Started fishing a lake near Hillsdale around 6am this morning. After a long walk through deep snow, we set up in about 17 feet of water and started marking fish right away. My dad and I each had a jigging pole and one set up with a slip bobber and minnow. While tinkering with my minnow, I look over and see my other poles spring bobber doubled over. I set the hook and bring in a nice 13" crappie. He sure tested my 1/2 pound craft thread I had spooled on lol. Shortly after, my dad caught a nice 12 1/4" crappie, and a big gill to add to the pile. I lost a nice crappie at the hole, and we caught a few keeper, and non-keeper gills... that was pretty much it for the dark bite.
Once daylight came around, the nice fish we were marking disappeared. There were still plenty of small gills to be had down close to bottom. I moved over to some weeds in 9 feet of water, and found the motherload of dink gills. After catching a bunch, I tried fishing a few feet above them. Some nicer marks would come in, which resulted in a few nice gills and a ton of largemouth. I would say I caught 10 of those things. My dad was moving all over, catching a lot of 7" gills and a few bass. We didnt feel like cleaning a ton of 7 inchers so we only kept enough for a small meal.
I also lost a small pike in the hole... I'm kicking myself for not getting Lon a picture of it. My craft thread was broken off twice by some fiesty bass, I didnt have my drag set very good. Other than that I like using the thread better than regular ice line.
Green carp

12 1/4 and 13" crappies

Couple 9" gills in there too

Once daylight came around, the nice fish we were marking disappeared. There were still plenty of small gills to be had down close to bottom. I moved over to some weeds in 9 feet of water, and found the motherload of dink gills. After catching a bunch, I tried fishing a few feet above them. Some nicer marks would come in, which resulted in a few nice gills and a ton of largemouth. I would say I caught 10 of those things. My dad was moving all over, catching a lot of 7" gills and a few bass. We didnt feel like cleaning a ton of 7 inchers so we only kept enough for a small meal.
I also lost a small pike in the hole... I'm kicking myself for not getting Lon a picture of it. My craft thread was broken off twice by some fiesty bass, I didnt have my drag set very good. Other than that I like using the thread better than regular ice line.
Green carp

12 1/4 and 13" crappies

Couple 9" gills in there too

