Page 6 - Fishing Report | 1-30-2019

Jeff @ Keystone Guide Service; filed 1-19: There was a brief window of opportunity – about one

-week period between high flow and ice flows – during which I was able to fish the middle Alle-
gheny for walleyes We did well, catching lots of quality-size walleyes, mostly on jig and minnow.
Prior to that we did well on several trips on the lower Allegheny, which fishes better during peri-
ods of high water. (See pics on Livewell Page)

Erie Extreme Tip of the Month from Dave Lefebre

“Perhaps the biggest mistake I observe on the ice among anglers tar-
geting crappies is their rods are too stiff. They may think their rod is soft,

but in most cases it’s not soft enough. It’s easy to miss getting a good
hookset on crappies, as well as too easy to lose crappies on the way up –
both the result of a too stiff rod. I recommend a super soft rod – sort of a
2X ultra-ultralight almost sloppy action! The super-soft 13 Fishing Pickle
Stick fits the fill.”

Lefebre has been using small spool spinning reels on his ice rods for a number of years, but he
was not satisfied with the performance. He desired something simpler. “When I tried the 13

Fishing Free-Fall Ghost recently, I realized this was what I had been looking for. It’s sort of like a
baitcaster in complete free-spool – no drag on the line coming off the rotating spool. There is a
brake you can apply with one finger to stop the line. I can drop a 1/64-ounce jig with this rod.”

He combines the 13 Fishing Free-Fall Ghost with the 13 Fishing Pickle Stick for what he consid-
ers the perfect crappie ice-fishing combo. The combo (which has been dubbed the Atomic Pick-
le due to the bright glowing green color of the rod) is available in local retailers.

More Ice Fishing Tips from the Experts

How to Fish the SteelShad through the ice – Danny Jones
If you have seen my Facebook postings, you know I’ve been having
a pretty good ice season so far on PIB. Roughly 90% of the crappies

and steelhead we’ve caught have come on the SteelShad, a rela-
tively new blade bait something like the old Heddon Sonar – only
better! I’ve been asked to describe how I fish it. The size of Steel-
Shad I’m using is call the Mini – it’s ¼ ounce. I’ll
start out ripping it up and down about 6 inches
to get the attention of fish. When I mark fish on

the sonar screen coming to investigate, I’ll slow
down and so smaller, softer rips. The SteelShad mimics various types of small
baitfish. It will catch anything from perch to pike. Don’t overwork it. It has a