Went out on the big pond today and tried to get to bed bug island via state park area and it was a no go. the ice formed in different stages, the ice towards the middle area was 5" there were spots that drilled and the ice was only 4" and with the warm weather i did not want to push my luck and stayed close to the park area. the ice was 6" there and the top was starting to rot by noon. I caught two perch and three sunnies. off to my afternoon spot and the ice was in better shape. the ice was 6" there. I drilled 7 holes and got ready to fish into the dark for crappies. the sunnies were everywhere i fished, i got 21 of them. I got a bullhead catfish on a jig, the first time i have done that. I have caught them on tip-ups but not on a jig. also got the dreaded slime dart as well, then as it got dark i got 7 crappies kept 5 of them. the ice is going to go quick with the weather forecast for the rest of this week. looks like the fat lady is going to sing on this season. does not look good for the end of February into the first week of march. We might be jig-n-bobber fishing early this year.
