A Short Ice Season and an Early Start to Open Water Fishing This year has been a little different. Usually, by this time of year, I’m still trying to squeeze every last bit out of ice fishing—drilling holes, chasing that late-season bite, and holding onto winter for just a little longer. But 2026 had other plans. A Short Ice Season I did manage to get out on the ice this year, including a solid trip where we found a good afternoon bite and stayed on fish. Those days are always a reminder of why I love ice fishing—the simplicity, the cold air, and the action when you find it. Watch that trip here: But overall, the season felt short. There wasn’t much time to really settle into a consistent ice bite before conditions started changing. Before long, I was already thinking about packing up the auger and looking ahead to open water. Mixing It Up in Wellsville In between the short ice season and the early spring conditions, I also spent some time fishing in Wellsvi...