Well im not going to lie to anyone or lead you astray, the conditions on the ice are not great. If you are a walker you will really need to find a snowmobile trail that is crusted over and it wont be that bad, snowmobilers you need to avoid any of the off colored patches which are probably slush holes and may be as deep as 12″ and people with 4 wheelers should do them selves a favor and leave those machines at home.
Now the fishing, if you can get out to the fishy areas they are still more than willing to bite. The fishing this year has been as good as anyone can remember in years. Big Bay is still producing good catches of big gills and sunnies and enough crappies to keep you interested. The fish can be fussy and light line is critical right now, 2 and 3lb test is a necessity and small rodent, sliver and rug rat jigs are working the best, tipped with waxies or spikes. Waxies have been better lately.
The perch bite has continued to be very good off of the islands and shoals south of Constantia. People are catching them on small Swedish pimples and Jigging Rapala’s, Kastmasters and northland jigs. The Perch have also been all through the water between Williams Park and Frenchmen/Dunham Islands and as far west as off shore at Borio’s restaurant. Huge catches of perch last weekend came from the south side of the cut between the island’s all the way in to 10 fow infront of Borio’s. Dont be afriad to look shallow for the wiley striped green bandit.
The Walleye bite has been excellent and widespread. The best walleye bite has seemed to have been on the northshore from Constantia all the way to North Bay. The same spots where the perch are biting around the mid lake shoals are also producing Walleye. Bigger metal spoons and jigs are producing best, tipped with a whole or half minnow. The tip up crews are still pulling toothy perch on big buckeyes and the tip up guys that are adding a little bling to their sets are saying they think it is making a difference. Beads, glow beads and worm harness blades are adding a little extra life and movement to an otherwise static presentation.
The store is full of great tackle and bait and we are open early all weekend for everyone that is fishing the south shore derby. We were completely restocked last week with swedish pimples, Kastmasters, Northland and Jigging Rapala’s, Demon’s and Rat Finkee’s and did I mention minnows. 2 sizes of buckeyes and fatheads, spikes and wax worms.
Our derby will be february 19th and 20th.
Thank you
Matt
02/04/11 Oneida Lake Ice Fishing report
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