So you heard the word that one of the community holes is producing a good bite. Things are loaded up and a trip is made to the area only too find out 50 some other people have heard the same word. The walk out is made towards the pack, things are set up and nothing is happening. You hear words such as…”should have been here yesterday”…”marking fish but they are tight lipped”…..” can’t catch anything of any size”. We have all heard it if not used these words ourselves.
Trust me there are still quality fish to be had with a little effort. Move out from the crowd and change things up.
The beginning of the ice season word got out on a good gill bite which lasted a couple weekends. Soon after crowds were having a hard time getting bottom hugging tight lipped gills to take an offering, me included. This means it is time to get away from the pack and go looking.
Traveling light and willing to take a hike into an area not many ventured was the key in finding bull gills still on the prowl. Not a lot of commotion (if any) in the area kept these fish from turning off the feed bag. A change in color of jigs was also needed. These fish moved away from the crowd and seen orange and chartreuse enough to know it wasn’t a good thing to swallow.
Another good example was today chasing crappies in an area with so many holes in the ice, there was enough sun light penetrating the water that the speck’s had on there shades!
Again a move was made away from the crowd looking for hungry suspended crappies. Luck had it they were found, away from the crowd. Just a couple days ago they were also willing to take a spoon, jig, and plastics but not today. Marking fish was not a problem but getting them to bite what they have seen day in and day out kept there lips shut.
A drastic change was made to a slip dropper for an attractor and a mini mert with a minnow head hanging 8 inches below. This set up made it hard for these conditioned crappies to resist. It took awhile going through a lot of other jigs, spoon and such until the right combination was put together but, being willing to keep dropping something different down at the targets paid off. There had to be a total of 20 fish taken with three of them coming home.
Mobility, versatility and a little work will keep a person on fish in community holes. Light but warm boats, a good flasher, Power auger and one man sled will make a person more willing to move around. Checking maps along with spending time on the water will have you making the right moves. Punch some holes and look for targets, when you find them set up shop, make yourself comfortable, and start dropping baits.
-------------------- Bret Clark - IDO Ice Pro Staff "Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway."
Great article Bret You never cease to amaze me with your simple, yet somehow ingenious tactics that seem to rescue any tough day of fishing. Though slip droppers have been around a while, Its something that I might not neccasarily even think of on any day in my attempts to throw "everything" down the hole at them. I've watched you do some really awesome things on the ice and have success, and then I've learned a lot of simple concepts that I often overlooked, such as knowing when to stay put in an area even if it is slow for a while. You really proved that gill fishing a couple weeks ago You always seem to find just what they want, even in a limited amount of time
Great read Bret. Getting away from the pack in open water and on the ice can really bring some great results. Although when you do find them again, try to be quiet or "the pack" will re-form around your new spot
Fishing Heavily Populated Community Holes
Re: Fishing Heavily Populated Community Holes
.......Thanks 
You always seem to find just what they want, even in a limited amount of time 
