[Kajitan]

So I was curious as to how much the ice noise makes a difference in the fishing. Being fairly new to seriously ice fishing I've been keeping notes on what I catch, with what, time of day, blah, blah, etc...

So far I have yet to catch a fish when the lake is considerably loud...pops, cracks, and the like...most of which happen on nicer days.

Has anyone else seen similar effects?

 

[epic]

could it be when you have a fish on those noises are muted by your excitement?

 

[jetx]

My friend and I were at Wolford on Sat. and he noticed that my drilling a new hole seemed to bring in some more fish to the area.

 

[ice fisher]

I've never noticed the ice noise impacting my fishing one way or another. My biggest concern on the ice is when it isn't making any noise. That usually means that it isn't growing and is most likely getting bad. IMO.

 

[CaptHook]

Hey jetx I have also noticed that with the auger and have seen a tv show with Dave Genz where he talked about the same thing, that drilling and other sounds on the ice sometimes does attract fish.

 

[JohnnyO19]

It's like a dinner bell .

 

[got_one!]

My take on that topic is that the cracking noise is there whether we are there or not. I have noticed the ice cracking a lot when the sun comes out and starts to warm things up. I would say that the fish population is used to it.
As far as, hole drilling noise or otherwise, I've heard of people doing circles around the fishing group with their snowmobiles when fishing gets slow to get the fish more active or excite them, spook them??? ??? I don't know.... Not sure how well it works but it must have worked for somebody...

 

[slayerfish]

I have noticed when fishing is slow that drilling a new hole is good for a fish or two. Then I drill a coupkle more holes and get another fish or two. It goes like that all day long. 1 or 2 fish per hole or set of holes. I think the fish are attracted by the commotion.

 

[jamiehughes]

i've seen fish spook when the ice makes noise and i've also caught fish right after drilling holes, even after drilling them with a noisy,smelly,obnoxious power auger.

 

[jigsallot]

in my experience, the ice noise makes no difference.
if you are fishing shallower water, let the auger go down into the mud at the bottom. that IS a dinner bell....

 

[jamiehughes]

how shallow are you fishing?

 

[Guest]

Ditto, I made the ice auger observation this year as well. Seems I catch and see more fish right after I drill a hole...I have seen quite a few pike lurking around a fresh drilled hole on the underwater cam....would not of known they were there without it.

 

[scubapig]

Drilling new holes definately attracts fish, I'm glad to hear so many others had the same observation. I drilled a hole at 11-mile once and a trout swam into it moments later! The auger definately doesn't scare em!

 

[jigsallot]

Jamie, 3 feet or less is where i catch many of my big macks and bows right at daylight. also in high mountain lakes in even 2 fow near inlets. they come in and see whats going on and you stir up a food source for them. an aqua veiw is a great way to acomplish the effect also. has anyone else tried this ?

 

[jaquomo]

drilling definitely has a positive effect. Never found any relationship to ice popping. I have seen many fish spook when somebody walks up to my hut, a dog walks up, a snowmobile or truck comes by very close.

Also, I've seen them spook when somebody spoke loudly when one was eyeing the jig in shallow water. Might be the sound waves bouncing off the water (and their lateral line?)

 

[jamiehughes]

i've also seen fish spook from all of the above even like opening the zippers on the shelter,talking, fast movement, definetely people walking and talking on the ice above. probably another reason to keep your distance from other fishermen on the ice.

 

[jetx]

Could be some relation to using a Rat-L-trap for Bass?

 

[kastmisser]

I have been noticing more fish right after drilling a hole too, mostly rainbows. Next time I go out I am going to bring a couple of hammers and do a drum roll on the ice to see if that brings them in.

 

[hatchmaster]

In my opinion there is only one noise that will scare off the fish. It is when you say "this is the best fishing ever it can't get any better" scares them off like a gun shot! ;D ;D

 

[GMCO45]

I've never noticed the ice noise impacting my fishing one way or another. My biggest concern on the ice is when it isn't making any noise. That usually means that it isn't growing and is most likely getting bad.


Ice has been very quiet the last few times that I have fished Green Mtn.  The snow cover must have something to do with that.  The ice certainly is not getting bad.