IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Vermont => Ice Fishing Vermont => Topic started by: mudchuck on Feb 24, 2016, 08:08 PM
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So I have a friend that lives down in NH and he wants to come up and fish for whites at St. Albans this Saturday.
I'm curious to know if anyone was out today in this mess and did the rain do a number on the ice and were the whites biting.
Any insight would be helpful so I don't steer him wrong on a long drive for nothing.
Thanks in advance for real intel!
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I am also interested in the same inf as I am thinking of heading there on saturday
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Anyone care to report?
I'm thinking the shoreline has to be gone with the downpour and high temps we have now, and what 8-9" there was is probably in bad shape and might not be safe. Would really be nice to know before anyone travels to find out it's not going to be worth the trip.
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Call Bayside and ask. Ice at my place looks horrible and I had 8-12" Won't know for sure until tomorrow and tomorrow night.
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I'm planning a Saturday trip as well. I'll be interested to hear what it's like after all this. We tried last Saturday and were blown into next week.
Will have to scoot a Jon boat across what's left of the ice!
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Drove by the bay after work. There's open water in front of Black Bridge, about 50 yds out. Looks like the brook went nuts last night and washed out the ice in front of the bridge. Lots of chunks of ice washed out from the brook and ended up on top of the ice. Shorelines out to the F&W launch didn't look good, ice was buckled in places and water on top. At the launch, the left-hand launch had buckled ice and 6 inches of water on top. THe right-hand launch wasn't broken up. I didn't go out to Kilcare, don't know how that fared.
gofish33
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(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2335.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2335.jpg.html)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2336.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2336.jpg.html)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2337.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2337.jpg.html)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2332.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2332.jpg.html)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2334.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2334.jpg.html)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2333.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2333.jpg.html)
Looks ok out at the point, but out near Burton looks punky now.
Big flowage out from under black bridge, that will refreeze but probably won't be safe in the current.
Might need a plank by the time all this flowage hits the main lake and the level starts to rise, but me thinks the ice shelf might survive long enough to get another weekend in.
This is what it looks like at highbridge on Arrowhead this evening, big time flowage and throwing ice all over.
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2340.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2340.jpg.html)
(http://i1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd505/mudchuck/IMG_2341.jpg) (http://s1223.photobucket.com/user/mudchuck/media/IMG_2341.jpg.html)
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This doesn't sound good for doing much fishing in March. >:(
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Lot o' slop. :'(
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Anybody coming off the ice today from St.Albans have any reports on the ice?
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I checked Kilkare after work, I wouldn't risk going out there. shoreline is open water with a skim of ice and then there's 6" of water over questions able ice and another layer of skim ice over there. Water is too deep to risk. I saw guys at the launch in the bay and that looked OK.
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The bay where the guys were at the launch, are whites catchable in there this early in the year? I assume that is near the Christmas tree stuck in the ice.
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I was hoping to try tomorrow. fingers crossed with the temps tonight that this locks the shore back up.
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I fished off hathaway point this afternoon. 10" of solid ice though a little wet near shore. should be froze up solid tomorrow. No one else o
out there and the weather was windy but nice. got 1.5 buckets of slabber whites on the hali jigs. wouldn't touch much else. two masterclass fish in the mix! Caspian tomorrow for lakers. good luck if u go for whites!
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Thanks Chris, very good news!, heading out now
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Almost blew through both Ion batteries but I found them....10 buckets later and we walked off the ice. Good times.
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Almost blew through both Ion batteries but I found them....10 buckets later and we walked off the ice. Good times.
;D ;D ;D ;D
Glad I called you and we decided to move out to where you were. The seed bite died right off and we did manage several pails of whites and left right after you did.
My friends had never experienced such a bite like that and they left the ice with great memories and loads of fish to clean (and some to sell too).
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How was the ice? Any problems getting on or off?
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Almost blew through both Ion batteries but I found them....10 buckets later and we walked off the ice. Good times.
Vtmatt strikes again! Haha nice haul! Just goes to show you, if they aren't around, go looking for em!
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How many pounds?
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How was the ice? Any problems getting on or off?
Wet shoreline but nothing you can't jump over.
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How many pounds?
Almost 3.
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good haul!
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How was the white bite out there today?
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Anyone been out recently here or dillenbeck hows the ice...can you still access without a canoe??
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I'm sure the ice is fine right now with the cold weather. Next weekend will be troublesome and the snow we have coming will make mobility hard.
Sunday the bite was slow, and the fish were constantly on the move. Auger drilling was literally sending the fish running for their lives. We had 6 occasions where we checked a single pre drilled hole that was loaded with fish and by the time we cut another the fish were completely gone. Almost used both Ion batteries again, but instead of 10 buckets we got 2. What made things harder were the people that thought it was OK to hop in our line of holes from 30 min prior and setup a shanties on our holes. Yeah I get you want to catch fish but don't be so lazy and cut your own holes and try being a little more courteous of others. ::)
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What made things harder were the people that thought it was OK to hop in our line of holes from 30 min prior and setup a shanties on our holes. Yeah I get you want to catch fish but don't be so lazy and cut your own holes and try being a little more courteous of others. ::)
Yeah, that is definitely aggravating... Some people seem to think, "why should I get a finder or an auger, when I can just space-invade someone else with both out there?" It's lazy and rude. Try sitting in someone else's tree stand in November and see what happens... Definitely seen more of this on the ice this year than those past - at least on the bay. Must be because the ice moved in late, and so far the bite has been off. Oh and the price for whites has been low.
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When weather is warm like it has been old holes and holes that were cut 2 hours ago don't look much different. I have used holes that were already in place before if they were where I wanted to fish. But I wouldn't do it if other people were nearby hole hoping. but I have been out on places and been the only person and there are holes already drilled from someone the day before or early in the day. I will reuse them if they are where I want to fish, i see no harm in it, and there is no point in drilling a hole 5 feet from one already there. But again I would not use it if others were in the area and may still be using it.
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Here's an idea. Bring something to cover your unused holes while you're out there. Then when the space invader come by, they have to drill their own. That or you can go postal on them if they touch your property (the hole covers).
On the other hand, it might be better that they use your holes rather than drill right next to them if you want to keep the perch from spooking. I wonder if there is any benefit to having people move in, as it might keep the school in tighter. I don't know much about the white perch bite, but hopefully this cold weather will make some safe ice for me to try them out on Sunday.
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When weather is warm like it has been old holes and holes that were cut 2 hours ago don't look much different. I have used holes that were already in place before if they were where I wanted to fish. But I wouldn't do it if other people were nearby hole hoping. but I have been out on places and been the only person and there are holes already drilled from someone the day before or early in the day. I will reuse them if they are where I want to fish, i see no harm in it, and there is no point in drilling a hole 5 feet from one already there. But again I would not use it if others were in the area and may still be using it.
These goons came out, watched me drill 40 holes in straight lines, waited until I flipped my Clam over and then started hopping in my holes before setting up over one. At one point they all spread out, two of them being 25 ft away from us - fishing my holes. On top of that we had 3 guys follow us out , wait until we stopped, made a perfect triangle around us, cut hole and sat there. I said "Wow, no shame in your game! " followed by a "We live here!" Yeah, and? All it takes is a simple "Do you mind if --" and things are all fine by me. A fellow member met us on the ice on Sat and before they fished he introduced himself and asked if it was alright if they fish near us. That type of greeting goes a long, long way. I always ask if it's alright if I ever fish near someone I don't know and they're there first.
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If I want to fish near somebody, I always park my machine or flipover at least 50 to 100 yards away and walk over to them. I introduce myself and actually have a meaningful conversation with them. I ask them how close it "too close" before I even think of fishing or drilling holes.
I find a little courtesy and friendliness goes a long ways.
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I guess I think if I was in a boat I would not set up
Within 50 yards or so of someone else.
If I am trout fishing in a stream I won't fish the same
Hole as someone else.I personally won't
Go out on the ice without the equipment
To fish..like an auger..had a guy ask us on dillenbek
If he could use our power auger.said all he had was
A hand auger ???.
That being said this is public waters.
If you come on the ice and drill holes a hundred yards
In each direction of the compass.that does
Not entitle you to that 200 yard circle you just
Drew around you.you can only fish one hole at a time.
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These folks are catching fish to sell and they will sit in your back pocket for a buck ! ::)It's been happening on Lake Champlain since I was kid and that was in the 60's !
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I guess I think if I was in a boat I would not set up
Within 50 yards or so of someone else.
If I am trout fishing in a stream I won't fish the same
Hole as someone else.I personally won't
Go out on the ice without the equipment
To fish..like an auger..had a guy ask us on dillenbek
If he could use our power auger.said all he had was
A hand auger ???.
That being said this is public waters.
If you come on the ice and drill holes a hundred yards
In each direction of the compass.that does
Not entitle you to that 200 yard circle you just
Drew around you.you can only fish one hole at a time.
There's a difference between someone fishing close to you and someone following you purposely to fish near you. The other guys could have at least cut their own holes instead of using my freshly drilled ones. :o
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I'm sure the ice is fine right now with the cold weather. Next weekend will be troublesome and the snow we have coming will make mobility hard.
Sunday the bite was slow, and the fish were constantly on the move. Auger drilling was literally sending the fish running for their lives. We had 6 occasions where we checked a single pre drilled hole that was loaded with fish and by the time we cut another the fish were completely gone. Almost used both Ion batteries again, but instead of 10 buckets we got 2. What made things harder were the people that thought it was OK to hop in our line of holes from 30 min prior and setup a shanties on our holes. Yeah I get you want to catch fish but don't be so lazy and cut your own holes and try being a little more courteous of others. ::)
sounds like some of the fisherman we dealt with on the rivers or wherever we went. last winter on the ice i put out 6 or 7 tips for yellows and started to catch some nice yellows and 2 fisherman pulled up with a 4 wheeler right next to my tip ups and drilled holes with their power augers in between my tip ups. i was fishing 5 feet of water so you know the rest of the story. its a public lake but some just arnt very courteous when it comes to fishing since these 2 fisherman sold all of their fish.
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sounds like some of the fisherman we dealt with on the rivers or wherever we went. last winter on the ice i put out 6 or 7 tips for yellows and started to catch some nice yellows and 2 fisherman pulled up with a 4 wheeler right next to my tip ups and drilled holes with their power augers in between my tip ups. i was fishing 5 feet of water so you know the rest of the story. its a public lake but some just arnt very courteous when it comes to fishing since these 2 fisherman sold all of their fish.
In Maine, people try that crap sometimes in the lobster business. they put therir traps next to yours. 9 times out of ten, guess what happens? They get their bouys cut, leaving your hundred dollars a pop lobster trap down on bottom...
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I had this happen to me at Winni over the weekend... F@#$ Jerks heard me cussing when I lost a nice 4-5# Laker.... not 5 mins later, they were LITERALLY 15 ft from my flip over drilling holes, and didn't even ask if it was okay... Least they could have done was twirl my hair in their fingers for a minute before trying to @$%# me lol.
I am thinking about taking a ride up with my kiddos to St A bay this weekend to give them a day they will remember! :icefish: If anyone feels Generous enough, could you please PM me some intel on where the whities might be found as well as updated Ice conditions? Its much appreciated, and I always try to pay back, or forward the favors.
BTW, Im not looking to sell them, Im looking to fill the freezer before I have no more Ice to chase down.
Thanks,
NH20
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If someone starts fishing too close and I decide I don't like them there I just start talking loudly to myself and practice tomahawk-throwing... often they move away. ;D
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If someone starts fishing too close and I decide I don't like them there I just start talking loudly to myself and practice tomahawk-throwing... often they move away. ;D
I like that. I'm going to try that next time. That, or start lighting off firecrackers in my shanty. Sorta ala Home Alone:
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I am thinking about taking a ride up with my kiddos to St A bay this weekend to give them a day they will remember! :icefish: If anyone feels Generous enough, could you please PM me some intel on where the whities might be found as well as updated Ice conditions? Its much appreciated, and I always try to pay back, or forward the favors.
BTW, Im not looking to sell them, Im looking to fill the freezer before I have no more Ice to chase down.
Thanks,
NH20
They've been around Hathaway point at last check. They move around a bit, but they should be there. Ice should be good this weekend. Just bring some mace in case someone tries to fish out of your hole, touch your hair, or make love to your wife.
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With all the noise and traffic on the ice out there I doubt fish will stay in one area for long. Especially with how many people are probably going to be there. Christmas tree on the flasher turned blank every time we drilled.
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LOL, gonna be a squirrel circus come this weekend, can you see it...
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Good place to stay right away from this weekend.
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Or maybe we should have an Ice Shanty get together on Sunday to close out the season. We could box out the crowd and try to keep the noise to a minimum.
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Lol. Should I be taking a hint here??? Welcoming *****s aren't you ;D
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No, by 'crowd' I meant the jerks that have no shame in fishing the holes you just drilled or asking if they can fish near you.
I like and appreciate our IceShanty community of fisherman. I think a get together would be fun. We can learn some things from each other and get to see the faces behind the screen names. I am planning on being at St. Albans Bay on Sunday. If anyone wants to join me, PM me. This will be my first time out there, so it's not like I will have a lot of knowledge on the whites, but I will be out there looking and having fun.
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I'll be there on Saturday trying to fill my freezer before the ice melts. Say hi if you see a tall guy in grey/black bibs, brown/black jacket, and an orange hat. I would rather you fish in a hole I drilled then drill one next to me and scare away the school!
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I'll be out Sunday afternoon with a small group of hardwater newbies that want to experience this white perch phenomenon.
Probably putting the ice gear after that.
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Don't you guys get bored of fishing the same place all the time????
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Not when I bring newbies to hardwater action and they get on fish and come off the ice with great memories and asking when they can do it again!
If I take a half dozen newbies out during a season, and one or two become regular, then that's far better than filling buckets by myself.
Heck, I actually convinced my wife to try it this year, and she went unconditionally, which is rare and I think she'd try it again, which I hope she does as that would make this even better.
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I guess you have to expect a crowd if you post how many pails you fill on an open forum, Just say the bite is slow or they are done ;D....LOL
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When it comes to white perch, the more the merrier, there's plenty to go around, but people should be mindful & respect others and not be rude, again, there are PLENTY of white perch to go around...
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I fished out there all day Monday, drilled 40 holes all over, and caught 3 whites.
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When it comes to white perch, the more the merrier, there's plenty to go around, but people should be mindful & respect others and not be rude, again, there are PLENTY of white perch to go around...
Right on!
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So, I will be out there Saturday. Long haul for me, just wondering if anyone has an update on ice condition and thickness? I am wondering if it would be good enough for a side by side?
any input is appreciated.
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Good luck I fished Monday caught maybe 8 fish lol not worth it
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Couple of us fished today for a few hours.
Tricky getting on we each filled almost a bucket.
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Good luck I fished Monday caught maybe 8 fish lol not worth it
Were you using a flasher? First step is to find the fish with one, and then the second step is figuring out what they are biting on. Last time I was there, I had to drill a number of holes until I found them. Then, it took me a while to figure out what they wanted. They wouldn't bite bibbets, they wouldn't bite kast masters, nor swedish pimples... Wouldn't even bite green hali jigs with crawlers! But once I put on a pink and orange hali, they were ALL OVER IT! Pulled a bucket and a half off the ice in 3 hours.
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I hope the ice holds another week I am on call this week would like to catch a few, if not the boat is ready to go...
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They are being really picky this year, gotta find the right color and bait...managed 3 -5 gallon buckets in four hours mid day today... Located then find out what they are into....
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They are being really picky this year, gotta find the right color and bait...managed 3 -5 gallon buckets in four hours mid day today... Located then find out what they are into....
Do you just drill a pile of holes and check em all with the vexilar? Then when you see it lit up you fish that hole??
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So, I will be out there Saturday. Long haul for me, just wondering if anyone has an update on ice condition and thickness? I am wondering if it would be good enough for a side by side?
any input is appreciated.
Was out there Wednesday good 8 maybe 10 inches shoreline is iffy be careful on and off.......pretty cold last night and tonight should be a good day Saturday......I personally would not drive anything on the ice this year but I don't think you'd make it past the shoreline.
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I was there yesterday.only had 2 hrs or so.
Was unable to locate them.ice is 8-10.solid.
Caught a few yellows.going back this am.
Will post pics of our pickup bed full....... ;)
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Was out there Wednesday good 8 maybe 10 inches shoreline is iffy be careful on and off.......pretty cold last night and tonight should be a good day Saturday......I personally would not drive anything on the ice this year but I don't think you'd make it past the shoreline.
Yeah I figured the shoreline would be the iffy part. I don't mind hoofing it, just didn't want to haul my buddy's wheeler up unless I was sure we could get on.
Thanks for the info!!
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Were you using a flasher? First step is to find the fish with one,
When I see "flasher" I think of those flat chrome-plated sinkers all the old fogies tie onto our their hand lines and it takes a second to switch gears and realize it's one of those new-fangled electronic gizmos that tells you what the fish had for breakfast while it's still swimming. ;D
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What depths are people catching them at?
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I was there yesterday.only had 2 hrs or so.
Was unable to locate them.ice is 8-10.solid.
Caught a few yellows.going back this am.
Will post pics of our pickup bed full....... ;)
Waiting for those pics ! ;D ;D
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When I see "flasher" I think of those flat chrome-plated sinkers all the old fogies tie onto our their hand lines and it takes a second to switch gears and realize it's one of those new-fangled electronic gizmos that tells you what the fish had for breakfast while it's still swimming. ;D
New fangled?
Maybe 10 years ago.
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The post was not intended as entirely serious.
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I thought a flasher was some old geezer in a trench coat.. ::)
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I thought a flasher was some old geezer in a trench coat.. ::)
I think you're looking for the "moon" thread.
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I thought a flasher was some old geezer in a trench coat.. ::)
No that's assault with a dead weapon.
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When I see "flasher" I think of those flat chrome-plated sinkers all the old fogies tie onto our their hand lines and it takes a second to switch gears and realize it's one of those new-fangled electronic gizmos that tells you what the fish had for breakfast while it's still swimming. ;D
I thought they were called scooters.
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I took the boat out this AM and parked it in my favorite ice fishing spot, which is On Lake Champlain, near Ferrisburg, but will otherwise remain secret and caught two buckets of both white and yellow perch and two smelt. There was about 50 feet of ice about a quarter inch thick (or less) along the shore, which the boat cleared during launching.
Two smelt really shouldn't be a big deal, but I'm always very excited to see them in Champlain. We also caught about a dozen alewives, which taste like herring when breaded and fried.
Call it a protest trip since my favorite spot hasn't even had a hint of ice on it this season.
They were biting on nightcrawlers, mostly.
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Waiting for those pics ! ;D ;D
Well since we couldn't drive our truck
Out there on the ice we had to throw most of them back ::)
What we did keep I do have a pic of.
Will post later.can't do it with this
Cell phone.
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thats me in the pic throwin some back.. ;)
(http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/ob1canola/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1099_zpsb22xykvc.jpg) (http://s480.photobucket.com/user/ob1canola/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1099_zpsb22xykvc.jpg.html)
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thats me in the pic throwin some back.. ;)
(http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr170/ob1canola/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1099_zpsb22xykvc.jpg) (http://s480.photobucket.com/user/ob1canola/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_1099_zpsb22xykvc.jpg.html)
Looks like a good batch of fish! If I could go out and catch that many Whites everyday of my life, then I would be a happy Man!! Congrats on the fish.
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Looks like a good batch of fish! If I could go out and catch that many Whites everyday of my life, then I would be a happy Man!! Congrats on the fish.
Thanks.. after getting up at 4am and fishing all morning we left the ice around 2pm with around 80 or so fish. More than i wanted to clean when i got home but i got it done.
got them foodsavered up in the freezer and will probably try a bag this week. A fun day with a good friend.. fun time with the new lx7 .. ;D
they don't skin as easy as yellows.. :-\
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Well since we couldn't drive our truck
Out there on the ice we had to throw most of them back ::)
What we did keep I do have a pic of.
Will post later.can't do it with this
Cell phone.
Please don't throw those fish back even if you don't want them - give them away. While I admit they're fun to catch, they're wreaking havoc in the Lake. Just give them to someone on the ice.
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Please don't throw those fish back even if you don't want them - give them away. While I admit they're fun to catch, they're wreaking havoc in the Lake. Just give them to someone on the ice.
Sorry matt this was a joke in response to a post above. i made a statement about filling up the bed of my truck with whites ...someone said they wanted to see the pic of that.
so i responded with we coud'nt drive the truck out so we threw most of them back.. ;D ;D when in reality we kept them all.. ;D ;D. See post 62 and 66.
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Great day out there Saturday. Met up with "ShiveringJoe" and "VTMatt". Great bunch of fishermen and happy to call them new fishing buddies. Got into some nice whites and a handful of medium yellows. Glad I went. stocked up on some fillets, well Worth the ride up. Sad to see the weather patterns this week, I would love to make one more trip, but not too sure of the conditions around the shore after this week.
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I'm glad you found the fish, Aaron! That's a long drive to take a chance on the fish cooperating and I'm glad it paid off.
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I'm glad you found the fish, Aaron! That's a long drive to take a chance on the fish cooperating and I'm glad it paid off.
Thanks! I pm'ed you some pics. enjoy...
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Me and Smelty88 hit the bay yesterday. Got on the ice around 11, and fished till 4. the first few hours were slow, but we managed 3/4 of a pale and had a good time. Weather was GREAT!!!!
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Was nice to meet you too. Always fun to hear grown men giggling while catching so many fish, lol. I took a friend on Sunday morning and we caught a bunch and left around 11. We brought most of our fish right below the ice and picked which ones we wanted to catch, it was great. Not looking good this coming weekend so I'm prepping to fish the rivers but will check out the shorelines Fri after work and let you know.
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Always fun to hear grown men giggling while catching so many fish, lol.
Bahahaha I know it. We were, weren't we... that's too funny.
2016 season has Been such a terrible season for us, we lit right up making up for it in just one day. lmao!
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Played hooky from work today and fished at the bay. Only got 3 quarter bucket but they were all big. Got my personal best fish at was 14.25 inches long! Ice it is still holding up quite nicely and the edges are no longer wet.
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Must have been a nice day out there Chris. Congrats on the big 'un.
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I am assuming the Bay has deteriorated away from shorelines after this week and is not accessible?
I wanted to send out a big thanks and "see you next year" to you guys. I really enjoyed the sense of camaraderie and hospitality I got from the fellow fishermen I had the pleasure of talking with over here.
If the ice held up, send me a note.... I would do one more trip, but not blindly.
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I am assuming the Bay has deteriorated away from shorelines after this week and is not accessible?
I wanted to send out a big thanks and "see you next year" to you guys. I really enjoyed the sense of camaraderie and hospitality I got from the fellow fishermen I had the pleasure of talking with over here.
If the ice held up, send me a note.... I would do one more trip, but not blindly.
my friend was out there yesterday and said its down to 5 or 6". Considering there was 9 inches a couple days before it's not looking good for this weekend. Time to bust out the fly rod!
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Unfortunately we won't be able to get after the whites this year. I've decided to give up on ice fishing for the year and am going to do some salmon/laker fishing in the boat this weekend. Can't wait! See you guys on the ice next year.