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Icefishin247.com, is a dedicated ice fishing web site. If you love fishing on frozen lakes, or are a beginner who wants to try fishing on the hard water, this is your place to learn from others and share what you know. Find tips, techniques, and tactics on the latest ice fishing related equipment whether you prefer tipups or jig rods. Get answers to your questions about flashers, fish locators, jigging, reels, augers, and portable shelters from people who use this gear in real situations. Search ice fishing tips for catching bluegills, perch, crappie, walleye, trout and northern pike through the ice. Browse ice fishing reports, lake conditions, ice fishing videos, and photos of incredible ice caught fish. Check out the latest ice reports for ice thickness and safety at icefishin247.com

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Northeastern Pennsylvania is unquestionably the "ice fishing capital" of the Keystone State. This is due to the fact that it is blessed with a natural abundance of lakes to accommodate her legions of hard water enthusiasts. But, even more importantly, the geographic situation of NEPA Ice Country finds many lakes perched on mountain plateaus at elevations nearly 2,000 feet above sea level. Other NEPA waters are tucked in the hollows between these mountains and actually experience colder conditions than those reached on the mountain tops. Northeastern Pennsylvania is comprised of the following counties: Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Pike, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming. It is not unusual to find winter temps in the region rivaling or dipping below those found in upstate New York. One measure of the northeast's domination of Pennsylvania's ice fishing scene is early ice. Year after year "first ice" in NEPA is 4 to 6 weeks earlier than in the rest of the state. I have personally made my first foray onto solid ice in NEPA on or about December 10th every year for the last four years.

Early ice in Northeastern Pennsylvania is one thing but the quality of the fishing is another. With ice fishing destinations like Lake Wallenpaupack, Lake Jean, Lake Lackawanna, Promised Land, and Shohola Dam topping the list of favorites. There are litterally dozens of opportunities for ice fishermen on any given weekend. Fish species targeted run the gamut from the big three trout species available in the region: brook trout, brown trout, and rainbow trout to bluegills, sunfish, crappie, and perch. There are walleye, bass and pickerel in many of the lakes and good catches of all are reported with regularity. For fans of the esox family (toothy critters), all of the state park lakes in NEPA are regularly stocked with muskellunge. Some of these lakes have yielded specimens in the 40lb class. The lake at Frances Slocum State Park has a history of producing trophy muskies through the ice. There are opportunities for exotic species to be had through the ice at some locations. Lake Wallenpaupack has a reputation of producing a few trophy striped bass, 20lbs plus, every winter. I personally caught a northern pike in the twenty pound class two years ago at the "pack". If you are interested in a truly unique ice fishing experience the frigid temps in NEPA can on occasion cause the Susquehanna River to freeze. When this occurs there is a cadre of locals anglers who have been waiting and watching for the opportunity to fish the river ice. Ice fishing on the river is without a doubt more dangerous than ice fishing on the lakes and ponds but the rewards are significant. Walleye, musky and northern pike are the prime targets but, channel catfish, 10 to 12 lbs, and monster carp, to 40 lbs, are frequently pulled out onto the ice.

If you want to learn more about ice fishing or the fantastic hard water fishing to be had in Northeastern Pennsylvania, we are here to be a friend, lend a hand and be a resource in your icy pursuits. Whether you are a beginner or an icy veteran seasoned by many winters spent on our frozen lakes, you will find a warm fire, good friends, and extraordinary tales when you step through the doors of www.icefishin247.com.
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Nestled between mountains in the Adirondack Park, Lake George is a beautiful, spring fed glacial lake nicknamed The Queen of American Lakes. The lake extends north and south for approximately 32 miles and is considered part of the Lake Champlain Basin because it drains north into Lake Champlain through a number of waterfalls via the short La Chute River. Lake George is divided into two major basins. The Southern Basin is home to Lake George Village and is the hub of tourism in the region. The Northern Basin is relatively undeveloped and serves as a quiet, rustic alternative to the hustle and bustle of the village.

Lake George is renowned for its fabulous sport fishing and as one of the preeminent ice fishing destinations of the Northeastern United States. There is a remarkable lake trout / landlocked salmon fishery in its cold deep waters and a respectable cool water fishery exists for smallmouth bass, northern pike, perch and panfish. All these fishes with the exception of the smallmouths are on tap when the lake freezes over usually by mid January. When freeze up occurs there are legions of anglers at the ready, venturing onto the crystal clear ice. At 4 inches the ice is as clear as glass. It is an eerie feeling walking along, ice fishing gear in hand, seeing distinctly the bottom features 20 or 30 feet below.

The large size of this lake means that it generally doesn't freeze over completely at one time. There are certain protected bays and coves that will harbor safe ice, sometimes for weeks, before it is considered safe to venture out on the open lake. These bays have become legendary to the ice fishermen that ply them harvesting the tasty yellow perch, pumpkinseed and bluegills that dwell just below their frozen surface. Huddle, Sawmill, Harris, and Northwest bays are some of the more popular southern basin locations for "first ice" on Lake George. When the ice indeed gets safe there are times when hundreds of ice anglers will be squeezed into an area of just a few acres making for an "on ice city" and a "party atmosphere". When fishing for yellow perch most ice anglers use tiny fishing rods called "jig rods" these will be equipped with a matching reel and 2 or 4 pound test line. There are several choices for bait: waxies, spikes, or mousies are all good choices. Sometimes the fish seem to show a distinct preference for minnows so it is wise to have a few dozen icicle minnows on hand just in case.

As the cold upstate New York winter progresses the ice eventually gets thick enough that dedicated ice fishermen can access the deeper waters of the main lake basins.

Lake trout are the primary target when fishing the depths but some anglers will target and occasionally catch landlocked salmon too. Lake trout can be caught by "jigging".
However, a much stouter jig rod is required to haul a 24 to 38 inch laker from the depths than those used for the comparatively smaller perch. The traditional way to approach laker fishing is by employing tip ups. Tip ups come in a variety of types and configurations. Basically they all have a submersed spool for the line, some sort of arrangement to support the spool over the hole in the ice and a tripped signaling device, usually a small brightly colored flag. This little flag has given rise to the cry heard all around the lake when the fish are biting, FLAGGGG! When ever it is heard all heads will be craning to see if they are the ones with the luck this time. If it happens that I am the lucky angler all bets are off as I go flying, slipping and tripping across the slippery surface of the lake "chasing the flag".

There are as many theories about how to best proceed once you get to your tip up as there are anglers on the ice. Some say to let the fish run with the bait then stop to swallow it. When this is done and the fish begins to move off again it is time to set the hook. This is how I was taught and it is a distinctly old school approach. Attitudes have gradually changed over the years and now a significant portion of the bigger game fish caught are landed, photographed and quickly released. Catch, photograph and release, abbreviated CPR. This new awareness of the value of our larger game fish has given rise to some techniques and tackle to facilitate CPR. Treble hooks rigged with bait are called quick strike rigs and that is how they are employed. Instead of waiting and allowing the fish to swallow the bait deeply, we now get to our tip up wait for the line to come up taught once we can feel the fish we then set the hook. Sometimes we miss a fish this way, but the ones that are brought out on to the ice can be easily unhooked and then quickly returned to the water where they stand an excellent chance of survival.

As you can see Lake George is an ice fisherman's paradise. The beautiful lake in its spectacular setting dressed in snowy whiteness will have you wishing for 12 months of winter every year. If you have fished the lake you know what I'm talking about. If you have yet to make your acquaintance with this North Country Lake then this would be a good year to give it a try. If you hear a cry in the distance FLAGGGG! and see a guy dashing over the ice to a his tip up it might just be me!

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