Sounds on the ice

[cruiser1234]

Was on 9 inches of ice today. Kept hearing sounds like cracking an some echoing. I know the ice expands an it makes sounds but I'm fairly new so any info on those sounds or anyothers I can expect would be great. Also on the 9 inches I heard the sounds and saw more then one crack actually form right where I was standing and a few others very close by. The cracks looked to only go three or so inches. That normal too? Any info on that sort of stuff would be great. And I'd love to catch some yellow perch. I'm not asking for anyone's spot but how do I best increase my odds for them or any other species on the ice? Are spots near docks or structure, branches,trees etc good for anything. Asking a lot here. Had a good time out there!

[icebadger]

there is no worries about the ice noise it's just the ice expanding.as far as finding perch you should try fishing 6 to 8 ft of water if you can find pockets in the weeds or the outside weed lines then you should find some perch willing to play nice for you. try a small jig head with a meal worm or a w4 jiggin rap. the perch that i caught were burpin up scuds(tiny shrimp like bugs) hope this helps. as far as structure, rock piles and underwater brush can produce perch as well. good luck

[Jigman13]

Originally Posted by cruiser1234

Was on 9 inches of ice today. Kept hearing sounds like cracking an some echoing. I know the ice expands an it makes sounds but I'm fairly new so any info on those sounds or anyothers I can expect would be great. Also on the 9 inches I heard the sounds and saw more then one crack actually form right where I was standing and a few others very close by. The cracks looked to only go three or so inches. That normal too? Any info on that sort of stuff would be great. And I'd love to catch some yellow perch. I'm not asking for anyone's spot but how do I best increase my odds for them or any other species on the ice? Are spots near docks or structure, branches,trees etc good for anything. Asking a lot here. Had a good time out there!

That's the sweet music of growing/expanding ice! Def makes the heart rate jump though when a nice expansion crack splits through the 5-hole when you're on the ice!

[Mikey topaz]

Now is a great time if your not sure where to fish... With the black ice we have now on most lakes look for weedlines under the ice usually they are good spots to set up and fish.

[Chrisper4694]

if you don't care about the size of them, should be fairly easy between the males and females one or the other is either going to be in or near the weed beds or just outside of it, possibly as deep as 30ft, but not too far from the drop.

try a small jig tipped with 'meat', a little spoon, or a jigging rap. they can be picky like anything else but usually at least some of them will cooperate worst case scenario.

[briansnat]

If you aren't familiar with ice, the sounds can be unnerving. But when the temps are below freezing, as my dad explained it to me when I was a kid, it is the sound of making ice, meaning the ice getting thicker. As the ice gets thicker it makes a groaning like sound, often very loud. Sometimes you will see and hear it cracking, but that is simply the ice pushing upward as it thickens. It's a good sound.

Consider that you can probably drive a car on 9 inches of ice. You aren't in any danger.

Now if you are on thin ice, ice cracking about you is usually not a good thing.