Rusty Spoons

Early Ice - Ice Fishing Safety As the ice begins to form, anglers across the country often prepare their equipment and set their expectation of when they will be able to go fishing far before the ice is even remotely safe, in this way, they not only risk loosing a equipment, but also risk loosing something that is far more valuable - their life. Here are some of the necessary equipment for early ice safety: An ice spud - using an ice spud to test ice thickness is important to staying out of the water during early ice. Basic ice spuds can be bought for under $50, and are very important for all levels of ice anglers. Furthermore, they replace the need for hefting a large auger during the early season, for they are efficient hole makers, when the ice is under five inches thick. It is important to note that ice conditions can change drastically depending on where in the lake you are located, as well as weather conditions while you are fishing. ( https://www.fishusa.com/produc

Shallow Water Bluegill Ice Fishing As the ice starts to form on the bigger lakes and reservoirs of the Southern New York region, I am preparing my gear for the iced-over smaller lakes and ponds, which I know freeze over first. My beginning of the year spot, "King Lumber" on Muscoot Reservoir, freezes as soon as the temperature drops below 20 degrees at night for a week. "King Lumber", as anglers affectionately refer to the less than five acre cove, holds an early season ice bite, with plentiful bluegill, crappie, and perch. Most of the fishing at "King Lumber" is over shallow water weed-beds, and the rare 20ft sections that resemble the larger basins of larger lakes- "King Lumber" is a microcosm that resembles a larger lake. During the early season, when pursuing bluegills in this over-pressured location, it is paramount that you develop a presentation that is unique from the countless other presentations that these fish have become accu