After a survey of local tackle shops, all agree that this winter has been one of the best ice fishing seasons in a long time. Thanks goes to Mother Nature who provided prolonged periods of freezing temperatures, with no thaw periods in between.

Chris from Chris's Bait and Tackle in Mertztown, said this was the best ice fishing season he's seen in a many years, even though last season wasn't too bad but the ice didn't last as long as it has so far this year.

Ontelaunee Reservoir has been fishing well with the exception of popular Peters Creek Cove, which has slowed. The action now is in the channel in the middle of the lake where good numbers of perch and catfish are being pulled up in 14 feet of water. Jumbo pike minnows seem to be the hot bait right now according to Chris. One regular customer is doing good using tip-ups for bass and pike there, but leans to jigging for perch with maggots. This particular customer, said Chris, has gone through 4,000 maggots this year, and during my phone interview, came in for another 1,000. Ice at Ontelaunee is a solid 16.5 inches.

Mike from Mike's Bait and Tackle in Nazareth, said this season was good but spotty at times. However, he says fish were always hitting somewhere, you just had to be at the right spot at the right time.

"Sometimes in the middle of the season like this, ice action slows down," he said. "But not this year."

Northampton County's Lake Minsi ice is running 15-16 inches and yielding lots of pickerel and some bass on tips ups, but jigging has been slow there. Fathead minows are taking perch, but medium shiners are preferred for picking up pickerel and bass.

Upper Lake at Promised Land has been decent for jigging up nice perch and gills, while tip-ups are working good for bass and pickerel. Up at Hidden Lake in the Pocono's, tip-ups have been taking panfish but jigging is reportedly not doing much. In addition, there have been good perch, pickerel and bass reports coming from Lake Minisink.

While the coming week appears to have some rising temperatures, it shouldn't affect ice fishing, only making it more comfortable to be on the ice.

Keep in mind ice action customarily turns on at first ice and last ice, so the latter is forthcoming. You merely need to be there when that occurs.

NWTF BANQUET SET

The Jerry Zimmerman Memorial Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will be hosting its 17th annual Heritage Superfund Membership banquet on Friday, March 13 at the Econo Lodge Conference Center in Allentown.

The banquet social hour begins at 5 p.m. with an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner along with side dishes at 7 p.m.

Afterwards, a live auction will be held for wildlife prints, sculptures, home furnishings, jewelry and collectibles.

Highlighting the banquet is a print made by nationally known wildlife artist Dan Christ from New Tripoli. In addition, Bob Danenhower, of Bob's Taxidermy in Orefield, will be donating a custom made, one-of-a-kind wingbone call.

For the fifth year, the live auction will feature an African Safari Hunt in the Lompopo River Valley of South Africa donated by Hunting Legends. This is a seven-day hunt for three animals: Impala, Zebra and Blue Wildebeest.

There will also be a silent auction for camping, fishing, hunting and numerous hunting rifles and shotguns.

Anyone who attends the banquet automatically becomes a NWTF member and will get the organization's magazine. The money raised goes for habitat work, land acquisition, plus it gives disabled hunters an opportunity to go afield through the "Wheelin Sportsmen" program. It also supports the JAKES Youth Field Days program and Women in the Outdoors.

For further information and to purchase tickets contact Bruce Dietrich at 610-298-2424 or Scott Richards at 610-393-9761.