Yes it was Macbride. They were chasing shad big time Friday night and they were hitting well. I thought I had it figured out and even thought I had a little area where they were funnelling the shad. We went back to the same place at dusk again Saturday night with high expectations and nothing. I’ve run into them before but there really doesn’t seem to be much of a pattern as they’re as nomadic as the shad they feed on. They are a blast to catch though. They have all the underwater fight of a good smallie, minus the acrobatics.

Since these are hybrids, do they reproduce? That will factor into my decision to keep a few of these or not.

I fished a farm pond near Iowa City yesterday and it had 3 inches of good clear ice. I wish it was a little more, 3 inches makes me a little nervous, but I had a PFD and ice picks just in case. The gills were extremely finicky. I left in a rush and did not have any waxies or larvae. I just had Gulp Maggots which have worked well for me before. I caught 5 small bass and even a catfish, but could not tempt the gills into biting. I had an Aqua Vu going and could see it was a sizable school of gills that would cruise through. 1-2 fish would stop and look at my jig briefly then they’d move on. I used a glow red #12 Custom Jigs and Spins Diamond jig, a smaller #14 purple Diamond jig, and a small Forage Minnow Spoon. All have been good lures for gills for me in the past and even on this pond. I just wonder if I would have had waxies instead of Gulp if I would have had more takers.

Hi. What’s the pink line you’re using? Are you using it becasue of the color or for other reasons?

We tried it Feb 3 and had moderate success. Between 3 guys in 4 hours we kept about 15 keeper size gills. More small gills and also several small bass. It’s a neat lake but all the timber makes it a little daunting to try to find a pattern. We also tried Lake Darling. Don’t waste your time. We caught several paper thin dink gills and crappies. I’ve not been there before and I’m not sure if the lake is stunted or if it was just our luck that day.

I’ve fished Macbride countless times in open water but never ice fished it. Can I ask for some advice on general areas to try ice fishing? I don’t need specific secret hotspots, just general areas. Thanks.

I’ve seen both and just bought a 18 myself. Gander Mountain in Cedar Rapids, IA had the 18 pro pack on sale for $359. I was debating between the 8 and the 18 but for $60 difference I thought I’d get the 18. I’m not sure if that was the same sale for all Gander Mountains or just our local store. I’d check. It shows they have some room to mark them down if nothign else.

I’m having a similar internal debate as the poster. If I fished by myself I think I’d get the Marcum LX 3, but I fish with my dad a lot and he has a Vex FL8. I’ve heard the Marcum would be OK but that I’d give my dad’s FL8 a lot of interference. Am I right in thinking that if I get an FL18 both he and I would have clearer signals?