Ice Out???

[tociar]

Hey guys We don't have ice on the lakes very often where I live in East TN. I was wondering...Do the Smallmouth really bite good after ice out? I've ice fished before but, we caught bluegills on Mississippi river up in NE Iowa.
Al Linder says you can but didn't know if he was  fishing a week or two after ice out or not; I was just wondering.  I bet those Perch are good to eat from that cold water. Thanks Tony

[JBASS]

Not sure as we cannot fish for them as we have a closed season when the ice leaves..

[djkimmel]

Depends upon the lake type (where legal) but, yes, on many lakes ice out bass fishing is really good for monster bass.

And also yes, the perch, and most fish seem to taste better from cold water. I rarely keep any fish to eat but early spring is one of the times I'm more likely to do it - perch, walleye, crappie, panfish, even catfish.