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How do I get the big ones at this time?????(LMB)

First 2 fish I caught through the ice were largemouth. 2 bigguns. Got em on a minnow jig.

Good luck getting them! That'd cetainly be fun. The ontario portion of the ottawa river (Zone 12) closes on Dec 31st....so get out there and get a couple! I'd love to here how you make out.

I have never caught a bass through the ice....

I know it is said that they can be caught and generally if you find one you will find many ... . but I was told long ago that they burrow into the mud and sleep... I have recently learned that isn't true but because I never caught any I believed it.

Good luck

Both largemouth and smallmouth are a nuisance in most of the waters I ice fish for crappies.

We are often forced to re-locate when it becomes apparent we are in the middle of a big school.

They readily take micro tubes and other crappie artificials, and despite the fact they are supposed to be lethargic in cold water will battle all the way- especially the smallies.

Try getting a 4 pound smallie to voluntarily come up through a 6" hole.

I guess your answer BB444, would be- if you are on fish, they will bite.

CCB

ICEMAN and Myself caught a few thru the ice , great battle.....cold water certantly dosen't slow them down any if you do get one hold on

I imagine that would be a real challenge, raising a feisty, good-sized bass through a hole in the ice! But it sounds like fun.

W.

Hi Big Bass 444

Spoon feed em!
Lots of flash works through the ice on the Ottawa river!
I sure wish they were a nuisance like Cancatchbass reported, would not mind being bothered like that!

last winter my brother pulled a 6 pound largie with a williams wobbler mini. dont work it on the bottom ,pull it up about 3 feet of the bottom and pound that spoon. the seem more aggresive during early winter. thats all in know . tight lines.


beardieman

Iceman-

The only reason they're a nuisance is that we have no season for them down here while there is any ice, and when they move into one of our crappie areas we are forced to re-locate rather than run the risk of being accused of targeting them.

Besides, they are probably better off being left undisturbed rather than expending energy reserves while being caught.

CCB

Cancatchbass;
Had no idea in you neck of the woods that bass is closed in the winter months.
Here in zone 12 were open for bass all winter.
It's amazing how regs change from one zone to the next.
I would also not like to be accused of targeting a species out of season.

One of the biggest LMB I ever caught was through the ice last January while walleye / pike fishing. As they are out of season, he went right back down the hole. We did end up catching a nice 3# walleye and a 5# pike out of the same area.