Blackstrap 2021-2022

[gman51]

page 2. some depths are posted by a few anglers. put in some work you'll find them good luck.

[speckspotter]

Decent outing on Blackstrap today. We had good perch action when we started mid- morning. As Churchill River reported earlier, the fish are bigger further down the lake.

Was it wrong for me to fish his honey hole from yesterday? I'm just trying to report the facts and avoid Fake News.

At any rate, the bite slowed around noon and never really got hot again before we left at 2:30. Perhaps it was the weather change. It seemed that the fish liked variety; hitting on maggots, minnows, deer heart, eyeballs and meal worms. Tungsten jigs, slab grabbers, green hawgers, and the new Wonderbread pattern buckshot spoon. I had three rods rigged and ready, but was caught unprepared when a big red mark appeared on the flasher. I quickly pulled up the tungsten jig which was on a noodle rod. Reaching for the rattle spoon on the heavy action rod I saw the minnow tail had frozen to the ice. Crap! Down the hole went the slab grabber tipped with maggots. A thick 4-5 lb pike charged the offering and the game was on. The fish put up a great fight. DH arrived to help just as the pike pulled free from the single hook inches from the surface.

Close, but no cigar.

[speckspotter]

News Update:

Another associate joined us this afternoon as the bite tapered off and DH and I left. His perseverance was rewarded when things got rolling again at 4:00, resulting in a limit of keepers.

[ToonFisher]

Started about 4:00 pm in 8 to 12 feet of water. Ice is around 10 inch. There were a few perch the smallest being finger size. Walleyes came just about sunset at 4:50 . The 1st one is too big to keep.

The second one is a keeper ~17inch.

[gman51]

 pk strikes again. nice work toonfisher.

[ToonFisher]

pk strikes again. nice work toonfisher.

Glow seems to work just a bit better in twilight.  I  use a flashlight to charge the spoon. A slightly larger one took the spoon the last time I targeted sunset walleyes about 2 weeks ago. Both are in close to 12 feet of water 

[speckspotter]

Good walleye Toonfisher.

Ever have much luck with the glow stick spoons? I am waiting to be convinced they make a difference.

[ToonFisher]

Good walleye Toonfisher.

Ever have much luck with the glow stick spoons? I am waiting to be convinced they make a difference.

I haven't added more lures in recent 3 years. Northland lures work for me. Spoon, blade, darter, jig head all work. I like light spoon on a light rod, darter on medium rod. Shiver minnow by moonshine lure has the long lasting glow, and they are heavy and ideal for burbot.

[gman51]

100% toonfisher i haven’t bought any new and or improved lures or rods in a long time.I actually find it amazing the hype and demand That people get from the celebrities on social media advertising the latest get it now lures,rods,reels, when most average set ups that’s been working for many years are working just fine. I definitely get the hype... but I personally think the electronics part of it is a better investment than any new rod, reel, or lure.

[Hamsteak5000]

Lovely walleye, Toonfisher!

Went out yesterday and had a great time, although why I decided to lug all of my gear I'm not sure. Thought my heart was gonna explode after lugging it back uphill; better to travel light! Mid-morning action was good, died down around noon, then really picked up again late afternoon. As soon as the sun went down the action was crazy. Caught a decent amount of perch and kept a few good eaters. Followed some advice I received on here and the south end is definitely producing bigger fish! Will be checking it out again. Beauty of a day.

[Hatandboots]

Seems like that mid morning bite is always the best. Can confirm that everything dies down around noon, everything but pike that is.

Anyone catching big Mama Pike? I've only seen some skinny ones so far.

[ToonFisher]

Pulling the sled back up the slope my car was really a labor, especially when I parked at the easter end of the central causeway.

Digital flasher is much healthier to my eyes. I have left the Marcum LX5 analog flasher as my backup.

By the way, Christmas Day 2011 was the day I landed my first perch on ice near the sunken Evan's Road. Blackstrap has been fun.

[sparksNfishing]

Been on strap once this year so far. Had exceptional fishing all day at the north east end, even through the noon hours. Found lots around 8-10" and caught two 12's. Seems pretty even compared to the last few years. Only difference is the depth of finding perch. I try not to fish more then 20' because i want my releases to survive. I find them in 6', all the way to 17'. Even at 17' the 3"ers release poorly. I think last year i was catching 13's in 6-8'. Don't be fooled by the, "you must fish 23' to find them". They are everywhere.

Walleye on the other hand are no where to be found for me. Caught one dink two years ago.

[speckspotter]

I can't offer much advice about Blackstrap walleye. What success I have had has been at either first light or last. It seems that early season it is possible to pick up the odd one during daytime. Maybe all the perch are just too distracting. We have had a rare day when we caught numbers of walleye with the sun well above the horizon, but it has never been something we could replicate with any consistency.

Maybe Rip could share his secrets, but I suspect his lips are sealed as tightly as those big walleye's.

Good thing, too.

[gman51]

most definitely a early and late bite at the strap in winter. no secrets to hide there other than putting yourself in known areas at those times. but they can be caught mid day as well. i would add that i see a lot of people coming late in the am or leaving to early in the afternoon to really experience any kind of consistent walleye bite. setting up catching a 100 perch hoping for some walleyes is not a good strategy for pursuing walleyes.. jmo
 

[speckspotter]

True enough Rip. One could make the analogy of gopher shooting versus big game hunting. Do you want lots of action, or the big score?
Both are fun and challenging in their own way.

 Mind you, perch taste way better than gophers.

[ToonFisher]

The walleye bite in the morning usually lasts much longer than sunset bite. Mid-day, setup in deeper perch area can also get them. I'd let the lure sit still for 3 to 5 seconds between jigging.

[small-town-fisher]

Good afternoon guys curious on how the ice thickness is out on strap. Thanks

[Churchill River]

I was out Monday and it was a little over 11 inches.  By the weekend (5 more cold nights), I would imagine we are going to have close to 13 inches, and we should see people driving on if they brave the cold.

[small-town-fisher]

Sounds good ron I'm hoping to take my permy out to the south end at xmas time.

[Churchill River]

There was 13 inches at Evans Road today

[Churchill River]

5 trucks on the ice at the North End this morning.  Should be good to go all over now.

[Hatandboots]

5 trucks on the ice at the North End this morning.  Should be good to go all over now.

Stellar! I still won't drive where others haven't yet but at least now I don't need to lug my sled up and down the hill.

[speckspotter]

Nice to be able to drive on and set up shelter. Pretty cool to see this one take the Slabgrabber on camera.

[gman51]

Nice one speck. Don’t get much bigger than that.

[ran7ger]

Wow, beauty! 

[GooseHunter1]

A great Jumbo!

[Churchill River]

Hey, Speck, a once a year jumbo, nice going........just wondering, did you catch it out of my hole?

[speckspotter]

Heavens No Church!

My hole was at least three meters away from yours.

Honestly. 

[sparksNfishing]

Nice to be able to drive on and set up shelter. Pretty cool to see this one take the Slabgrabber on camera.

Now that's a perch! Great catch. What was the bite like, soft or did it smack it good?