As I'm sure most are aware this winter has given us some if the best ice we've seen in 20 years on Quinte. It has also given us some of the worst traveling conditions in just as long. Not only do you have to worry about the conditions if the roads if your coming from out if town but once you get here the real work starts getting out on the ice! I am very fortunate to live along the waters edge so haven't had to worry much about the roads but conditions on the ice have been anything less than pleasant! I commend anyone getting out there on foot it's no easy or fun task and hopefully the hard work is paying off.
Now into the bite... The bite started the way the fall finished... Amazing! Almost everyone was catching every time out, and with the good ice it was almost like shooting fish in a barrel, however the past two to three weeks have been extremely difficult. With the exception of an odd good day here and there it has been very difficult to pattern these fish. Usual areas like the old haybay church and perfect vue which should be log jammed with fish by now seem void of anything but jumbo lake perch. We have a permanent hut out in this area and it has produced very nice perch and some walleye but mostly small eater size walleye's.
We have been out working at trying different spots, new spots and old spots and fortunately the groups as a whole have not been skunked! We've been able to manage fish every trip out even tho some have been much tougher than others! Our best day consisted of a group of four fishing with 4 eyes over 12lbs and another over 10! With a bunch more in the 2-5 lb range. Here's what I've found that might help some people out there.
27-29 feet of water seems to be the most productive for the east end of the bay. You will have to work for your fish as they've been very un cooperative about jumping thru the holes recently
.
Hot baits have been
3/4 oz buckshots
1/2 oz champs in gold
And the new uv jigging raps are also a great goto!
We have found minnow heads or small minnows seem to be what the fish are after.
I have been fortunate to spend a lot of time fishing with one of the best fishing partners a guy could ask for in Dusty Craven. Dusty is one dedicated angler when it comes to putting those Quinte hogs topside and we've had a ton of fun over the past few yrs.
With only 11 days left make the most of it, stay safe and good luck.