ICE REPORT 12/18/07

[A- bomb]

Okay here we go!
Started out at lake george this morning. After picking my way around i wound up out from the access in 10 ft of water.  Had to take the long way around. 4 inces frozen slush, 2 inches of water then 2.5 inches of good black ice!  First hole broke thru and it looked like a toilet flowing up!  in the spot to fish 12 inches of snow 2.5 of ice.....really spooky. banged 6 crappies pretty quick. then as i approached the holes it would pop and crack. about 4 inches of water standing around the holes... BE CAREFUL!!
Saw people at sprauges and North snow bay channels.

headed on a whim over to pleasant..(one on the border) and was pleasantly surprised. fished the east end.  Only 5-6 inches of snow on the ice and about 3 inches of solid black at the btm. drilled 20 holes trying to find a weed bed but never located. kept seeing the btm bounce on the vex and decided to drop down....wham a 9" perch!  wound up with 21 of them after about 2.5 hrs. Ice was  REALLY sloppy!!

left there and checked out chain o lakes state pk. Norman looked fishable but the narrows is not happening. its just frozen slush about 4 inches. made it out about 10 feet and  ker-splash. one boot in the drink.  some of the others like dock i didn't check. if you go to chain make sure you have 4x4 as only the main drive has been plowed. mine were the fisrst set of tracks in there.12 plus inches of snow and ice under it.
with wet foot shot over to north channel and found anywhere from 1.5 to 4 so be careful. to dark to venture out to far but did see other tracks.

all in all a great day
70.00 in gas
  8.00 in snacks
  2.00 in bait
1st day on the ice.....worth 100 x's that
21 perch, 6 crappies, and a wet foot!
weidner 21, perch were all 9-10 inches in 10 ft of water.

[weidner21]

Thanks for the report and glad to see u caught some fish...how big were the perch running?

[Piggyn]

Man, that's a lot of driving, but it sounds like you had a good day!

[A- bomb]

226 miles start to finish.   had a few buddies that are wanting to find ice this wk end but they have jobs so i decided to "help" them out!
all in all ice is in poor to moderate shape and as we all thought the snow  is not helping.
bring a buddy,bring a rope, wear waders and have at it!

[Piggyn]

That was so kind of you to donate your time for them.   

I need 4" of good ice to feel safe.  Just out of curiousity did you ever call any bait shops up in Houghton?

[A- bomb]

talked to one and said it was okay with 4-6 inches. they didn't sound to excited. if weather doesn't break  i'm making plans for 12 29- 12-31

think the ice i was on today might set up if the temps drop. lord knows i put enough water on it today 

[finfan]

Nate gave me the report this afternoon and we were both wishin' we were fishin' with ya!!!!

Too bad my fat as_   needs a bit more ice than that...

Few more weeks and hopefully I will be out there also.

[A- bomb]

Noth'in better than whacken'em and calling your desk jockeying buddy at wk to let him know it's on...i was having a hard time talking to him while setting the hook and  snickering..

[Fish_Tko]

A-bomb,

Did  you walk on the north snow channels or just see some guys out there?

[A- bomb]

just saw a couple guys out there. main lakes open and they were at the backs of channels.  don't know where to park there or i would have walked out.
also heard crane marsh locked up...not marsh lake, the DU project over the hill.

[Edge]

was anybody fishing crane marsh?

[A- bomb]

no just saw tracks. and heard from the bait shop guys... seriously there are fish in there?   

[taggedfish]

thanks for the report, wish it was better news. wonder if some of the smaller ponds  might  be  in better shape?

[A- bomb]

If you can find a smaller pond or chanel that was open to the wind you'll be better off.  but man where that snow laid its bad.  at george i went down the ramp down the channel and found a spot to cross, then up the other side  and poked my way out.  not alot of fun.  at pleasant i fished the main lake but it was open and the wind moved alot of snow to the south side.

[taggedfish]

i fished pleasant alot,had a camper there a couple of years but never fished the east end. was it a consistant 3 in.?

[A- bomb]

3 might be a bit optimistic.....but it was cosistent and i went out to 10 ft about100-150yds... wore waders and had to walk thru 5 ft of open water (snow drift in 5 inches of water)  not sure about marina chanels or west end. goog black ice undre the snow..

[taggedfish]

thanks again for the report,sounds like we fish alot of the same water be careful out there!

[Fish_Tko]

heard they are fishing the jones channel, but its full of dinks.