We have SAFE / FISHABLE ice in southern Vermont

There is safe ice! Most places I fish has at least 6 inches of ice which is the minimum amount that I will take guests out on....some places there are more than 6 inches...I guided a group on Burr Pond and on the north end of LSC this weekend...GAME ON ! With the current weeks forecast we are good to go

Jigging tackle

Jigging Spoons which are normally tipped with spikes, minnow heads or perch eyes

Ice Flies are sometimes used on the dropper or on a drop shot rig

Fat Boy jigs which I buy in bulk on paint in a variety of colors

I use size 6 to 12's...these pictured are my favorite size 10

Round head jigs size 12 to 4...I tip them with either bait or soft plastics below

Getting ready for the season

The forecast this week is very promising. I hope to see some safe ice by the end of next week. Check out the jigging stuff I've been working on

And I am very excited to try a pair of inline outfits I purchased

Southern Vermont Ice Fishing

Ice fishing in southern Vermont will normally begin in early January. To run my guided trips, I look for a minimum 5 to 6 inches of ice. There will be guys out on 3 to 4 inches but I believe its better to be an old icefisherman than a bold one....I have been busy rigging tip ups and putting all the gear I supply in top working order. Fired up the gas auger the other day and got a couple of the hottest new reels in ice fishing: a pair of Eagle Claw inline ice reels....these are all the rage and are extremely hard to obtain. They look and function like a cross between a fly reel and a bait casting reel. The EC reel has a serious drag system and a smooth free spool...these will eliminate all line twist like you get with a spinning reel....

Thanks for checking in, I will be posting here on a regular basis. There are a bunch of trips in the book already... so please give me a call if you want to see what ice fishing is really about!

Tom's Bait Shop has Christmas Trees for sale

Pre-season Scouting

I have spent a whole bunch of time pre-season scouting weedlines for this winter. It is pretty easy to run around in the boat using the depth finder for find the edges. Then mark them on the hand held gps with written cheat notes on a lake map. I spent time doing this on: Lake St. Catherine, Bomoseen, Burr and Breese ponds...Burr and Breese I have a really nice line for Northern Pike. Bomoseen is all about Yellow Perch and Bluegills. LSC is all about Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. Thanks for staying tuned and please check back often now since we are getting close to winter!

Vermont Ice Fishing is done

Thank you for following my icefishing blog...from time to time i'll post here but the season is now over for icefishing here in southern Vermont. My guiding and focus is now on open water fishing...please visit my spin and fly fishing blogs...there are links to both on the right side bars....I will be bringing the boat out within the next ten days looking for Lake Trout and Northern Pike....thanks for the view and continued support...Vermont Trout Season opens April 14th but count on there is fishing opportunities happening with this warm weather.