Author Topic: Why you should always enter the CTO ice fishing tourney (Read 1973 times)

Trooper Bri · « **on:** Mar 03, 2013, 05:37 PM »

Cause ya' never know what's waiting when the flag pops.

Met up with Spanker, his brother Bob, and Kapt at Winchester this morning. Got to the ramp at 6:15 to find only a handful of vehicles. No crowds is good.
Plenty of cold temps and evil winds, with some decent snow coming down to fool you into thinking it's Feb 3'rd.
We motored the quads up to one of our usual haunts and set up. I got a few large shiners down and had to take a break. The wind and cold was evil, and my hands were shot. Thought I was being a wimp, but the other guys had frozen hands too. Was preparing to drop a couple dead baits down when I got a flag. Typical 2lb largie.

Had a flag near the shack. Don't remember if it was a reset from a chew & screw or me moving to a new hole. Not a minute goes by and it went up. Figured it was a bait flag since it was a monster shiner, but it was turning at that casual pace that usually means one thing. Bass. He took a few runs here and there before settling down and coming to the hole. My new PB by 1/2lb! 6.5lbs on the Boga and taped at 21 3/4". My previous best was the same length but 6lbs, also from Winchester. Had I entered the tourney this year I'd be in 1'st. D'oh... Oh well. Felt good to see that fatty come through the hole.

The rest of the day was real quiet. Spanker managed a clone 2lb'er, Bob got a small bass or two on tipups, nailed a bunch of fish jigging, and Kapt saved himself with a perch. Had plenty of laughs, a couple pops, and the breakfast shack was in effect. By noon more folks had wandered out. Not as busy as expected.
Don't remember who said it was over and it should just melt, but it isn't over. Didn't feel like it either. Measured 17 inches or so. And that's in the place where the lake ices out first (don't have to eat my boots!). So, the fat lady has at least one more weekend in her, and who knows after that. Fingers crossed!

Proof of ice. 17.5" on my high quality Chinese ladle.

Spanker's bass on his "Deadstick Down" technique.

My snow blasted tipup. Live sucker run into the stumps. Got my leader back. Yay!

And more proof it isn't over quite yet.

gadabout · « **Reply #1 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 05:53 PM »

Friggin awesome Bri!!!! That's a pig.

spanky1 · « **Reply #2 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 06:19 PM »

Quote from: gadabout on Mar 03, 2013, 05:53 PM

Friggin awesome Bri!!!! That's a pig.

Yes it was! Great fish bud!

More weather than was forecast but hey, that's Windychester for you.

My brother Bob having waaaaay too much fun jigging in the wind and snow.

Hope to get out once more midweek before a business trip to Florida. You just never know how long this will last.

Congrats again on the PB Bri, awesome fish!!!!!!!

jss111678 · « **Reply #3 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 06:19 PM »

nice fish bri looks like i will get out one more time with ice like that up there

ESOX FIX · « **Reply #4 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 06:25 PM »

There was 19" this past Tuesday so I think you should eat those boots. Beautiful bass, them big girls really get active this time of the year. Gotta think shallow water for the pike when the big bass start bitten. Looks like January out there. Congrats on the pb.

linebreaker · « **Reply #5 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 06:28 PM »

Great report and way to stick to it in the wind and weather. Awesome Bass!

Trooper Bri · « **Reply #6 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 06:31 PM »

Like that 1'st pic Frank. Shows how much it was snowing today.

gadabout · « **Reply #7 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 06:35 PM »

Bri I fished unionville today and the sun was out for a while. Never saw a flake.

icechaser · « **Reply #8 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 08:10 PM »

I ALWAYS enter now! That's happened to me twice in the bass dept. there.-This late ice is where the big ones usually come up. Sweet largemouth!

NorthEastFisherman · « **Reply #9 on:** Mar 03, 2013, 09:19 PM »

And to think the ice was probably at its last week. Wow lots of ice up there. Too bad theres not much money left for gas. I'd like to get 1 or two more trips in before i offically call it quits. Great fish congrats!

Jessox80 · « **Reply #10 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 04:49 AM »

Sweet bass and pics Bri!

Tom G · « **Reply #11 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 05:16 AM »

Nice fishing and late winter pics.

bugchazer · « **Reply #12 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 07:15 AM »

nice fish bri, good for you.

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #13 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 07:20 AM »

Nice bass Bri.

thndrvlly · « **Reply #14 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 09:05 AM »

nice hog, thaaaaats rite, when that flag goes up you just never never know!! looks like a good time an plenty of ice, nice pics

mr tip up · « **Reply #15 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 02:34 PM »

nice bass bri congrats on the new pb

calicohunter · « **Reply #16 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 04:45 PM »

Nice catch Bri, that's the best bass I've seen this season!

Trooper Bri · « **Reply #17 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 05:43 PM »

Thanks guys! This blind squirrel feels better. Even got a thumbs-up from one of the bass gods on another site. Been a slow couple years, needed a good fish for a change.
Finally realized what's wrong with that pic too. That bass is missing all of it's 1'st dorsal fin. Never noticed that yesterday. Rare to catch a beat-up fish outta that place.

Even with the monsoon coming, we should be up there again Sunday. Right now it looks like 50 degrees and sunny. We'll be fishing in shorts and a Bermuda shirt.
The open water from the spillway is creeping closer to the launch, but not an issue yet. Didn't drill the southern end of the lake where the ice may be an inch or so thicker. There may be a 16-17'th weekend in her, but it may only be in and around 1'st cove.

lure loon · « **Reply #18 on:** Mar 04, 2013, 06:54 PM »

NICE !!! 9th inning victories are always the most fun . good luck this weekend .

JohnnyJigger · « **Reply #19 on:** Mar 05, 2013, 03:43 PM »

Again well done sir.

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #20 on:** Mar 05, 2013, 04:39 PM »

Bri, ping me as needed for ice updates there.

jammer icecube · « **Reply #21 on:** Mar 05, 2013, 06:01 PM »

Congrats on the pb bass, nice fish. I fished on 2" of scary crap for a couple hours after work in Danbury so it looks like ill be fishing up your way this weekend.

Trooper Bri · « **Reply #22 on:** Mar 05, 2013, 06:07 PM »

Thanks 66.
I know we'll be good to go this weekend, even with the weather coming.

lowaccord66 · « **Reply #23 on:** Mar 05, 2013, 06:12 PM »

Yeah you'll be ok, if anything any additional snow will help insulate the edges from the warming sun. I may end up fishing there Saturday as well, we'll see.

icechaser · « **Reply #24 on:** Mar 12, 2013, 02:46 PM »

My avatar pic. is the second time I caught a big fish; but didn't bother entering.-I make sure to now;and it looks like it's gonna pay off.-Here's the bass I was too dumb to enter-she completely swallowed my rig so she came home-and it was only my fifth; and last flag on a rainy first weekend sat. of march.

Trooper Bri · « **Reply #25 on:** Mar 12, 2013, 08:50 PM »

That's a fatty for sure. Been a real bassy season, what little there was.
We took all the pics and measurements, and then called the shop. I knew I forgot to sign up, but that's my own dumb fault. Got something just as good though.

A dumb rook like me just fishes for a hobby, so a big thanks to Kierran for the nod for my lunker!!!
Note to self: Take pics holding big fish that doesn't look like you were just at a funeral.

http://www.onthewater.com/forecasts/2013/03/connecticut-and-rhode-island-fishing-report-3-7-13/

camoatv · « **Reply #26 on:** Mar 13, 2013, 12:51 PM »

nice fish guys im gonna try to get out there tomorrow or friday morning i hope its safe for a quad

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Author Topic: Why you should always enter the CTO ice fishing tourney (Read 1973 times)

Trooper Bri

Trooper Bri

Trooper Bri

Trooper Bri

Trooper Bri