Matt Baker and Mark Chretien of Montgomery prepare to drill holes and set tip-ups on Littleville Lake Sunday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
HUNTINGTON – Despite the warm temperatures this weekend, the ice was still about 12 inches deep on Littleville Lake. Some of the ice fishermen who brought their shanties were taking advantage of the sun and drilling outside, while others didn’t bring them at all.
Mark Chretien of Montgomery said this weekend was the seventh or eighth time he had been out this season. “It has been a good season,” Chretien said.
Matt Baker of Montgomery drills a hole with his battery-powered auger through 11-12 inche ice. (photo by Amy Porter)
He was out with his step-son Matt Baker of Montgomery fishing for trout and perch, catch and release. They said each fisherman is allowed 5 hooks and can keep three trout. Chretien said he’s released the rainbow trout he’s caught, which have been averaging 12 to 15 inches, for others to enjoy. They use live bait, shiners and night crawlers, and lures for jigging with miniature fishing poles. The part of the lake where they were fishing was 30-40 feet deep, he said.
Chretien said he was out there in the sub-freezing weather a few weeks ago, although not too many others were. “Any time on the ice is better than time in front of the TV,” Chretien said.
“The Weekend Warriors” Noah Cousineau, Colby Cousineau and Steve Peregrin of Westfield and Angie Kelley of Huntington. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Also on the ice with their “double shanty and polka music” were Noah Cousineau, Colby Cousineau and Steve Peregrin of Westfield and Angie Kelley of Huntington “We’re here every weekend,” said Peregrin of the group, who he called “the weekend warriors.”
Earlier in the day on Sunday, they had drilled holes inside the shanty with their electric auger, but decided it was too nice a day to stay inside, and were fishing from deck chairs outside at new holes they had drilled.
Fishing mainly for smelt and trout, the warriors were camped on a section of the lake that is 70 feet deep. “The smelt fishing is just starting to get good,” said Colby Cousineau.
Noah Cousineau holds a smelt he caught while ice fishing on Littleville Sunday. (Photo by Amy Porter)
Cousineau said that Rainbow Smelt, which look like large sardines, are caught deep in the lake, while they catch trout at about 5 feet.
Usually they pan fry the smelt right on the ice. “Not too many make it home,” Cousineau said.
