Page 3 - Fishing Report | 2-17-16

Rich Sari; filed 2/14: “Pymatuning ice is bad. There were white caps on open water on
Thursday. We had maybe an inch of ice on Friday but then 8 inches of snow on Friday night
which will interfere with additional freezing. I think we are done for the year at Pymatun-
ing as far as ice fishing. I was only on Pymatuning a few times during the last of January.
Fishing was good before the big storm hit the East Coast. But the full moon shut them
down; walleyes started hitting again but then the thaw came. Don’t see getting back out
anymore this winter.”

Hooker @ Hill’s Country Store; filed 1/27: “Hey Darl, as I sit here
looking out the window at the white winter landscape I have to
smile. The smile comes from the realization that spring is just
around the corner, only six or seven weeks away. It’s been a tough
winter for ice fishermen, with as much open water as safe ice. But
we do know that crappies, perch and bluegills are targeting similar
food sources this time of year – late winter into early spring. They
feed on the larva stage of stoneflies, dragon flies, mayflies and oth-
er insect species. This cycle of life among insects is known to most
fly fishermen but often overlooked by many spin fishermen. Ice
fishermen usually are keyed on it with small representations such as teardrops and Hooker
Bugs (small jigs). Hooker bugs are small hand tied jigs from 1/100 to 1/64 ounce. They
come in several traditional wet fly patterns. During the cold early season at ice out, they
are hard to beat. The rule is to fish them slowly with a float. Most bites will be very subtle.
Use of ice fishing tactics and equipment after ice out until the water warms is sound ad-
vice. Hooker Bugs are only available at Hill Country Store in Williamsfield, Ohio. We will be
closed during February but plan to reopen on March 1. See you then!”

Canadohta Lake
Jerry @ Timberland Bait & Tackle; filed 2/14: “Due to unsafe ice conditions this weekend,
the dates of the Canadohta Lake Ice Tourney have changed. The tournament will still be a
two-day event, but it will be held Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21, 2016 –
pending good ice. Stay tuned to Timberlandbait.com for the latest updates!”

Sugar Lake
Ken Anderson (Tionesta); filed 2/4: “I fished Sugar Lake the weekend of January 30 and 31.
The bite was slow midday but acceptable early and late in the day. Ice was melting fast.
The twilight bite is all you need to know. Approximately 15 quality-size panfish (crappies,
perch and bluegills) made it to my dinner table, and an equal number were released. All
fish were taken on maggots purchased from Griffins Bait Shop in Cooperstown. Maggots
were fished on jigs and Swedish Pimples. By the way, the Trigger-X Lure Wraps I won a