The Ice of March

The last weekend in March promised good pike action and believe me, it was true to it's reputation. After a slow start with fish grabbing the bait and dropping it on the return, we began to sink the hooks and landed nearly 30 fish for the day. Besides some good pike in the 4-6lb range, we tusseled with a few in the 7-8lb class and even pulled in some big bowfin. A few crappies, sunnies and perch rounded out the day.

We're setting up closer and closer to the marsh where the big hen pike are cruising in as they begin their spring spawn run. Most of the fish were returned to the water and the ones we did harvest for a fish fry were all clean and healthy looking ones both inside and out.

Ice conditions continue to hold up well here in the Alburgh Passage. The channel is opening up out in the middle where the current flows strongest, but the inside bays are still well locked in. Even the shorelines are stable; plenty of 4 wheelers still find good access and can travel up and down the bays. I fished for crappies yesterday and counted 38 cranks with the hand auger to get through the solid ice pack. That translates to about 16" of good ice still in the bay. With temps holding below freezing most nights this week, we'll be ice fishing again this weekend for sure!