First Outing of the Year (Central Illinois)

[ratsotail]

After two weeks of favorable weather and temps we decided to make our first maiden voyage; albeit cautiously. We headed out from St. Louis and drive north and east to Ramsey State park and found the conditions to be almost perfect. There was 3-5" of ice in the areas we fished, but we did not venture up past mid lake as drifting snow or currents kept the ice a bit thinner in that region. It snowed on and off throughout the day, keeping the skies cloudy and dark and laying just enough snow on the ice to make it easier to shuffle around. All in a ll a pretty good day with lots of medium Bluegill and Redear and a few Crappie, Bass, and one channel cat to boot. Here's a few pics:



Heads up that warmer weather in this region this week will likely make this lake a bit dicey to fish. As the temps rose yesterday (Sunday) you could tell it was having some effect on the ice. We caught most of our fish and waxies and jigs, buchshot spoons, and ratsotails and other plastics. It was great to get out!!

tight lines,

ratsotail

[lindenborn]

Looks like ya had a good trip!  Stay safe!
Lindy

[blufloyd]

2 years in a row, huh?  Was Cold Miner there?

[Fat Boy]

I think I saw that machine ya got there on American Pickers!!!!

OK, I admit, I still have one and it rocks.  Nice pics and catch there Jeff!  Your first pic reminds me of the many lessons that I learned from you on the ice...you are still the master!

Hey, the good ol' days using my version of your American Picker's item:

[ratsotail]

Oh that's funny Kevin! Sometimes I feel like I'm back in the stone-age using such old technology...but I'm alright with it financially since it still works great and I kinda' like the retro look . I hope you get a day to punch holes like we did recently, Kevin. The day reminded me of some of the days we'd have on Shepard Meyers Lake. What a gem of a lake that was.

tight lines old friend,

ratsotail

[ratsotail]

2 years in a row, huh?  Was Cold Miner there?

I guess we were the only ones crazy (I like to think wise) enough to attempt the early ice that day.  I'm not familiar with Cold Miner, does he fish this lake or region often?

tight lines

ratsotail

[blufloyd]

C_M fished the area a lot last year. I usually fish with him in Bloomington area but it was way late ice before he showed up here last year.  He was pounding red ear there I think.

[ratsotail]

C_M fished the area a lot last year. I usually fish with him in Bloomington area but it was way late ice before he showed up here last year.  He was pounding red ear there I think.

I hope to bump into the Cold Miner some day. I usually do not see that many people on the ice at this latitude.

ratsotail

[blufloyd]

He lives in North of Springfield.