While some are finding white perch under their secret stashes of fishable ice, for most ice anglers, the wait is still on for the bigger ponds and lakes to ice up.

With plenty of open water, it’s a good time to grab a bucket of shiners and take advantage of the rare opportunity to tempt a pike, bass or trout from waters we typically see locked up this time of year.

New Hampshire anglers are enjoying the rare opportunity to fish open water while in Maine, ice anglers are enjoying a good bite on smaller ponds as they wait for larger lakes to lock up.

Open water conditions are providing ample opportunities for jumbo perch and other freshwater species.

The largemouth bass bite has been good for anglers able to find safe ice.

Warmer weather and rain have hardwater anglers looking for fishable ice in western areas and those found at higher elevations.

Anglers are enjoying a rare opportunity to open water fish their favorite warm water spots while the region awaits a return to colder temperatures and more fishable ice.

The combo of rains plus warmer temps has freed many areas from skim ice and opportunities abound for stocked trout and other species.

Ice anglers are making do with smaller water bodies, hoping that the New Year will usher in a good old-fashioned New England freeze.  

Above: The Berkshire Bass boys have been out on higher elevation hardwater where pike are willing!