Pike trip to Box Butte

[cbtrtbum]

Thanks a lot for the detailed info about Box Butte guys. Ive  been researching it here on the shanty for the past couple of months. After reading some of the intel i realized that i will likely have to take an initial scouting trip....You know, to make sure ive got it figured out before i bring my son up there.....    

[fishaholictaz]

Thanks a lot for the detailed info about Box Butte guys. Ive  been researching it here on the shanty for the past couple of months. After reading some of the intel i realized that i will likely have to take an initial scouting trip....You know, to make sure ive got it figured out before i bring my son up there.....    

HMMM good idea.... Moose you down to join? There are big kitties....

[MountainMan]

HMMM good idea.... Moose you down to join? There are big kitties....

Just remember, I said there are some big cats in there, but they are not common through the ice. Just an FYI...

[fishaholictaz]

SHHH! I am trying to talk him into it not out of it

[trogdor]

Just remember, I said there are some big cats in there, but they are not common through the ice. Just an FYI...

Sack Sr. would argue otherwise. I've seen pictures and they seemed pretty plentifull for at least one day   

[wyoming_man]

Thanks a bunch Wyoming_man. Let me know how you want me to take delivery of the little Burbot morsels.
I have to make a trip over to Laramie sometime in the near future. Hope your thinking about making the trip to Box Butte.
 

If you are in Laramie you can just stop by anytime.  I will try to get some more if you need them.  I was thinking about taking my oldest over there.  He likes ice fishing for a little while, but loses attention pretty quick.  A friend I fish with a bunch has a son about the same age and I bet he would go as well.  Could field a youth hockey team out there!  Let me know what the plans are!

[fishsmith]

They need to eat more smaller fish and hit the gym. There's a few, nothing to write home about yet.  Not trying to hi-jack your thread Mr. Fishsmith.

Mornin Doublehaul- I don't think of it as my thread-just a good place to x-change info. I take it you have fished Peck before.

My wife and I spent our hunting moon around there hunting birds and fishing for a month in late Oct 14 years ago.Talk about fun!

Welllllllll Off to crystal to float around like a frozen bobber!

[guthook1]

Nebraska Game and Parks now has GIS hydrographic maps on the internet.  Google Nebraska Lake Maps and when it comes up go to the district map.  Box Butte is in district 1.  You guys can fish for the pike....I'll take the gills.  You don't need to have big expensive sucker minnows to catch the northerns, they will beat the crap out of any size sucker you put down.  As for motels, there aren't any close by.  If you are up in that area give Whitney lake (northeast of Crawford) a try for walleye and crappie.
best fishes
jim

[slamber]

I went to college at the University of NE (Cornhuskers) and did alot of Northern fishin through the ice while there. Mainly in eastern NE but we went further west every winter also. Never did try Box Butte though. My favorite technique for big Northerns was jigging. I'd put the tipups out around me and sit in the middle. I would cut a large smelt in half and thread the tail section onto a big (1/2 oz or so) leadhead jig. Use a stout rod cuz they hit it like a freight train. I consistently out fished my tipups with the jigging rod and they were usually bigger fish. Helluva lot more fun as well. Only two things I miss about NE, the bird hunting and the fishing.

[fishsmith]

If you are in Laramie you can just stop by anytime.  I will try to get some more if you need them.  I was thinking about taking my oldest over there.  He likes ice fishing for a little while, but loses attention pretty quick.  A friend I fish with a bunch has a son about the same age and I bet he would go as well.  Could field a youth hockey team out there!  Let me know what the plans are!

Thanks Wyoming man I'll shoot you a PM a few days in advance Should have some info from the Alliance chamber of commerce soon on places to stay. I believe that will be our best bet. There is a Bed & Breakfast in Heminford but I'm not really a B&B kind of guy.

[wyoming_man]

Could always use wall tents.  I have one with a wood stove.  Weather can't be any worse then some of the storms I have been through elk hunting!

[fishaholictaz]

SLEEP IS FOR THE WEAK!!! At some point it may be worth looking into renting a rv... They aren't cheap but it would sure be nice to have a place close to the fish!

[mulebarnmax]

Here's what I know about box butte. Pike can usually be caught most all day long. On average day you might land 10 to 50.  Might want to bring some hot dogs, I've heard of them working well at times too.  Bluegill are fun to try to tease into biting. Water is VERY clear so a camera might be better than a vex. Vex will mark all the weeds and difficult to see fish sometimes.  Hunter's point is usually the hot spot but there are a couple humps off the boat ramp that produce sometimes. We usually hit that lake a half dozen times a year so might see you guys up there. I caught a 20.5 inch bass there a couple years ago but like all are saying, they are kind of rare through the ice. oh yeah, can be very windy at times too 

[MountainMan]

Thanks Wyoming man I'll shoot you a PM a few days in advance Should have some info from the Alliance chamber of commerce soon on places to stay. I believe that will be our best bet. There is a Bed & Breakfast in Heminford but I'm not really a B&B kind of guy.

FYI,
If you are going through Alliance there is a bait shop there where we use to get bait on our way up from Sidney (assume it's still there). Just found a business card for them in my desk the other day.
Hudson Ave. Bait Shop, (308)762-7464, 519 Hudson Ave, Alliance, NE, Irene & Bob Bladt.

Little place run out of their garage, good minnow selection.

Mulebarnmax isn't kidding about the wind. I was out there one day, only guy on the lake, and the wind was blowing so hard, the moment I set foot on the ice it began pushing me down wind. I put on a cheap set of cleats and managed to get some holes drilled. I had all my gear piled behind my auger when suddenly my rod holder took off down wind. Managed to catch up to it, but the wind pushed me and the rod holder another twenty yards down the ice before I could stop. Little while later I was standing between my two rods (ice cleats melted in and stuck firmly in the ice), looked up lake and could see something 200 yards away coming my way on the ice. As it gets closer I realize it is a large, dead bird. It blew right past me and continued toward the dam. Suddenly I get a bite on the rod to my left, I take a step, my cheap cleat comes off my right foot and blows down the fishfinder hole, I take another step toward the rod, my left cleat comes off and starts sliding down wind, I immediately start sliding, drop to my rear, grab my rod on the way by, set the hook, miss the fish, put the rod down to stop myself from sliding, rod starts outrunning me, so I pick up the rod, still blowing across the ice on my rear I catch up to my ice cleat and use it to stop myself. With the cleat in one hand, rod in the other, I carefully crawl back up wind, gather up my gear, what little dignity I had left and headed for the bank. Thank goodness no one was around to witness the spectacle. I was obviously pretty desperate to get some fishing in since my indoor track season had kept me off the ice all season long. I have another story that involves that lake, wind and the loss of a boat oar but that would be another novel I don't have time to write! Ah, the memories of Box Butte.....

[fishsmith]

Mountainman that is one of the funniest icefishing stories I've ever heard(or read).
Why not come on over when we go and re-live some old memories.

[wyohunter]

I would be very intersted in makeing a road trip just let me know when. I have a f150 with a crewcab so there is room for more passagers.
Wyohunter

[fishsmith]

I would be very intersted in makeing a road trip just let me know when. I have a f150 with a crewcab so there is room for more passagers.
Wyohunter

Good deal Wyohunter! If we get enough guys,we can surround the lake and catch them all!!!!!!!!!

Btw where did you catch that toad in your picture?

[wyohunter]

He came from a road trip with Cargo to Fort Peck.

[fishsmith]

I kind of figured. Did you guys stay at Hell Crick or the North side?

[trogdor]

Mountainman's story gave me flashbacks of Hattie. 

[wyohunter]

We camped on the ice around devils creek on the west end of the lake.

[trogdor]

Best story I heard was of a portable house getting blown away with someone in it.