Hey boys!! i hope everyone got to hit the ice during this cold weather we had last week... so we got the the lake around noon wednesday the 16th. -9 and sunny. The lake was a sheet of glass. Me and 2 friends made it out no prob.. the roads were clear. got out on the ice and set up buy 3pm. slow going as there was more open water then im used to up there coming from the rapids... (you can see it in one of the pics ) so it was slow going out across the bay the first time. We got to the the middle where the current would be the worst and there was 6" of good ice. rode the quad across all week with no issue. At sundown on wed, it was -19 and clear/calm.
Around 9pm, i go to relieve myself, and find that the ice around the deadhead is very thin from the sun blasting on it all day so i yell out that it was shady. Well out of the darkness we hear the famous last words... " don't worry, i'll show you how safe it is!! " SPLASH... right up to his neck in 30 feet of water. I pulled him out and all was well... i guess he will stay a few feet away from structure sticking out of the ice from now on... lol. Had a few bites but no fish iced, so early nite of drinking so we could get up for the early bite the next morning.
Thurs. morning we woke up to clear sky and no wind. -21 overnight... and we could hear it! The lake was talking all night. -19 at 6:30am, and out we go. 7-8am jigging got a bunch of dink perch and a few jumbos.. kept a few of the big ones and any messed up by the hook set, then at 10am the eyes moved in.. tip-ups started going, then the rods in the rod holders... all "set lines" started to hit. Tally for thursday = 5.89 lb eye, 2x 3.4lb eyes, 3.2lb eye, 2.4lb eye, and a 1.7lb eye. and a bunch of yearling sized!!! I bought a new waterproof camcorder and forgot it so the camera was all over the ice and we missed a lot of good shots, but got what we could lol. The bite slowed down around noon, so in for lunch.
Back out to clear holes well before sundown so we didn't spook the fish when we show up to fish. So after chumming the water with his stupid ass, Scott landed his first of the week. 2.4lb
They were hitting short and light all night and no more fish were landed. Movies and beer for the evening.
Friday morning, -18 overnight, -19 and overcast at 6:30am. Got 10-12cm of snow overnight, and scotts jeep (2x4 lol) gets stuck trying to get out the cottage road, and i have to pull him out with the Sierra lol. Him and his bother are packed and gone by noon friday. My buddy rick showed up around 3pm friday with my camcorder
back out jigging for a bit friday night, but the cold had turned the fish off. All the warm weather perked the fish up so when i got there wednesday, they were hitting like crazy. Winds started to pick up and we stayed in for the night.
Saturday, much of the same... bad winds and cold... got out for a few hrs, but no bites and bitter cold. Headed up to the trout lake to see what it was like around 2pm. The little lake is sheltered so the wind was better, but the fish were not taking anything. Beer and more movies for the night. Sunday...lol wake up sunday morning, and look out the front window and see all my gear in the middle of the bay... where the hut used to be. I guess the Rapala Sherpa M2 isn't meant to withstand 70+mph winds lol... 6 ice anchors and snow/slush all around the skirt couldn't keep it stuck to the ice lmfao... it ended up all the way down the other end of the bay.
Got packed up and was home around 6pm.. and already planning the next trip. So much fun... i think/hope some of the pics are linked at the top somewhere
Cheers