My favorite time of the ice season is right at the bitter end. Fishing can be unreal, the weather is warm so no need to sit in a dark portable. I did my homework and found fish up in 3-5' feet of water. If you have never fished shallow spring melt panfish you really should, the fish fight unbelievably hard once the water begins to warm.
I begin doing my homework early in the a.m. I am on some big fish but still looking for the motherload
My wife Cheryl always seems to get the big ones. She released this fish to spawn more.
Finally a slob to rival hers
On march 25th I have the whole lake to myself one afternoon and while drilling around
BAM!!!! I find the motherload in 3 feet of water. Nothing better than that! I also grab this bit of video on that same day of a
pike in hot pursuit of a bluegill, my best captured video of the year.
I call the gang that night and we have a blast on Sunday
My brother Craig with a nice meal of fish
Pete's big one for the day
Lucas had his best day ever on the ice topping his best all time catch of four with 18 on this day. I must remember to stay far away from Lucas after he has pickled eggs the night before! That little guy can rattle the bucket with the best of them!
Cheryl hammering away at the big boys again
Two so called "professional ice fisherman" from another unnamed ice fishing website move in on Cheryl and Lucas action fishing in their back pocket. A couple of class acts I tell you. A schooling is what they got.
My home lake gets unsafe so I head north this week to find safe ice and some perch
I find 20+ inches of great ice on March 31st about an hour and half drive up.
Very foggy morning
In my search I drill into a stump! OUCH! The auger is fine.
I find some perch and a slob perch up in 2.5' feet of water. Do they go beserk!
I pick up a nice batch for eating on April fools day.
Potentially the last walk off with a tear in my eye.
I still have one more trip planned for truly slob perch on Goegebic lake in the U.P. of MI this week if conditions will allow travel on the lake.
They had 300 inches of snow this year and a recent storm dumped 37"! Not sure how the ice will fair after that melts. If I don't make it still I had a great end to the season.
-Scott
