Early Ice And The Pike Were Hungry!

Ice fishing early season pike and bass! My friend‪@JaggedToothTackle‬and I hit the hard water to soak some bait and see what we can catch!
NDYakAngler merch: shorturl.at/jwCLR
Gear used on this trip:
Rod: St Croix Mojo ice 28" M amzn.to/3GqJcNh
Reel: Okuma Ceymar Cbf-500 amzn.to/3uED6q6
Line: Suffix 832 Ice 10lb amzn.to/3QXGUtW
Leader: Daiwa J-Fluoro 20lb amzn.to/3GqJqE7
Pliers: amzn.to/3T7YL3X
Tip up: iFish Pro amzn.to/3RnQ4kW
Tip up: Sullivan Tip Drop amzn.to/46GHF0l
Fish Finder: Humminbird Helix 5 amzn.to/47ELOTA

[@Mattsommers521]

Any day of fishing that starts with a ‘Howdy everyone” and a pike like that is a good day!

[@Vermilionbaits_tackle]

when NDyak uploads you know its gonna be a good day

[@DanKoning777]

This was great; an enjoyable change of pace. After seeing the equipment/setups, it made me think of suggesting having an "old school fishing challenge" for panfish, bass, and pike. All anyone can use is tackle/equipment from 60s/70s e.g., a 3ft fiberglass panfish rods with the plastic reels, the old wood folding tip ups, a spud or manual auger etc; and no electronics [except a Go-pro]-just the lead clip-on depth finders. Take Jacob and 2-3 other friends and see what happens-maybe tweet out a challenge to other channels with a fish/steak dinner, or a rod/reel to the victor. Just a thought to make things fun and a bit more challenging. Thanks Matt. God bless.

[@htuckey]

Well, now my day is complete! Another excellent video from NDyakangler! That's one thing I've never done, even though I live in upstate NY, where we get lots of ice. I keep saying I'd like to go ice fishing, but never got out there, and now I'm 82, and not likely to get out there, either. But I can enjoy it through your videos, Matt - thank you!

[@ultrainstinctvegeta9559]

Take a trip to northern MN on Red Lake, you can rent an ice castle and have a chance at catching trophy fish. Very accessible and ice castles are literal RVs with holes to fish through the floor so you’re also staying warm and in style!

[@TheCatMan777]

What!? Seems like you were in the kayak just days ago! Nice!

[@ndyakangler]

A few nights around 10 degrees will make ice pretty quick!

[@ncaa12cfb92]

@@ndyakanglerthat’s crazy here in southwest wisconsin the lakes are still clear

[@thatfishingnoob]

Woooo!!!!!!!! Fun adventures with Jacob again. Glad to see y’all fishing together. Always a good time. Crazy how frozen everything is up there. Good stuff Matt. Wouldn’t be ice fishing without some slipping down that hill haha.

[@bozleyangling]

it is pretty crazy how frozen it is, almost 7 inches of solid ice on the red river in Manitoba.

[@differentfins]

I need to start fishing pike more in winter. I usually focus on trout and panfish when the water gets hard. I am surrounded by 1000s of lakes and most of them have pike. Great stuff!

[@gavinstiteler1114]

Best fisherman on YT!

[@reallymysterious4520]

YES !!!

[@brianathern9154]

Definitely going north later in the season. No ice to be found in IL yet. Great first day of hard water Matt and Jacob. Be safe. Blessings

[@BenjySparky]

Matt and Jacob y'all rock! That was some nice Pike. Peace

[@Lilith-Rose]

Never been ice fishing here in the uk, winter pike fishing is always a lot of fun though especiallyaroundwhere i live. Makes me want to dust off my rods and get out there again

[@MrOttotattoo]

Love your channel man :) your like the Bob Ross of the KZbin fishing videos😎

[@chipseiler1766]

NOT FOR ME... but awesome! It's 70 degrees here in NC. Yesterday I caught two bluegill using a Crickhopper as a topwater!

[@joshc3036]

Thanks for video! Keep the ice videos coming this winter!

[@inthelionsden6335]

Next get your buddies together for a hockey game. That ice looks better than most indoor rinks.

[@CatchReleaseRepeat]

Love it Matt! 👍 As someone who's just getting into ice fishing, I hope to see you uploading more hardwater content over the winter.

[@aprilgeneric8027]

i learned something from Siberian ice fishermen meter and a half deep on the runs between the swamp banks as the pike are chasing the bait from these along with the perch...devils lake north dakota worthy perch too beautiful color.

[@the2060ish]

Man you found Pike lake when its melts go back.. 👍👍👍🦈🦈🦈

[@ndyakangler]

There’s lots of bass and pike there!

[@garrettboothe4053]

Keep the videos coming favorite fishing channel by far!!!!

[@richardklapka5147]

Very good guys. Haven't gone ice piking for a bit. I do love eating a 24"?I catch out of a river in spring in north Wisc. Nothing like a younger pike breaded up & fried. My wife won't eat them. More for me! Good luck buddy! ( now adays in North Wisc., famous Friday nite fishfrys are going for $15 to $20!) Yikes! I still pick my own night crawlers for panfish & C&R bass. Don't really know? what a tavern fish fry tastes like? I release all big Bass & Northerns! Rk.

[@huskergator9479]

Running outta bait!! Yes!! More excellence Matt. Thanks for taking us along. God bless you!

[@mikepollock8295]

Great video and lots of nice catches! Thanks for sharing and look forward to the next adventure! Take care Matt!

[@macmcelroy6165]

nice to see the thumbnail cleared up - i thought it was gonna be permanent

[@muskyvictim]

That's it I'm going today , 37 high in northern Michigan Hemingway area .. not iced yet so will try metal and some JDM swimbaits 😂 for pike with my new Calcutta Conquest 200 😁

[@thatfishingnoob]

Good luck! Tight lines

[@tylergolka7073]

Awesome footage! Glad you guys got into em thx as always for sharing👍🧊🎣

[@zoomzoomgt]

Decent amount of fish in the video. Surprise no1 was there with yall.

[@Checkmate1954]

Great ice video! Thanks NDYA

[@alexgaribaldi4346]

Awesome early ice session, and talk about perfect weather for it. I have the same Striker Ice Trekker top and bibs set as you. Don’t remember you having those last season. I honestly love mine for not so cold hole hopping. I picked mine up last season from Franks Great Outdoors on the crazy sale they were having. Hope you like yours. Fun times, Matt🎣👍 …please don’t steer away from the Saturday morning video posts. It’s become part of my life to watch your video Saturday morning accompanied by a Bang energy drink and head pets on my rat terrier dog, Boots. She’s got a heart murmur and don’t know how much longer she’s gonna be around, so more the reason to keep fishing and posting Saturday morning videos 😂👍🎣

[@ndyakangler]

I have one of their more expensive ice suits too but that one is so warm I just don’t wear it much. If it’s cold enough I’d need it outside I’m probably going to be sitting in the shack and it gets way too hot pulling it out. I just got the Trekker about a month ago, both that and my new hub from Frank’s as well! The ice suit was about half as much there as anywhere else I’ve seen it.

[@alexgaribaldi4346]

@@ndyakangler awesome. You’ll love the Trekker for nice weather days on the ice. I broke mine in well last season and love it. Honestly the best sale purchase I’ve made in a while. Good luck, Matt. I hope you have a great Ice season. Here in Northern Illinois, we’re still flirting with fall. Ughhh… I wish we had 8-12”s of solid black ice already. The past couple years, ice has really been lack luster. Hoping for a nice freeze and no snow🤞👍🎣 …Good luck, buddy. Member… Saturday morning vids for Boots! 😂

[@josephrottman4057]

So much fun to watch! Thanks!!

[@Brock_Landers]

I have never been able to ice fish. I live near Pittsburgh and it's only ever been cold enough here for the lakes to freeze a handful of times.

[@pittsburghangler]

I hear ya

[@bobrich1950]

I was getting nervous. It was almost 9:00 AM here and no notification for NDYakangler. And then, just like Christmas, it suddenly was there. L. O. L.

[@dawiddashii]

Poland is watching all the time

[@austinpawlak2967]

Man i bet you would have a blast with salmon/steelhead, every year i just itch to get out for salmon in NY and i love it every time

[@nick.smith616]

it's too cold for open water here but there isn't close to enough ice. safe say, i'm a little envious. good stuff.

[@harrygrimley4352]

What a fun day 😃. Thanks for sharing this with us. Could you please tell us a little about what you use to auger?

[@ndyakangler]

I use a Strikemaster Lazer auger that I replaced the hand crank part with a Milwaukee mud mixer drill.

[@GLepage74]

Best fishermen on KZbin hands down. No debate!

[@thatfishingnoob]

You aren’t lying! He’s a super cool guy, on and off camera. Much respect.

[@KP-oe8sk]

WOW !!Frozen already!!! Here in Toronto we just put our Mosquito netting away!!!! Dec2/23. We throw parties for a week doing that!!;)It will be a National holiday next yr!!

[@oldschoolhawking8191]

Looks fun as heck! 😎🎣🎥👍

[@stevievtheonlyg3223]

Another couple weeks in new Hampshire and I'll be ice fishing myself but some of the places near me look ok but I don't have the balls enough to walk out on the ice yet 😂

[@CatchReleaseRepeat]

Same here in Wisconsin. Early ice scares the crap outta me!

[@CanadianAngler-qv8ic]

Hi NDYakAngler! I was just going to ask is there by chance anyway you can do some trout fishing this winter or next year, I would love to watch you trout fish!

[@robertbutcher4201]

Good times and content!

[@AdamsAnglingTv]

love the ice fishing videos.. We had a cold snap in UK this week up to -4 lakes frozen not thick as yours though.. nice fish🎣

[@lindapetersen1800]

WOW is all I could say WOW I love to fish !!! Ice fishing or summer time I love to fish !!!

[@joshuaschmidt5552]

I used to use 30lb flouro for my winter leaders, but i had two bite offs in one day, so I'm back to wire leaders on anything I plan to catch pike or muskie on.

[@jimmyhat3438]

I normally don't complain about a small hole but you boys need the 10" auger

[@parishwilkins1870]

That's what she said

[@trainmagnet5845]

Depends on the regulations. They may have a hole size limit.

[@mikecorazza]

​@@parishwilkins1870darnit, beat me to it haha!

[@huskergator9479]

@@parishwilkins1870 somebody had to say it!

[@oakland002]

I’ve made that mistake a long time ago when I try pulling a Muskie through one , it came up side way and I couldn’t fit the beast through the 8” hole , had to drill another one next to it to widen the area

[@timroot4207]

Thank you !

[@SlimAdventures]

Nice one! Cant wait for southern Michigan to freeze up

[@markstott6689]

So the ice has arrived and with it some nice hungry pike. Cold, clear and sunny days are my favourite. Apart from the ever hungry pike and the occasional bass, does anything else take your bait this time of year? We had snow 30th November and there's more forecast for tonight. It's almost like being a child in the 70's and 80's again. Well, apart from the fact it was only about a cm compared to the +30cm of November 78 and 79, here in Yorkshire. Global warming is an arse. 😊😊❤❤❤😊😊

[@ndyakangler]

I catch all kinds of stuff. Bass, pike, crappie, walleye, even some channel catfish! Winter is about half the year here so everything has to eat eventually.

[@jeffcroweii4095]

Love the videos. Big fan from East Tennessee.

[@thatfishingnoob]

I fished some places in east Tn. Absolutely stunning out there.

[@simpleoutdoors1]

great spot, cant wait for ice up here in ny.

[@TheRiverAddict]

Good work guys

[@matthewstaton1412]

Always love your videos Matt maybe someday I’ll make my way out there to hook into my first smallie with you

[@ajgreen868]

Been so mild here in South Dakota so far this season that we’re still bank fishing. Good ol El Niño.

[@ralphfiligenzi6180]

I see pooch prints🐕🐾

[@clydeshope6942]

Another awesome video well done

[@obie_8214]

in my area even the river is frozen, should get a bit warmer soon, but i think the season is over:/ need to figure out what to do until May haha

[@ledraps22]

Beautiful day ice fishing, love that sized bait; i found it good for the bass, pike, even some big trout. If you do more ice fishing, are you going to likely stick to pike/bass?

[@ndyakangler]

I’ll probably catch some walleye, crappie, and maybe some catfish too. I’m not too picky through the ice I’m just happy to catch something!

[@haisyburner5603]

Jeez you already have ice on my favorite lake it’s only like 1 inch thick

[@billrae4198]

The paddleless sled Yak!

[@coryoconnell4566]

Pike are so much fun to catch anytime of year! Just dont care for the smelly slime they are covered in.

[@sneakershead4899]

I love ice fishing so much men awesome tu see this video and nice fish too

[@randallburgess46]

Have you ever been to Tippup Town USA. in Houghton Lake Michigan? You would not forget it if you go.

[@bruced625]

Never been ice fishing but it sure looks fun. Doesn’t get cold enough here in NC. I’ll have to plan a trip up north.👍

[@austinmannigel8611]

It isn’t really that great stay where it’s warm.

[@jessebaker5007]

I just finished watching it on the other channel. I don't know how he beat you on the video drop😂

[@ndyakangler]

He wasn’t out fishing all day yesterday!

[@johnnypenso9574]

I've always found it hilarious that we spend tons of money on rods & reels for different species and conditions in summer fishing only to go fishing in the winter and catch the same fish on rods & reels that look like toys🤣🤣

[@NEYakAngler]

Nice! We are just starting to get some small pieces of ice here in CT

[@snakeeyes9246]

Which area of CT? I'm in New Haven County, and there is some thin ice on smaller ponds, but mostly open water. I got some trout and pickerel today.

[@NEYakAngler]

@@snakeeyes9246 I’m northern Fairfield county. We have a small pond on property at work and nothing but little pieces. Haven’t been to candlewood in a bit and the river/lake Lilly has smaller pieces here and there. Good luck this winter!

[@turboboy0]

wish i was there. i could use my Zebco Dock Demon 2.5' rod with a Shimano Sienna4000 and 30lb braid.

[@johntremmel8083]

I think you have some fox tracks on the ice.

[@markdamm7715]

Geez, a week ago you were paddling around and now it's all iced up. Wow

[@bblvrable]

I haven't set foot on a frozen lake in about 30 years. They just don't freeze over where I am anymore.

[@Triple87]

Still open water where I am in Canada. Lol..

[@user-ifishoften]

Howdy Matt. I understand your responsibilities at home, but have you ever thought of taking a road trip south to Kentucky or Missouri in the Spring. There appears to be a lot of decent Smallmouth rivers and lakes down there. The earlier start to the season could give you some new videos way ahead of your normal season. I would bet some of the local guides would be happy to swap their time for some of yours during the northern summer.

[@ndyakangler]

I’d like to head south and escape the cold for a while but yeah it’s tough trying to take off for a week or two at a time with a two year old at home. That’s one of the tough parts of being this far north and trying to do KZbin fishing videos for a living though, it’s about a six month window where the ad rates go up for summer outdoors type videos and getting new footage the first couple months of that stretch can be tough if not impossible here when we’re waiting for ice to come off the lakes and the rivers are going through their spring flood season. I always try to hold on to a half dozen or so videos from the past summer to try to jump start my channel back to life before I can get out much again. It would be nice to get out and explore and fish some new places though, try for some monster bass down south somewhere or maybe fish some redfish or something instead of staring down a hole in the ice!

[@user-ifishoften]

Matt I live east of Cleveland, Ohio so I fully understand the frustration of winter. I live for Lake Erie to warm up in the Spring. I use your videos all winter to keep me stoked for another summer of chasing smallies. I am glad you saved some for winter because I watched all your 2023 videos. LOL. @@ndyakangler

[@filippociampalini7246]

Hello from Czech Republic man.

[@brittlanders351]

Looks like fun! I’ve always wanted to try ice fishing. You ever catch smallmouth through the ice?

[@ndyakangler]

I’ve never had much luck targeting smallies through the ice but I’ve caught a few fishing minnows out deeper for whatever is roaming the reservoir channel.

[@truebalsamhogs]

Thanks.

[@PaulJFleischer]

Nice!

[@mikeyc1928]

Chomping at the bit to go ice fishing back up north. Not much ice in Oklahoma. You guys must be in Minnysoda somewhere. Why? You're only fishing two lines. Nice video...thanks.

[@ndyakangler]

Good old Minnesota, land of 10,000 laws.

[@mikeyc1928]

Yes Sir. That is a fact.@@ndyakangler

[@brianquilty687]

Congrats on the first Ice fishing trip !

[@FishHead84]

Im jealous. I live in northern Illinois, we were just starting to get ice but now its been atleast 40 degrees for 2 days in a row

[@ndyakangler]

We have a couple 40-45 degree days in the forecast for next week but it still gets down below freezing over night. I don’t think it will have a whole lot of impact on the ice once there’s several inches.

[@Fatenarr]

It’s just crazy to me how anything could live in water that cold. That would suck

[@danzammit9443]

Nice pike. Do ever catch crappie in that area. Be safe good fishing.

[@ndyakangler]

There are plenty of crappie in there too! My friend has caught a bunch on open water in that bay and we’ve found a couple through the ice once it starts getting dark out.

[@26betsam]

Commenting from South Florida. What's the white stuff on the ground?

[@NORM453]

When you say "catch you later" you mean it.

[@bigguy7618]

Day of The Snot Rocket!

[@Kltpzyxm17]

Howdy Matt! 👋

[@titsmcgee8885]

The long sleeve shirt just arrived. XL, great fit, good material, love it.

[@seanirons4910]

Do you guys eat the pike you catch. Man I needed this today I have not been fishing in almost a year

[@ndyakangler]

I’ll eat pike every now and then. One of these days I’ll have to keep some to let my 2 year old daughter try some fresh fish.

[@seanirons4910]

@@ndyakangler fresh is best 👍

[@DavidSmith-zr3nd]

I don't know about pike but Bass has a great flavor.

[@alejandromelgarejo6009]

Congrats for the video!! You could describe with more details your equipment, rods, reels, and other stuff in ice fishing? Thanks bro!

[@timdonnelly8392]

Another very enjoyable video😁

[@patprop74]

HUH???? Where are you at again? I'm here in Southern Quebec and there is no ice in sight yet, in fact, it's been raining for most of the day.

[@ndyakangler]

Minnesota. We’ve had some good ice making weather the past ten days or so.

[@patprop74]

@@ndyakangler Right, makes sense, even though I'm in Canada and you are in the USA, Some parts of the US are still north of me, Excluding Alaska of course hahaha are you on the Ontario border or Manitoba?

[@calex9398]

Very nice

[@kunaiwithchain5278]

Do you guys use circle hooks when ice fishing to prevent gut hooking?

[@ndyakangler]

We were using treble hooks through the back of the minnow. Not one fish swallowed a hook all day. I think most of it is just keeping an eye on the tipups and not giving the fish several minutes to swallow the bait.

[@sebastianrios3133]

You should go after trout when ice fishing! Give yourself a new species to target

[@shawnfarrell9772]

Not bad eating fish for sure..

[@christinerogers5331]

Great video, Matt, you landed some nice pike and a nice largemouth to boot!

[@baptistedesbiens8876]

Nice video as usual! What leader are you using? I'm not targetting pike but I don't want to keep getting cut off in pike infested water

[@ndyakangler]

I tied on about 15” of 20lb Daiwa J-Fluoro.

[@guyb7005]

How is it you already have that much ice when in N-Ontario we still have open water? oh wait -- this may be from last year

[@ndyakangler]

This is from Wednesday. We were below freezing for about a week and well below at night. It only takes a few cold nights to go from open water to 4” of ice at some spots.

[@guyb7005]

@@ndyakangler absolutely impressive! I was figuring your channel would pause until things ice over. Happy you have the opportunity to quickly switch to ice fishing. One of my favourite youtube channels!

[@AGuyNamedRicky]

So how do you find fish when ice fishing? Are they up shallow? Deep?

[@ndyakangler]

It all depends on the lake and time of year. I’ve caught walleye and pike anywhere from 4ft to 35ft.

[@XyZDemise]

A vexlar and livescope are your friend when it comes to ice fishing.

[@MrAmartin8]

Have you ever broke one of those little rods with a fish ...

[@ndyakangler]

I’ve broken a few ice rods, but they were all a certain model of a Scheels store branded rod several years ago and I think those particular ones had a defect where they snapped at the handle where the blank hit a sharp piece of metal trim. Other than that I’ve never broken one.