Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 14
Midwinter
is
Sunfish
Time
Just as midsummer is often called the "dog days," because
fishing gets tough, midwinter is also a tough time for
ice fishing unless you try to catch fish that are active all
winter. In Pennsylvania, these active fish are sunfish, most
commonly Bluegills and Pumpkinseeds, and maybe a
couple of others in relatively small areas. Unless you enjoy
frustration, forget about most of the larger gamefish for a
while, or at least give yourself a break from them and target
sunfish. Rewards include frequently fast action and great
tasting fillets.
Midwinter is frigid. If you start fishing early in the
morning, it's not unusual for temperatures to be in the single
digits, occasionally with a negative preceding the number.
So, the first order of business is taking care of comfort.
Instead of proving your toughness, prove your cleverness.
You will get much more respect, have much more fun and be
a more effective angler.
14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2014
by Mike Bleech
photos by the author
If you get a hole where there is enough action to stay in
one place, then an ice shelter will make a day of ice fishing
much more comfortable than sitting out in the elements.
Often, though, a more aggressive approach will put more
sunfish on the ice. Standard gear for the aggressive approach
is a plastic bucket for sitting, storing tackle and carrying the
catch, a very light jigging rod and reel, and a small box of jigs
and grubs to give the jigs some flavor.
Since sunfish jigs are so small, a great selection can be
carried in one small tackle box. My jig collection includes
every color imaginable. A few color patterns are used more
than all of the others combined. Red/white, yellow/red and
silver/red color combinations give me the most confidence.
However, they do not work all of the time. It is hard to
determine whether one particular color pattern is best at any
given time. Still, it does seem that the sunfish prefer certain
colors and their preference changes from time to time.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Straight Talk
Notes from the Stream
Contents
Northeast Best Ice Perch Lakes
Tying the Zebra Midge
Your Fishing Field Guide
“Iced” Fish: a Great Winter Release
Midwinter is Sunfish Time
Drilling Your Way to Success: Strategies for Ice Fishing
Simple Ice Fishing Equipment Modifications
Presque Isle Ice
5 Hot Tips for Icy Trout
Ice Safety Thickness Chart
What Lurks Beneath
Bluegills on Ice
Fishing with the Next Generation— Nurturing Your Future Angler from the Cradle to Canoe
The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s Fisheries Biologists: Who are they and what do they do?
Angle Jigging for River Walleyes
Choosing the Right Minnow Rig
Different Boats for Different Folks
Highlights from the 2014 Boating Regulations Recap
Winter PLAY Newsletter
Southern Redbelly Dace
Reflecting on the Water
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania’s Best Fishing Waters Wild Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Northeast Best Ice Perch Lakes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Tying the Zebra Midge
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - “Iced” Fish: a Great Winter Release
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Midwinter is Sunfish Time
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Drilling Your Way to Success: Strategies for Ice Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Simple Ice Fishing Equipment Modifications
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Presque Isle Ice
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 5 Hot Tips for Icy Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Ice Safety Thickness Chart
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - What Lurks Beneath
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Bluegills on Ice
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Fishing with the Next Generation— Nurturing Your Future Angler from the Cradle to Canoe
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - The Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s Fisheries Biologists: Who are they and what do they do?
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Angle Jigging for River Walleyes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Choosing the Right Minnow Rig
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Different Boats for Different Folks
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Highlights from the 2014 Boating Regulations Recap
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Winter PLAY Newsletter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Southern Redbelly Dace
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Cast & Caught
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Pennsylvania’s Best Fishing Waters Wild Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2014 - Cover4
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