Page 8 - Fishing Report | 2-17-16

Dave Lefebre’s Ice Report

It’s been an odd ice fishing season. Following a complete thaw across NW PA counties,
lakes are currently freezing for the second time this winter. How should you attack this
Second Freeze?

Rather than looking at fish location/moods for mid-winter, Dave “Hardwater” Lefebre
(member of the Rapala Ice Force) expects this second freezing to put panfish in the
same mood/locations as First Ice at the beginning of the ice season.

“With the warm-up thawed, there was a couple week period of no one fishing. If the ice
freezes sufficiently a second time, from my perspective it is like starting over on First Ice.
And serious ice anglers know that First Ice is typically the best ice fishing of the entire
winter.

“In my opinion, one main reason First Ice is great fishing is because fish have not been
pressured. There has been a lull from the end of open water until first ice – usually two
to four weeks as ice gradually becomes safe. Right now we have had that two week plus
lull again – with the thaw around February 1 until second freeze right now on February
14. Panfish have not been pressured by anglers, so it’s a new start

“Here is what I do at First Ice for panfish: (1) Move
around a lot checking different areas – always
starting with best shallow weed areas; don’t waste
a lot of time waiting for fish to bite – cover lots of
water. (2) Try small baits, then try larger baits;
don’t get hung up on anything in particular until
you are actually catching fish with something. (3)
Live bait tends to attract lots of smaller panfish;
don’t bother with live bait unless you are getting
lookers rather than biters. When you need live
bait, use one or two maggots on the jig.” Dave
Lefebre, member Ice Force

Danny Jones’ First Ice Catch