Author Topic: Hidden Gem! (Read 2802 times)

Thinkeyes · « **on:** Jan 12, 2013, 02:02 PM »

Is it March already? No, so what's with this 50 degree weather..... I was asking myself this while I was on a conference call at work around 11AM yesterday. I decided after the call was over I would leave work and hit a small lake. I had to stop home and get my suit....mainly to keep dry. I was a little concerned about the ice. The warm temps have done some damage to it. I arrived at the lake and got out of my car. I walked over to the edge of the lake in a shallow spot and walked out to test it. The edge was very thin and cracked and broke but it was sitting on the lake bottom. It didn't really move at all. Once I got out past the first foot or two of shore ice it got thick again. I decided it would be safe enough to give it a go. I went back to the car and got my gear out.

I made my way out on the ice slowly, watching for anything that didn't look safe. The ice was very clear and healthy looking. I drilled a couple holes by some big bubbles frozen in the ice. Many times this will indicate wood under the ice....not always. In this case it did. I could see a lot of brush on my Marcum and some fish around a few limbs. I dropped down to them and they came up instantly and struck. Nice...a 9 inch gill. That felt good. Most of the bites I've been on this season have been very tough. I managed to get 2 more gills to join the fun. Then the hole went cold and so did the bite. I moved and drilled some more holes. I noted a lot of holes out in the middle. High pressure area......good places to check but not spend a lot of time on. These spots are usually fished out on first ice to mid-season. I checked it and I found nothing but dinks and shy fish. I moved back away from this area and found some more air bubbles in the ice. I started to locate a lot of these bubbles and drilled several holes around them. I could almost visualize where the trees and brush were on the bottom from the location of the bubbles.

I spent the rest of my time hole hopping and catching the aggressive fish. It's a great strategy to use. I had to adjust my presentation a lot early on. I switched color, style and tails....the full gambit. I ended up using one of Mitchell Meyers jigs. He asked me if I would try fishing a few of them. It was the ticket today. It was like the lights came on when I dropped his jig down the hole. I used a Teal and Pink jig with a purple and pink tail. It was hot! I like how heavy it fished as well.....I didn't expect that. I've really been on a tungsten kick lately. It makes it hard to go back to light jigs but I'm glad I tried it.

So, it was a great day....I kept 15 nice gills for a big meal with the family. I was the only one on the lake all afternoon and it's the most comfortable I've ever been on the ice. Not a bad day.

Fontona19 · « **Reply #1 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 02:13 PM »

Nice haul man, and nice report. Man those look tasty

eyesonice · « **Reply #2 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 03:03 PM »

Nice catch, man am I hungry for a fish fry now

reddog11 · « **Reply #3 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 03:50 PM »

Nice pictures.

duck67 · « **Reply #4 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 04:10 PM »

Nice pics, now I am hungry.

Michaelo · « **Reply #5 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 04:27 PM »

If it wouldn't have been for the 25 mph winds and slick as snot ice I probably would have went out today but thats a nice haul.

bigfoot697 · « **Reply #6 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 04:55 PM »

you guys eat sunfish? lol j/k

cooper2 · « **Reply #7 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 05:58 PM »

love the photos & the story

mdrobny · « **Reply #8 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 08:18 PM »

Quote from: cooper2 on Jan 12, 2013, 05:58 PM

love the photos & the story

x2 nice post! good eats

60 degrees today

Whopper Stopper · « **Reply #9 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 08:22 PM »

NICE WRITE UP AND PICTURES.

ws

timbobber · « **Reply #10 on:** Jan 12, 2013, 08:23 PM »

nice catch on a nice day. enjoy the fish fry

pikemaster789 · « **Reply #11 on:** Jan 13, 2013, 04:12 PM »

Always nice to leave work and destress like that

Thinkeyes · « **Reply #12 on:** Jan 13, 2013, 06:33 PM »

Quote from: pikemaster789 on Jan 13, 2013, 04:12 PM

Always nice to leave work and destress like that

Heh....I stress more about using too much vacation too soon in the season. You never know when it will end. It was the right choice on this day. Might leave early tomorrow again?

Jigger Don · « **Reply #13 on:** Jan 13, 2013, 06:42 PM »

Nice catch

Bassman · « **Reply #14 on:** Jan 16, 2013, 10:31 AM »

Great photos !

IceRaider · « **Reply #15 on:** Feb 02, 2013, 06:30 PM »

Nice pile of gills.

Grim · « **Reply #16 on:** Feb 03, 2013, 09:46 AM »

great post and awesome pics

buckfordave · « **Reply #17 on:** Feb 03, 2013, 10:45 AM »

I do love black ice when its safe It really cool!!

IceRaider · « **Reply #18 on:** Feb 03, 2013, 02:18 PM »

Quote from: Thinkeyes on Jan 12, 2013, 02:02 PM

(Image removed from quote.)

^
Do you have this one in hi-res? It's a really beautiful photo. You should post it in the wallpapers subforum: http://www.iceshanty.com/ice_fishing/index.php?board=95.0

P Meyette · « **Reply #19 on:** Feb 03, 2013, 02:21 PM »

that looks like that will be a good dinner

just_a_beer_man · « **Reply #20 on:** Feb 03, 2013, 06:51 PM »

Yet again awesome pictures!!

PanFi$her · « **Reply #21 on:** Feb 03, 2013, 06:57 PM »

Great Pic's!

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Author Topic: Hidden Gem! (Read 2802 times)