Rockport Feb 9, 2021

[dubob]

Five of us hit Rockport for some perch fishing.  We all arrived from different locations about 8 AM to 32*F, mostly cloudy skies, and calm winds.  Edges were solid with planks frozen into edge ice and no visible water gaps at the launch ramp.  Two snowmobiles and a Snowdog (mine) made the transition from shore to ice with nary an issue.

We all proceeded to the catching grounds and set up camp.  Water depths were 27 to 30 feet.  As soon as I turned on the Vexilar, the bottom 6 feet showed numerous marks showing within 4 feet of the bottom.  This is a good sign.  Dropped a Hali with a small ratfinkee tipped with 2 spikes and BAM - fish on.  A 9 3/4" perch on the deck and I'm on the board.   

Second drop and BAM - fish on; 10 3/4" perch on the deck.  Dang - this is going to be a good day.  I also had 2 doubles (2 poles; 2 fish); first of the year.  Fun stuff.   

I ended up with 16 total for the day and kept 5 perch over 8" for the ride back to my house and a perch dinner this weekend.  The rest of the group did as well or better.  I didn't get their totals, bit they were near 20 or over.  No trout were disturbed by anybody on this outing.

The catching tapered off around Noonish but a few were iced after that.  We called it a successful day at 2 PM and headed back to the ramp.  Edges were still in good shape and there were no issues getting off the ice.

The ice depth is close to being a foot thick and the surface had about 1/2" of snow covering about 98% of it.  My Snowdog pulled about 800 lbs of me, a buddy, and 4 sleds full of gear.  The track spun out a little on getting moving, but chugged right along after that.  I haven't studded the track yet, but think it will all but eliminate that after it is completed.

And now, here's the fish porn.   



   

[muskyon46]

That's some good eats Bob, Gotta love the doubles. Been a while since I've had one of those. Lets hope the temps get down and we get to keep fishing the hard deck till the end of march.