Hey Guys
Haven't been posting much because I haven't gotten out...Only once prior to Derby weekend.
Fished Friday afternoon through noon on Sunday with my buddy Bob aka Finless. I met Bob through the Shanty several years ago. We used to fish together quite a bit but this past weekend was the first time in over a year.
Got up to Ajs around 1pm Friday and stocked up with smelt and then headed to the lake. I began drilling holes and Bob would clear the slush and drop salmon eggs. Within 10 mins of setting up I had my first fish on. Landed a 19" healthy female on a smelt just a couple feet under the ice.
About a half hour later Bob noticed some eggs had been cleaned out and caught this one in the act. No more action for the rest of the afternoon.
Saturday we were out early and set up just about 6am. Over 60 holes drilled and egged. Things started quick with 3 rainbows all before about 730am. Bob landed 2 about 18" and I had one about 19" The bite died shortly after.
Around 1pm I decided to mix it up and put my two lines out over deeper water. Put one smelt just under the ice and another about 4ft down. About a half hour later I got robbed with nothing but an empty hook by the time I got there. Reset the line and shortly after she came back...
I could tell by the way the rod was bent it was a decent fish... took my time and finally got a look at her... it was a good fish and possibly board worthy? After about 5 mins I had her up on the ice and she immediately began squirting eggs.... I had a similar issue with a fish a few years back that held 1st for awhile but lost alot of eggs and lost some weight... so this time I knew I had to do something, but I wasnt as prepared as I should have been.
Took a quick weight and measurement to make sure it would qualify. My digital scale is fairly accurate and read 4-0 to 4-1. Fish was 21" so I felt it was worth the drive. Made up a quick diaper with a rag and some duct tape to try to prevent losing any more eggs.
Got to the board around 3pm and did my best to unwrap the fish without losing any more eggs. Official measures ended up being 3.77lbs and 21" and was good for 3rd at that time but got bumped and held on for 5th by the end of the day.
Sunday was really cold and windy. We put in a hell of an effort but only managed one more bow about 19 and 3lbs which I knew wouldn't qualify based on this years quality of fish.
A good time with my Buddy and another derby in the books.
Notice the stomach... eggs left a trail in the snow from the scale to the board... looked like a deflated balloon after
