CTFishTalk.com: Mashapaug in the am - Connecticut Ice Fishing Reports ( CT Ice Fishing Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

Heading out there in the morning with hopes of something worth bragging about.I know that place houses some biggins I just need to find em,Im going with a little crew hopefully someone gets one,I have had a lot of luck open water there,will see....

basswacka19 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 217

Good luck!! Every time i go there in the open water season which is quit often, i just get this feeling i'm gonna get a monster smallie. It hasn't happend for me yet but i know theres gotta be a 4-5lb smallie in there.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

funny you say that....love smallies
What a cool fish ,they always put up a good fight.
Looking to mount one in the future

basswacka19 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 217

yeah, they sure do! Im hoping to fish candlewood lake this year,looks like great smallie fishing it just sucks because it's like a 2+ hour drive for me and a big lake to figure out in one outing.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

just got back and I got nothing the guys i was with
did well ,as we all picked different areas to setup,a lot of bass came up
the lake was packed with people shantys and 4-wheelers,but is was a
good 7 hrs,ice was real thick 12+inches

basswacka19 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 217

Ah, at least you got to see some fish huh.Wow im surprised the ice is that thick,looks like im not doing any open water fishing any time soon.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

I was real surprised myself, it was 12 at a normal thickness then climbed a little in different areas, but ya saw some bass ate some good grub,I was just parked in the wrong spot ,a buddy of mine was 50 60 ft from me nailing em.

basswacka19 · Joined: 05 Jul 2009 Posts: 217

yeah sometimes thats all it takes,he must of just been on the right drop off or structure. Im hoping to get a hand held gps for ice fishing next year.

billybass · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 315

YUP that would be perfect ,one guy with us had a topo map zoomed in ,we knew were we were, the whole area we had was 20 to 25 ft deep,I really couldnt believe all the people out ther by 10 am it was packed

JiggyWithIt · Joined: 04 Jan 2010 Posts: 58 Location: Farmington

North side of minnie island is over 40' there is a sweet drop-off just like bg said. Lots of rock structure on the North and east side of island with a shear rock ledge drop off around 1 or 2'oclock of island. South side of island is very weedy ranging from 8-12' or so. Most of the middle area of the lake is 20-25 feet deep basin from around 250 yds from the boat launch almost all the way to the north side of the lake. The North end of the lake is very weedy and from 6 - 12'. I know Gardner like the back of my hand though I never ice fished it I was planning on it this year for Walleye. There are some lunkers in there especially Walleye, Smallies and LMB too. Caught a few decent trout out of there by accident also. Gardner has one hell of a great Spring Bass Action. I've seen many 7# Bass come out of there with full grown bluegills hanging out of there throat! (though the past 2 years they seemed to shrink) and 8 and 9 # walleye aren't rare either. The first year they stocked Walleye in Gardner I pounded 14-18" walleye from the dock all summer long! Just like the song says Laughing

Just writing this is getting me geared to go!
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