Ice fishing from The Meadville Tribune on Vimeo.

By T.J. Turrisi

Meadville Tribune

CONNEAUT LAKE — It seems the ice-fishing action has risen along with the temperature this week, as local lakes are dotted with ice huts and bait-and-tackle shops have had increased sales.

Several fishermen on Conneaut Lake said it was their first time out on the ice due to the subzero temperatures of the early new year.

One such angler was Ron Komar, a Cochranton resident and longtime ice fisherman.

“I’ve been fishing for about 30 years,” Komar said Tuesday as he jigged for bluegill at the south end of Conneaut.

“I usually come out two or three times a week, but this is my first time this year. I come out when it’s not real cold. I don’t usually use a shanty because I can move around more. I just come out to rough it.”

Komar said he frequents Conneaut Lake because it’s closer to home, and the panfish action is usually pretty good.

“It’s about the only place you can catch any fish with any size,” he said. “They drained Tamarack and now all the panfish are smaller. That’s more northern (pike) fishing now. I mostly panfish.”

Komar had a bag of around 40 bluegill Tuesday, and he was quick to say it there is more to fishing through the ice than just dropping a line anywhere.

“You’ve got to have the right bait and know how to fish,” he said. “And they have to be biting. You can come out here sometimes and only catch two or three in the day, or you can catch a limit in two hours.”

An ice jig and maggot seemed to be the bait of choice among the anglers at Conneaut on Tuesday.

Komar was catching his on a weed bed around 5 feet in depth near the bottom.