Some lakes and ponds give up their secrets only after you put the hours in. We have a lake like that where I live. The locals who live on the lake know where to find them. The rest of us learn a bit more each time we come and leave. If you can't see the fish hanging on the bottom or suspended somewhere in between, stands to reason they might be right under the ice and therefore a bit skittish. I use a long pole (54") for ice-fishing so I'm not standing right over the hole. Good luck. We may have good ice all the way to May here in WI if things keep going the way they are.