Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

It’s Time for Ice Fishing
Who would want to sit for hours out on a frigid lake staring at a small hole in the ice? Judging from the crowds on area lakes, the answer must be lots of people, and they seem to be having a ball.
Ole’ Man Winter is giving area ice anglers the best ice that they have had in many winters. The water froze early and, with little snow cover, the ice just kept getting thicker. All area lakes are supporting ice fishing. The hardiest souls are out on even the coldest days, but the more pleasant weather attracts the most anglers.
Black Moshannon was the first area lake to freeze in December, followed by Colyer Lake and then the larger waters, such as Canoe Lake, Sayers Dam and Glendale Lake. The thick ice and recent milder weather has been attracting more and more anglers.
Ice fishing attracts young and old, seasoned veterans, and those totally new to the sport. Three weekends ago I visited with four ice fishermen who were strung out in a line near the entrance to Hunters Cove on Sayers Dam in Bald Eagle State Park. One of them landed a fish as I approached, and I feared that I had just missed a photo opportunity, but that fear couldn’t have been further from the truth.
As I looked on, Al Wilkinson, Pat Caldwell, Dave Donahue and his brother Pat, all from Curwensville, caught perch after perch from the ice-covered 15-foot-deep water. The smaller ones were released, but each fisherman’s pile of “keepers” grew and grew as I watched.
A little while later, ice fishing regular Phil Baldi led Ed DuMond and his son Joe out for their first ice fishing experience. The trio drilled holes through four-and-a-half inches of clear ice with an auger, set up several tip-ups baited with flathead minnows, and were soon into the fishing.
Even though the weather was quite frigid, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Baldi helped the DuMonds catch their first through-the-ice yellow perch, but the nearby Curwensville quartet really produced the fish. The four ended the day with well over 150 perch and lots of good eating.
Dave Donahue and friends were back on the ice again on Martin Luther King Day and caught fewer, but bigger perch. According to Donahue, several were nearly a foot long. The day was cold and windy. Donahue said, “We just about got blown off of the ice that day.” He added, “We did well, but left at 1:30 because we just couldn’t stand it any more.”
On January 26, I met Spring Mills resident Brock Sanner and Mitch Stoner of Woodward enjoying a snowy day of ice fishing on Colyer Lake. Sanner had tried several spots during the day, but settled on an area with 12 inches of ice and about eight feet of water, while Stoner found similar conditions a little farther out in the lake.
Stoner had used an assortment of baits, including nightcrawlers, mealworms and waxworms, to catch several perch and two larger bluegills. Sanner released about a dozen smaller fish, but kept one yellow perch that measured 13 inches.
While some like the solitude, others like Stoner use the radio to keep them company. Both Stoner and Sanner suggested bringing plenty of food and a thermos full of hot drinks.
Blair Stanley, of Tyrone, is a regular visitor to the Black Moshannon ice. He has made five trips so far this winter and reports that this fishing is a little slow compared to last winter. One trip was a total blank, several others netted a few pickerel and, on his best day, he landed three bass and six pickerel.
Stanley recently turned his attention to Lake Glendale and he and his partner landed seven northern pike, all measuring between 20 and 24 inches. His partner caught the biggest pike, a 26-incher. They also caught a few bass and a bowfin – all while using large minnows for bait.
Ice Fishing Advice
Both Stoner and Sanner are willing to move to new locations if the action is slow. When asked for advice, Stoner said that was simple: “If they don’t bite, move.”
Donahue willingly shared the successful fishing method that he and his partners all use. They fish with one short jigging rod per person. At the end of his line, he ties a spoon-like lure called a Swedish Pimple. Donahue favors a model that is chrome and green with a tiny red blade. About a foot above the spoon he adds a pink jig. All hooks are baited with maggots.
He lowers the spoon until it rests on the bottom, with the jig above. Every 10 to 20 seconds he twitches his rod tip slightly in an attempt to attract a fish. If he is unsuccessful at that depth, he cranks in a little line and goes through the same methods, repeating the process until he or his partners find the fish.
One never knows what this jigging method will produce. On January 25, again on Sayers Dam, Caldwell caught an 181/2-inch largemouth on the Swedish Pimple. Donahue had two doubles – catching two fish at once and in his words, “Boy I caught some real dandies!” Five of the 30 perch that he took home were 14 to 15 inches long: “Probably the biggest perch of my life,” he said. They also landed several crappies of over 11 inches.
Both Stoner and Sanner use tip-ups with a good amount of success, and so did Carl Stolz of Bradford. Just this week, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission announced that Stolz caught a new state record northern pike while ice fishing. Stolz landed the 35-pound monster while fishing a shiner from a tip-up on the Allegheny Reservoir on January 1.
Safety Tips
Remember these safety tips if you decide to give ice fishing a try. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission suggests that you never fish alone and to be extra cautious with small children. They recommend that the ice be a minimum thickness of four inches for safe ice fishing. Also remember that persons 16 and older need a new 2003 fishing license before hitting the ice. Study the Summary of Fishing Regulations to learn minimum sizes and creel limits before you decide to keep any fish.
State park offices reported the following conditions:
Bald Eagle State Park
Great ice conditions and nice catches of crappies and yellow perch have continued to attract anglers to Sayers Dam, reports Park Ranger Bill Everett. There are 14-15 inches of ice at the popular Hunters Cove area and about 10 inches of ice on the remainder of the lake. Everett cautions anglers entering the ice at the Hunters Cove inlet to avoid the thin ice in the area where the old roadway enters the lake. This is difficult to see with the ice covered with 2 inches of snow.
Several bald eagles have recently been spotted in the park and Everett would like anyone seeing our national symbol to report the time and location of the sighting to the park office by calling (814) 625-2775.
Black Moshannon State Park
Park intern Ryan Orendorff reports the ice on the lake is now 12 inches thick and covered with 4-5 inches of snow. There have been people on the ice every day this week and many are doing great. Nice catches including pike, perch, largemouth bass, pickerel and crappie have been reported.
Prince Gallitzin State Park
Ice anglers were really out in force last weekend according to Park Ranger Bill Zollum. Zollum counted 170 anglers last Saturday and nearly as many on Sunday. The ice, as measured at mid lake is approximately 12 inches thick and covered with 2 inches of snow. A 37-inch muskie was caught on the Wyerough Branch of the lake this week. The lucky angler was using a shiner. Another ice fisherman had a 19-inch bass that was caught on the main body of the lake.
Zollum reported nice catches of crappies and perch near the breast of the dam. The crappies ranged from 7 -15 inches in length. Two large northern pike were also caught near the breastAccording to Park Manager Terry Wentz, lake ice is about 10 and a half inches thick with a coating of snow. Thirty-two people were counted fishing last Saturday and Wentz noted that the ice anglers always seem to do better when there is some snow on the ice.
The level of Canoe Lake had been drawn down 10 feet earlier in the winter and is now slowly refilling at about 3 – 4 inches per day. Wentz cautions anglers to be careful when entering the ice because the rising levels mean that the ice is often thinner at the very edge.
Nice catches of bass and pickerel have been reported. Canoe Lake is under the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s Big Bass program. Please check regulations before keeping any bass. Adult anglers on the lake also need a trout stamp because Canoe Lake is stocked trout lake. According to Wentz, it is scheduled to be stocked later this month.
Mark Nale can be reached at MarkAngler@aol.com

By Rick