CTFishTalk.com: Northern Pike - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

Looking to tackle some of these monsters Twisted Evil

.I have had some biggins come out of mansfield hollow,but never through the ice , Just wondering if anybodys been on mansfield recently and how the ice is considering its a big piece of water, just want to get out of the 1lb to 4lb range and get somthing of a different caliber. Come with some info pike experts Laughing

toptech · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 322 Location: Vernon

yeah Mansfield always has a couple complete monsters come through the ice every year....They seem to be caught in different place cause mansfield doesnt have to many big depth or structure changes. Just use big bait...suckers in the 6 to 9 inch range. Live or dead. A lot of people say that big pike perfer big dead bait over live but it seems that a lot of people I talk to in this state stick with live bait and hammer big ones. Dead bait is just easier to fish with. If you have got big pike during the non-ice season at mansfield just try to fish the same places. They do seem to hang out more in a couple places on the lake...goodluck
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You can play on your computer and hang out with your girlfriend if you want....Im gonna go fishin.

fishinschmoe · Joined: 01 Jan 2010 Posts: 300

Yep. Tech summed it up. check your topo map, find a drop off...unless you know of fish-holding structure; and drill there.
dunk the biggest bait you can your hands on, and be prepared for "bait flags", as big suckers will trip your flags; unless you have drag-setting tips.

perhaps "mean", but clipping off fins tends to slow down the suckers, reducing your false flags.

moondoggy · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: marlborough

Grew up on that lake been fishing it for past 32 years.Seen alot of monsters there.Seen one 46 inchs 2 weeks ago.went back in.The 2nd island straight out from boat launch. 30 yards off the right of that island channel runs threw up to fenton river.Good spot.Morning best time before 11.After that might as well go home. I use both live and dead shiners.I like to use some perch strips if i catch any.Good luck.Maybe see you out there.
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Looking for that 80 lb striper

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

thanks fellas.. but what do u think about the ice up there, prob safe huh. just like to know before i waste a drive..the local bait shop next to me has sm and med and large shiners,the large one are huge ,look like 6 inch daze,they will prob work Question

. THANKS

moondoggy · Joined: 24 Jan 2010 Posts: 11 Location: marlborough

Just stay away from the front of the island and the front of the tunnels you will be all set .Always thinner there because of current flowing.
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Looking for that 80 lb striper

fishinschmoe · Joined: 01 Jan 2010 Posts: 300

YEP. get a 1/2 doz of those big dace.
Not for nothin... Ive caught some decent sized pike on a regular shiner. if you dangle something in their face, they usually eat it.

mgaudette · Joined: 01 Feb 2010 Posts: 2

I fished Mansfield yesterday (Sunday Jan 31st) and Moondoggy is right on. Everywhere else the ice is between 6 and 10 inches thick. We had a big quad out on it yesterday with no problems. Our twelve holes didn't come in under 8 inches. No big pike yesterday but last weekend saw a 14lb and 20+ lb come through. We seem to catch most of them on large live shiners and ~ 8" frozen mackerel. Pachaug pond is seeing some really big pike through the ice this year as well.

AustinB · Joined: 10 Jan 2009 Posts: 120 Location: Simsbury

When you guys are talkin about the front of the island and the tunnels. It seems as though you have to walk by to get out assuming you are talking about the upper pond. And is there a way to get to the other side(lower half) because just after the bridge on the lower side there looks to be a nice deep hole that would be productive if you fished the edge.
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I'd Rather be fishin' :ifishing

toptech · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 322 Location: Vernon

Theres a lot of different ways to get onto mansfield...some short walks some long walks. If you go on the lake at the boat launch...get on the ice from the left side of the boat launch and stay to the left (island on your right) of the island then you will b fine. You can also come off rt 89 just becareful back there cause thats where one of the rivers run in. You can get on over by the dam too but you will have a pretty decent walk to make it to the water. Tough if you have a lot of gear. Theres many more places to get on but way to complicated to explain. Those are the easiest ways to get on.
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You can play on your computer and hang out with your girlfriend if you want....Im gonna go fishin.

Fish On! · Joined: 24 Dec 2009 Posts: 68 Location: Northeast, CT

I've been told that pike look up for their food. So with that in mind don't fish to deep or they won't see your bait.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

Thanks for the tips guys . Im going in the morning.
I will let u know how I make out. Laughing

nitewalker · Joined: 03 Feb 2010 Posts: 11

i was at mansfield hollow monday and tuesday with my three brothers and we caught 3 pike that were all under 20 inches{ugggh}. we got one pickerel and about 6 perch. we used different size bait and fished 1 to 4 feet below the ice and 1 to 3 feet up from the bottom. there were also five other groups on the pond both days and noone reported any good fish for the two days..we talked with a dem guy who was taking a survey and he said there were two taken out over the weekend, one was 16lb and one was 12lb so they say. the thickness of the ice was 8 inches all over the pond except near the underpass. i sert a tilt up right near the 1st island and that was 8 inches thick. the lower half was wide open as far as you can see from the road... good luck to all of you .

p.s. i have better luck fishing a small pond near my house then any of these bigger places..4lb bass all day long....

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

Night Walker, I feel the same way about little ponds ,they are very promising and always pay off.