Hi Folks, It has been a few years since we have experienced an old fashioned winter in Vermont. It has been fantastic for ice fishing, skiing, running a snow machine, and any number of outdoor winter activities. The number of ice fishing opportunities are numerous. Safe ice throughout the state! It has awhile since ice anglers could safely venture out onto the hard water throughout Vermont. Even Lake Champlain is largely covered in ice. Still, carry your safety gear and check the ice before venturing out for a day of fishing. It appears that ice fishing will go right into March this season. The long range weather looks cold.
The fishing has been pretty good. I have been mostly pursuing trout through the ice. I have found anywhere from 11” to 14” of black ice on the lakes I’m fishing. We have been setting up tip-ups in 5’ to 45’ of water depth. Regardless of the depth, we been placing our baits just under the ice. I like using Fluorocarbon leader material. It is invisible under water and trout have keen eye sight. My leaders are anywhere from 2’ to 3’ in length. On sunny days, I like to set baits a little deeper during mid day. Most of the big trout ( lake trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, salmon, and brook trout) I have guided or caught during winter have been right under the ice. The smelt fishing has been pretty consistent. Depending on the time of day determines where they are positioned in the water column. Good electronics help to locate smelt. Night time is the best time to catch smelt as they become more active and move up in the water column. Using a green light really brings them under the shanty. Smaller Hali jigs in silver/green, gold/green, silver, and glow in the dark tipped with maggots work really well catching smelt. We have catching yellow perch off the bottom and on tip-ups. The larger perch have been landed using Hali jigs tipped with minnows. Ice fishing is consistent currently. Lots of opportunity. Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy
