IceShanty.com's Ice Fishing Community
Alaska => Ice Fishing Alaska => Topic started by: Akhardwater on Nov 04, 2020, 09:42 AM
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Time to start thinking of dragging the shack out. The lake has been iced over since Saturday and with the temps the way they are I’m hoping to drag out the shack in another week or two depending on my schedule. I hope the three of you that still look at this forum had a good summer and I hope to see you on the ice.
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My dad's been watching the camera at the lodge pretty regularly.
He's hoping he can get there in a couple of weeks and take his snowmachine out to the cabin.
Hopefully the overflow is not to bad this year.
I've still got some lake trout lures to get made.
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Speaking of LL, does anyone know how thick the ice is yet out there?
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No clue, it’s gotta be on its way, though. Starting to see decent ice on some bigger bodies of water down here in Mat-Su. Haven’t been out, yet, with a spudder. Hoping to poke a few holes soon, though.
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I heard Glennallen is supposed to heat up to 37 today. I sure hope this sloppy weather doesn't bring overflow. I was really optimistic for an overflow free season with all the recent cold we have had. I sure hope this little warm spell doesn't ruin things out there.
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think one of the guides has gotten out a couple times maybe. looks like they have a decent amount of snow. hopefully the warm weather doesnt start melting it and create a mess out there this early in the year.
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Boy it sure has been quiet on here lately. Where is everybody?
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forums have fallen by the wayside. F***book is where its at. I am on a few other forums and its mostly just 10 guys or so now that talk on there. I might try and go up to the lake some time mid to late december. we shall see. Work has required us to work from home now so its a little eaiser to just take off early on a friday and head up.
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I wish there was 10 guys on here so we could talk back and forth. It’s pretty sad when you think about what this board used to be like. I messed my back up and have been on the couch for the last 3 weeks so I cant offer any reports other than that the lake looks beautiful on the webcam. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it out for New Years.
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I wish there was 10 guys on here so we could talk back and forth. It’s pretty sad when you think about what this board used to be like. I messed my back up and have been on the couch for the last 3 weeks so I cant offer any reports other than that the lake looks beautiful on the webcam. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it out for New Years.
Well that sucks! Sorry to here about the back. The lake is in the best condition I have seen in years. I found 12 to 16'' ice with only a few inches of snow on the lake. Shack hauled easily with no sign of overflow. Personally I don't get on here much anymore. Too busy working, being a Dad and fishing the later go hand in hand. Im sure Ill catch up with ya when your back on your feet ;)
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I wish there was 10 guys on here so we could talk back and forth. It’s pretty sad when you think about what this board used to be like. I messed my back up and have been on the couch for the last 3 weeks so I cant offer any reports other than that the lake looks beautiful on the webcam. Hopefully I’ll be able to make it out for New Years.
Hopefully you wont.
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I have not been on Ice shanty for a few years. I used to fish Louise a little more back in the day with AK Hardwater. I still make it up there a few times a year. I dont have a machine so I have been walking to Larson and a few other spots. The numbers of people on Larson bay has skyrocketed in the last few years and that is why I fish it less now. I did make it out there a few weeks ago. fishing was slow but I did catch a nice laker a little over 30 inches but super fat. I am thinking of heading up that way this weekend maybe. I will post if I do.
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My mom and dad are up there now.
They're not fishing though just hanging out at the cabin and bringing in a few supplies.
No reports other than they made it in fine all the way to blueberry cove.
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It’s good to see you on here again iced, that makes like 5 of us now. Louise defiantly isn’t what it used to be when we fished together. Patrick has pretty much destroyed most of the fishery and he is targeting spawning Lakers so we are loosing our big mature breeders. I’ll be up over Xmas and New Years so we should try to catch up.
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I will try to go up for New Years. With Friday being the 1st I will drive up that day and stay Saturday, come back Sunday. I might take my son in-law with me. He has not caught a fish under the ice yet. He lost a few char a couple weeks ago one nice one. It would be nice to get him a big burbot or Laker.
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It’s good to see you on here again iced, that makes like 5 of us now. Louise defiantly isn’t what it used to be when we fished together. Patrick has pretty much destroyed most of the fishery and he is targeting spawning Lakers so we are loosing our big mature breeders. I’ll be up over Xmas and New Years so we should try to catch up.
you think he is keeping them? i know the other guide does not let his clients keep any of the lakers.
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I don’t think he is keeping them but i have seen his fish handling skills and a 2 year old does a better job at releasing fish. The big problem is when he fishes for them during the spawn. I read somewhere that the C&R mortality rate for spawning lake trout is something ridiculous like 80%. That’s why I don’t fish for them during the spawn. In that same study that I looked at it said that the lowest C&R mortality rate was during the winter when the fish aren’t stressed from the spawn or rising water temps. This is why I don’t understand why fish and game allows fishing during the spawn. If it was up to me there would be no fishing from august 15 to October 15, but what do I know I only use the resource and notice the severe decline in the catch rates.
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Pat isn't a bad guy. I know he doesn't keep the fish. He also doesn't target the spawning beds like another guide on the lake. With that said, I think all lake trout fishing should be closed during spawning like on Fielding Lake . Even if you aren't targeting fish on the beds fish move onto the spawning beds at night and off during the day to deeper water during the day. If caught even if it does survive there is no guarantee it will complete spawning. Lake trout are old slow growing fish. some spawn every other year and I saw a study where some only spawn every three years. If you catch a big hen that is spawning every three years and it misses the spawn you have now done six times the damage to the population than you think.
I am sure I am preaching to the choir here so I will stop there.
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I think a large group of us should start going to the Avisory Committee meetings that they talk about and plan on making a proposal for this in next years fishing regs. I for one think it's a great idea to shut down the laker fishing during the spawn. But if nobody does anything about it, it ain't going to happen.
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I could be talked into a couple Louise trips this year. Have Livescope, will travel.
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I don’t think he is keeping them but i have seen his fish handling skills and a 2 year old does a better job at releasing fish. The big problem is when he fishes for them during the spawn. I read somewhere that the C&R mortality rate for spawning lake trout is something ridiculous like 80%. That’s why I don’t fish for them during the spawn. In that same study that I looked at it said that the lowest C&R mortality rate was during the winter when the fish aren’t stressed from the spawn or rising water temps. This is why I don’t understand why fish and game allows fishing during the spawn. If it was up to me there would be no fishing from august 15 to October 15, but what do I know I only use the resource and notice the severe decline in the catch rates.
you sure its not your fishing skills dwindling :woot:
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the thing is that it is on the road system. anything on the road system will eventually start getting hit as people sprawl further out ( and as more guides start using the resource and spreading knowledge faster then this internet forum with 10 users on it) this forum is not the problem, if you want to blame the internet go blame facebook where there are thousands of people viewing reports daily. If more people fish it its fine but then adfg has to realize this and start regulating it as such. I have heard that one of the guides is trying to push for a 2 pout limit on louise. Is that to get more business for him? Maybe but who knows. I have heard he is working with FNG for fishing data/how he is doing and i feel this could give FNG a bias description on how the lake is really doing. If some one is fishing the lake every day they know where to fish to catch fish most of the time. That doesnt mean that the lake is full of trout or pout. I think FNG needs to complete more creel/fishing surveys out there to really see how well the majority of people are doing and not the lake pro. I believe it would give a much more honest depiction of how the lake is doing. i am all for no bait and closed down during the spawn. We can complain all we want on here but it wont go any where until someone has time to put together some research and start putting in proposals to FNG. It would probably help if the 2 lodges on the lake were also incorporated in the proposal since they probably have more pull then any single person would.
They close down areas for the rainbow spawn why wouldnt they do the same thing for lake trout, especially in a natural lake?
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Bye Bye TundraT. @)
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Bye Bye TundraT. @)
Thank you!
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Thanks Roy, now we can go back to normal conversation. So did anyone else have fun in all that ice fog last weekend? I heard a few people got lost but nothing to serious. I know in years past that fog can be deadly when it gets down around -20 and colder. I thank the fine folks who bought me a burger for towing their machine back to the lodge, it was much appreciated. I also thank the two fine gentleman who gave my truck a jump, hope you guys enjoyed your beers. I need a new battery cause this is the second weekend in a row I’ve had to get a jump. I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year.
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Thanks Roy, now we can go back to normal conversation. So did anyone else have fun in all that ice fog last weekend? I heard a few people got lost but nothing to serious. I know in years past that fog can be deadly when it gets down around -20 and colder. I thank the fine folks who bought me a burger for towing their machine back to the lodge, it was much appreciated. I also thank the two fine gentleman who gave my truck a jump, hope you guys enjoyed your beers. I need a new battery cause this is the second weekend in a row I’ve had to get a jump. I hope everyone had a safe and happy new year.
I know my mom and dad said it was pretty bad.
Dad said he vould only see 1 trail marker at a time. Turned off trail to the cabin and wasn't sure if he was headed on the right direction until my mom spotted the neighbors cabin and they got to theirs safely.
Good to hear you helped someone and someone helped you out.
Very important in a place like that!
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I always stop. You have to stop cause in a bad situation you can actually save someone’s life. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come up on someone who actually needs help and been able to assist. It’s also a good way to meet some really nice people.
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we started carrying gps all the time out there. I have gotten lost just at night because i didnt want to take the long way following the trail and tried to cross country across the middle of the lake. My buddy has a much better sense of where he is in the dark some how...me not so much. GPS on the phone helps out alot and actually shows the lake unlike my hand held. I wish navionics or some other brand would create a chip for up here. The lake mapping all throughout alaska is pretty crappy compared to the lower 48 maps. I am not sure if you guys saw it or not but adfg did actually complete some real hydrographic surveying on louise. much nicer lake map to look at.
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I might be too old school, but I always carry a GPS, map and a compass. It doesn't happen very often, but every now and again it gets too cold and my GPS doesn't work properly. There is no substitute for a good old fashion map and compass if you ask me.
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I decided that with it being New Years Weekend I would wait for the holiday traffic to slow down at the lake. I hope to go the 16th but I will probably hold off if it is really cold. I am a wimp in my old age I guess. I remember being out there on the lake in fog thinking I was following the shore of Lake Louise on my way to Susitna. When I made it out of the fog somehow I was on the other side of Cliff Bay . I thought I could see trees on my left the whole may.
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I decided that with it being New Years Weekend I would wait for the holiday traffic to slow down at the lake. I hope to go the 16th but I will probably hold off if it is really cold. I am a wimp in my old age I guess. I remember being out there on the lake in fog thinking I was following the shore of Lake Louise on my way to Susitna. When I made it out of the fog somehow I was on the other side of Cliff Bay . I thought I could see trees on my left the whole may.
I’ve got an awesome sequence photo of you getting completely enveloped by a fog bank less than 100 yards away from me. One minute you were there, the next you were gone.
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Hello all!
Recently moved back to the state and living in wasilla. I have herd great things about lake Louise and am anxious to try it out. I'm just trying to see what depth the big ones are normally at but I'm sure it varies day day. I have everything I need except some lake knowledge..
thank you so much! Also how is it getting out to the hardwater? I currently have a 6 wheeler but I don't want to be terring up the snow trails either so I got a buddy I can borrow a snow machine from if need be.
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Hello all!
Recently moved back to the state and living in wasilla. I have herd great things about lake Louise and am anxious to try it out. I'm just trying to see what depth the big ones are normally at but I'm sure it varies day day. I have everything I need except some lake knowledge..
thank you so much! Also how is it getting out to the hardwater? I currently have a 6 wheeler but I don't want to be terring up the snow trails either so I got a buddy I can borrow a snow machine from if need be.
Thanks for asking Alcanzach. Yes, please don't bring the 6 wheeler, it will tear up the trails that people work hard to groom and it can actually be a severe hazard to the many users out there. In particular guys who are hauling out supplies to their cabins. Lakers can be found at various depths. I have personally caught them in 10-60 feet of water but I generally like to stick to 30-40 feet of water most of the time. It all depends on where the baitfish are located. If you can find where the baitfish are at, then you will find the lake trout. The trouble is trying to find the baitfish. If you find the secret please let all the rest of us know LOL. It's like finding the secret long lost treasure. Sometimes I get lucky and stumble on to them, and then I will go back out there and fish in the exact same spot and there will be nothing. It's like trying to predict caribou migration patterns. You might know where they are today, but good luck figuring out where they will be tomorrow.
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I’ve got an awesome sequence photo of you getting completely enveloped by a fog bank less than 100 yards away from me. One minute you were there, the next you were gone.
That's sweet. you should post it here.
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Yeah I can’t post pics. I’m not smart enough to figure out this whole internet thing. That and I don’t want tundraT to know who I am, I think he has a crush on me for some reason.
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Yeah I can’t post pics. I’m not smart enough to figure out this whole internet thing. That and I don’t want tundraT to know who I am, I think he has a crush on me for some reason.
:clap: :thumbsup:
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Yeah I can’t post pics. I’m not smart enough to figure out this whole internet thing. That and I don’t want tundraT to know who I am, I think he has a crush on me for some reason.
that is one of the problems with this old forum. it is not user friendly. I don't think I still have a photo bucket to post photos on here. It also took me along time to figure out how to post a quote. I guess the tape talk app might help with those but I don't know.
I was going to make Tundra jokes, like I heard you like the smell of the tundra in morning or you like the old two stokes but I will refrain from those.
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This site doesn't support Tapatalk.
I mostly use this forum from my phone.
Makes it fairly simple to upload pictures as they are on my phone anyway.
Like these lake Louise "Partycrasher" blade baits I've been working on!
3/4 oz, 1oz, 1-1/4oz, 1-1/2 oz sizes.
All powder painted.
I did get the 3d eyes in and a clear lacquer topcoat on.
I went with a 3/0 Gamakatsu big river bait hook to keep with the single hook rule.
(https://i.postimg.cc/XXJ0Chg8/IMG-20201229-212535-5.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/XXJ0Chg8)
(https://i.postimg.cc/WDnQD6FC/IMG-20201229-212519-0.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WDnQD6FC)
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Thanks Jack for that info ill probky try to make it out in a week or so to give it a go!
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So thinking of trying to make it out Sunday but only concern I have is I don't have access to a snowmachine. If I just use my 6 wheeler only on lake and not trails will this do ok? Don't plan to do to much driving around as new to fishing it.
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So thinking of trying to make it out Sunday but only concern I have is I don't have access to a snowmachine. If I just use my 6 wheeler only on lake and not trails will this do ok? Don't plan to do to much driving around as new to fishing it.
If you do, just stay off the trails. You might get by okay right now because there is so little snow this year. But again I would stay off the trails. Especially the groomed trails.
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Yeah I have no plans to go on trails just park unload and straight to Lake. Thanks for the info!
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Bushwack is talking about the groomed trails on the lake. Generally when wheeled vehicles go out on the lake they stay on the lake so when people ask to stay off the groomed trails they are talking about the trails on the lake.
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I wouldn’t recommend wheeled vehicles out there. There are drifts this year and they just had a bunch of wind so it might have gotten worse. There’s plenty of good fishing within easy walking distance of the boat launch if your not afraid to walk a little.
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headed up next friday night and staying through monday. Probably going to be camped up on the NE side of louise. 6 man eskimo and 2 black and white skidoo summits. stop on by if you want to bs.
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headed up next friday night and staying through monday. Probably going to be camped up on the NE side of louise. 6 man eskimo and 2 black and white skidoo summits. stop on by if you want to bs.
Hopefully your pop up doesn't get run over by a herd of caribou. LOL. There is like 50 billion caribou out there right now. Completely ridiculous. Wish I had a tag and the season was open. About ran em over a couple times going down the trails. Almost every lake and pond is full of them. I don't dare put out my wolf snares this year. I can almost guarantee I would snare a herd of caribou. FYI, if you want to bring a little lynx sausage with you to try out when you are out there, give me a call and stop by. I'd be happy to share some with you. Especially considering you gave me all that bait at the beginning of season. I owe you one.
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Looks like it should be nice and cool for you this weekend. I got next sat off so I’ll finally be able to get back up. I would imagine if there’s that many bou in the area there should be a few wolves around.
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Looks like it should be nice and cool for you this weekend. I got next sat off so I’ll finally be able to get back up. I would imagine if there’s that many bou in the area there should be a few wolves around.
It's crazy bro, I am not even joking. And yes you are right. Wolves are around and coyotes have been wandering the trails and following the herds picking off the gut piles the hunters left behind. I wish I could put out my wolf snares, but I know I will just catch a bunch of caribou. Last weekend when I went down I seriously could not probably go 20 feet in any direction and not see some caribou tracks. They are everywhere.
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we decided to go some where else to try to spear pike. have fished up there to many times when the high is around 0 and never do that well. It happens every time, highs in the mid teens a week out. then slowly fall down to the single digits or below 0.
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Anyone else enjoy that nice breeze and drifted in vehicles this morning.
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Anyone else enjoy that nice breeze and drifted in vehicles this morning.
Me, I did. It was lovely. LOL
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Your truck wasn’t near as bad as mine. Luckily it was soft so I just gunned it and busted right through. Sure are a lot of bou hanging out in my neck of the woods, it’s nice to see the big herds again.
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Hey guys, new to the forum, and lake Louise. Have fished it once in the summer with no luck. Planning on heading out there later this week with a buddy, possibly Thursday or so for an overnight trip. If y’all don’t mind telling me the condition the lakes in right now, that’d be much appreciated. As far as ice thickness, is my auger with no extension gonna penetrate through? Also any vague pointers on location to fish the lake would be great. Thanks in advance.
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There is a ton of snow right now so overflow will be a problem. I would bring the extension for your auger it’s pretty thick this year. I haven’t fished Louise in a number of years so I couldn’t begin to tell you where to go. Watch for caribou and try to give them a wide berth so as not to over stress them they are having a hard time getting around due to all the snow.
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Awesome, thanks for the update man.
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we always fish points and drop offs. generally 20'-40'
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I’ll be heading up Friday after work for a week so if anyone is up stop on down.
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hope you guys get into some action like last year. I would join ya but kotz is calling.
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That should be an awesome trip. What are the temps supposed to be up there, I’m looking at negative single digit lows for around here? It hit -40 last weekend so we defiantly have some cold still lingering around.
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seems to generally be around single digits the next week and a half. seems like they get a random 20 degree day once in a while. We are shipping up our 6 man eskimo for not if but when it decides to blow up there. buddy just saw a post that a family went out on the hotham inlet and pulled out 40 or so in a few hours, hope that type of fishing continues!
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Talked to a guide out on lake Louise yesterday. Chasing tales i believe is his guide service. Anyways, he gave me a few tips. Says the bourbot are hanging around the islands right now. Also says the Lakers are hanging around 8-35’. Wasn’t gonna pry him on spots, so I figure I’d at least ask what depth they’ve been catching em in. Anyways I’m pretty good/lucky on finding good structure lol.
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Talked to a guide out on lake Louise yesterday. Chasing tales i believe is his guide service. Anyways, he gave me a few tips. Says the bourbot are hanging around the islands right now. Also says the Lakers are hanging around 8-35’. Wasn’t gonna pry him on spots, so I figure I’d at least ask what depth they’ve been catching em in. Anyways I’m pretty good/lucky on finding good structure lol.
FYI, the guide you mentioned is not too popular on this forum site. Too each his own I guess. I got some friends who have fished with him and I am sure he is a nice enough guy, but there are lots of people who don't agree with some of his techniques and practices. I personally don't know him, so I am not going to be specific and bad mouth him, but from what I have heard I don't agree with some of the things he is doing or the negative influence he has had on the fishery out there. Don't be too surprised if you catch some flack for name dropping him on here. He has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. Just FYI.
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Oh gotcha. Yea, I’ve never heard of the guy before. Was given his number to get conditions on the lake.
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Kasilofchrisn I sent you a pm.
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Anyone have recent reports? Ice thickness?
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Anyone have recent reports? Ice thickness?
Was out in that neck of the woods last weekend. Plenty of ice still. 40+ inches. The most I've probably seen out there. Been using my extension for the past month. Fishing has been decent. No overflow where I was at, but I talked to a friend of mine on this site and he reported overflow where he was at. He'll probably chime in here later on.
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I didn’t need an extension but you do have to shovel all the way down to the ice and my auger was right at the limit. I’d bring an extension just in case. Prepare for a little overflow once you punch your hole, the snow is knee deep and that’s a lot of weight so just be ready for it to be a little soupy. There is patches of overflow out there so just watch out for the spider holes.
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I wish ADF&G would make an emergency order extending the use of bait for at least another 2 weeks out of Lake Louise and all the surrounding lakes in that area. With this cold weather and all this new snow at the end of the season, I would like to keep fishing for lake trout and we could probably still fish for lakers for another 2-3 weeks, but without bait it makes is pretty hard.
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I’ve never needed to use bait this time of year, everything is super aggressive and on the hunt. Truthfully I wish they would go to no bait altogether. It would defiantly cut down on the number of foul hookups and it would make tippups obsolete. Tippups in my opinion are the most destructive form of tackle. I wish they would make them illegal. Every fish I’ve ever seen caught on a tippup out there had the bait totally swallowed or the fish was already dead because some jerk left it in the water over night. Once again another classic example of ADFG not understanding the fish they are supposedly trying to manage. I’ve been running barbless hooks the past 4 years and it has made a huge difference on my release mortality rate and I encourage everyone to do that he same. Nothing says in the regs you can’t go above and beyond.
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I feel laker shamed by AKhardwater. LOL.
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Sorry man that was not my intention. Stop thinking about Lakers and start thinking about halibut. I know it’s a little early but has anyone heard of any hooligan running yet?
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Hello. New on the form but been fishing for a day or two. I don't expect to see much for hooligan around here (Wasilla) until the middle of May. While I got you I was wondering about whitefish at Lake Louise. If it there is enough to target once the ice is gone. Don't know why, just because I have never caught one I guess. Also heard they are good eating. Thanks Ron.
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Sorry man that was not my intention. Stop thinking about Lakers and start thinking about halibut. I know it’s a little early but has anyone heard of any hooligan running yet?
It's all good bro. You and I are practically brothers, so I used to taking crap from you. I was just making a joke anyway. One thing I appreciate from you is that you tell it like it is. No beating around the bush with AKhardwater. LOL