Splake on ice

[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

[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':-)

[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.

[riverdog]

Beauty Splake one of the best fish I've ever eaten!

[RJ]

Looking tasty!

RJ

[BrookieJunkie]

Great fishing! Beautiful fillets for you and a greatly detailed report too. Thanks for sharing.

[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!

[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.

[EG3]

That’s interesting Anybody ever try flies ?

[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.

[Tip-up]

Great looking fish! Meat certainly looks appetizing

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

Thanks for sharing!