

Post by RJ »

Looking tasty!

RJ
User avatar
BrookieJunkie
Participant
Participant
Posts: 82
Joined: Wed May 15, 2013 8:55 pm

Re: Splake on ice

Post by BrookieJunkie »

Great fishing! Beautiful fillets for you and a greatly detailed report too. Thanks for sharing.
User avatar
bl8ant
Silver Participant
Silver Participant
Posts: 521
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:57 am
Location: Ottawa

Re: Splake on ice

Post by bl8ant »

Are you a fish processor by trade!?
Those are some beautifully cut fillets, mine—in comparison—look like they were torn by hand.

Interesting you chose to fish so shallow for the splake, judging by the colour of their flesh I wouldn't be surprised if they had freshwater shrimp in their bellies. Is there much of a baitfish community in the lake?

I fish a few different lakes for splake, typically I concentrate on less than 10 feet in one and over 30 in the other.
Looks like you had a great day!
User avatar
Nyarlathotep
Participant
Participant
Posts: 90
Joined: Thu May 06, 2010 10:12 am
Location: Ottawa

Re: Splake on ice

Post by Nyarlathotep »

Been cleaning fish, wild caught and store bought, for over 20 years so have had lots of practice. Almost all of the lakes in the Madawaska/Whitney area have some sort of population of minnows and/or panfish introduced by bait bucket dumping anglers. In my experience using minnows greatly increases chances of catching splake from these lakes but their stomach contents, when examined while cleaning, are usually composed of insect larvae, nymphs, and other sorts of bugs.
User avatar
EG3
Participant
Participant
Posts: 6
Joined: Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:19 am

Re: Splake on ice

Post by EG3 »

That’s interesting Anybody ever try flies ?
User avatar
bl8ant
Silver Participant
Silver Participant
Posts: 521
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2005 10:57 am
Location: Ottawa

Re: Splake on ice

Post by bl8ant »

I kept a few splake recently (2 pounders) out of one of the lakes I fish with a diverse baitfish community.
It's flush wasn't nearly as red as the ones you caught and the stomachs were jam packed with tiny minnows 1" long.
User avatar
Tip-up
Diamond Participant
Diamond Participant
Posts: 5247
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 9:25 pm
Location: Orleans, Ontario

Re: Splake on ice

Post by Tip-up »

Great looking fish! Meat certainly looks appetizing :D

That's a great little lake too! Some big ones in there!

Thanks for sharing!
Post Reply