skim ice is forming...

[fishermantim]

I found some skin ice this weekend when I went fishing with my rookie nephew.
It put a damper on where I anted to fish, so I gave him some casting lessons using various lures.
I let him feel the weight of the lure when casting and the action it had on the retrieve, so next year he'll be better prepared.

Seeing the skim ice just makes me yearn for cold winter days with 6+ inches of clear ice!

Best part of the weekend fishing was having my nephew ask me if we were going to ice fish again this season (took him last season for his first time, and he loved it).

[lenz]

shallow swamps on way to work this am had a skim coat..slowly but surely
tick tock tick tock
burp

[Rangerboats391]

looks like we are one deep freeze away, hopefully the warm days don't mix in with the cold ones

[elevatorman]

Yes sir saw some small ponds skimming up . Where on our way fellas

[rdhammah]

my car's thermometer read outside temp at 69* today. my bait tank temp was 53* without the heater plugged in for last 2 days.

[lowaccord66]

Saw no skim Sunday in the berks..even in some of the early spots.  Used the boat. 

[capt.shay]

I've had to bring a throw weight with me to break ice checking my shiner traps for over a week now.  I could break it with the trap yesterday but I have had to really pound on it with the weight a couple morning.

[lowaccord66]

Sounds promising capt.  Hows the trapping  been?

[capt.shay]

Sounds promising capt.  Hows the trapping  been?

40 per trap per pull has been regular.  I finally found my honey hole for regular sized shiners.  I'm pulling them out for good today with full tanks.  I'm using regulation traps so no pike bait but I have had a bunch of 3" goldies in the trap so when it hardens up enough to walk on...............

[lowaccord66]

Gold is gold!  Sounds like 'eye candy to me!

[capt.shay]

Gold is gold!  Sounds like 'eye candy to me!

'Eye candy indeed, was a tough fall with high river conditions early but my bud got a nice 3-4 Lber yesterday with one of these.  Like I said, when I can walk on this pond I will be out there with micro jigs after some pike treats.

Great story: I call this new tapping spot "The Wild Kingdom" because every time I go down there there is some sort of wild life.  Today I went to pull my traps and when I got down there my hands were cold so I tucked them under my arms and was just kind of standing there staring at the skim ice when I hear the ice smash.  I look up to see a piece of ice flying through through the air and land, shattering on the ice.   I am wondering what the heck is going on.  Suddenly an otter pokes its head up through its new breathing hole.  Apparently what I had heard was the otter hitting the ice from underneath at ramming speed.  This sent a piece of ice flying up in the air.  A moment later another otter poked its head up. When they finally noticed me they dove back under the ice and I saw them exit the pond at the only open spot and head for the main body of water.

[lowaccord66]

Thats cool capt!  I could go ice fish now...but am taking the boat out to Monterey in a few....