Thanks ran7ger, it was a good month in the end.
Hi all,
Here are my reports for the month of March 2020.
March is upon us, delivering the usual signs of spring.
On the first weekend of March (7th and 8th) my family and I seen horned larks, (they had arrived in late Feb.), and, to our surprise, were sightings of crows, Canada geese and even sandhill cranes.
Looking forward to more signs of spring in the next few weeks.
March 9th.I'm back at Fishing Lake to check on the action.
I set up where I fished the last time in Feb.
There was not a soul around. No ice augers drilling, no snow machines revving , nothing, just the quiet sounds of nature. It felt like I had the whole lake to myself.
It was a sunny afternoon with the temp at - 6 deg C / 21 deg F and some wind from the W with periods of calm.
I fished from 1:25 pm - 5:30 pm.
I think the fish were as relaxed as I was. I didn't see anything on camera despite moving 5 times on foot, from deep to shallow, and everywhere in between. I though the Super Worm full moon would get them going for sure, but, I didn't see much difference. Perhaps it would be more influential at night.
I was not skunked. I finally ice a pike at 2:30 pm.
After a quick photo it went back.
Hopefully the rest of March has a bit more action.
March 21st.Wow, what a difference a few days makes.
On my last report we were hearing about COVID-19 on the world news, now it's here in SK. too.
These are indeed troubling and uncertain times, but, together we will get through this with the health officials advice.
I have decided that self isolating and social distancing could = ice fishing, so, I set my sights on Fishing Lake in hopes of some ice fishing action.
En route I encounter some bison.
The first herd I came across appeared to be the females, with what I would guess would be last year's young.
Then I come across the big boys.
It must have been something to see massive herds of these large animals roaming the prairies with no boundaries or restrictions in days gone by. They just look like they possess some ancient knowledge when you look in those big round eyes.
When I arrive at the lake I find an area unto myself.
There were a few others anglers out with the same idea.
I set up, and fish from 2:20 pm - 7:00 pm.
The afternoon is sunny with a temp of - 8 deg C / 18 deg F. A SE wind keeps things feeling cold.
I had no action, until the sun began to sink lower in the sky at 5:30 pm, then, 13 walleye and 1 pike appear.
The walleye, for the most part, came in, swam up to and past the lures, and, kept on going. A couple circled and watched for a while before leaving. 2 others come in, hit the front of the spoon I was jigging, ignoring the frozen minnow on the hook, and left, without being hooked. Some walleye came in 3 at a time.
The 1 pike that I saw was very active indeed. It first shot into view, out of the gloom, and chased away the walleye that were hanging around. It swam over to the jig, grabbing it above the leader, then, swam over to the camera and eyed it very closely. It went back to the jig, took another swipe at it, missed, and, did a fast circle around, attacking the camera. I could see it chewing on the lens. After that, it took one more whack at my jig and minnow, was hooked, and iced.
This is the perpetrator.
Lucky for it, I let it go after all that.
Shortly after that, I had a hit on my set rod. The fish, (more than likely a pike), bit through the sting'r rig line attached to the jig head and was gone.
That would be it for the action.
On the way off the lake, I snap this photo of the large pike (Pikezilla) that sits at the park's entrance.
The background lent itself to appear, at least to me, as though the big pike was jumping out of water (the blue cloud layer) against the setting sun backdrop.
March 23rd.I am back to Fishing Lake for the afternoon.
On today's trip back, this snowy owl awaits, atop a power pole.
These white birds are just vacationers here in SK., soon they will be returning to northern Canada to raise their young.
Robins were spotted here and there along the roadsides. Spring is in the air.
There is 1 other angler already out enjoying a day of fishing when I get there.
They ice a pike just as I am setting up, but, that's the only fish I see them catch.
The weather is sunny at first and clouding over at the end.
The temp is + 1 deg C / 34 deg F, with a fair wind from the E.
The wind lent itself to a kiteboarder, who whisked by with a greeting.
I have see kiteboarders on Last Mountain lake in the past, but, this was a first for me on Fishing Lake.
It was interesting to watch him manipulate the kite into the wind. He was covering a lot of ice in a very short time
.
Several flocks of Canada geese were sharing the skies with the kiteboarder. Hopefully the two didn't meet.
On camera I could see the water was alive with food for the fish. Large schools of freshwater shrimp, (scuds), were visible as far as I could see in any direction. There were small schools of shiner minnows for an added snack.
All that food may explain, to some degree, why the fish were reluctant to bite this winter. They were just full and content.
The only fish that would bite were the really aggressive ones. Just a thought.
At 2:53 pm my set rod registers a hit and I walk over and ice my first fish of the day, this pike.
It would be the only one iced.
I release it after the photo.
There are fish down there - I can see them on camera. I seen 2 walleye that come together, both swim up to, and slowly circle the lure, before casually moving on.
I seen 4 pike. 1 was distinctly larger than average.
I saw the same big fish 3 separate times that afternoon. I could tell, by the distinct marking on her sides and fins. She swam with a purpose, checking out the offerings I showed her. All were rejected, but for 1, which she nipped toward lightly. I had a large frozen bait on my set rod that really caught her attention at last. Through the murky water, I could just see a shadow come in, hit and leave - she took the bait. I though she had it good, the rod bent forward, but, alas, she spat it out before I could get to the set rod. After that, she cautiously stalked the lures, right to the end, but made no more attempts at biting. Her presence kept the other fish at bay. None dared to go through that area after she showed up.
As I am packing up, I could still see her cruising past the underwater camera.
She won this time, but,
"I'll be back".
March 29th.This would be my last ice fishing trip of the season, and, as it turned out, it would be an interesting one.
I spent my last ice fishing day at the same place on Fishing Lake.
Today, en route to the lake, I spot a majestic adult bald eagle, soaring gracefully across the road ahead of me. I've heard that bald eagle sightings can bring you good luck, so I was hoping I might have a good fishing day.
At the lake there are a few seagulls announcing their arrival too.
There were 8 other vehicles in the general area, all a good distance apart. I tried to position myself so that I was not crowding anyone either.
The weather was a mix of sun and cloud, with +2 deg C / 36 deg F temps.
A strong wind, (over 30km /h or 18 miles/h), from the SE whistled across the ice.
I set up and ice fish from 2:30 pm - 5:15 pm.
As I finished setting up, I had no idea just how interesting my day was about to become.
While watching for fish on the underwater camera I heard someone approaching across the snow. I looked up to see a very pleasant, friendly chap that introduced himself and inquired about my day to which I replied in kind. Turns out, he was a man of the cloth, and, had come by offering his Sunday blessings. This was a first for me in this environment. I advised that would be fine, and, he went about his ritual of blessings with all the piety worthy of a church setting. When he was done, he again approached me with encouraging affirmations that he felt his divine assistance may provide the fish I was seeking, and, endow me with good health amid this COVID-19 pandemic. I also sincerely wished him good health as well, and, on that note, he departed.
I settle into my fishing routine, thinking over the conversation I had just shared, when, low and behold, within less than a 1/2 hour from the time the fishing area had been blessed, the man's predictions came true. The place where he had been standing, over one of my ice fishing holes, was where the set rod was bent forward, and I ice my first fish of the afternoon, this pike at 3:30 pm.
How about that!
It's released after the photo.
Later on, I am changing up an older frozen bait on the set rod, for a fresher one. As I begin to walk away, the set rod starts to bend. I walk over, feel for the fish, and set the hook. This exhibits an immediate reaction. The fish starts peeling out line, it feels like a good pike. The fight ensues for several long minutes, with the pike taking run, after run, after run. At one point I get the fish part way up the long hole, but, feeling trapped, it takes off again, stirring up ice chips and obliterating my view. It is still on and pulling hard. I try to get the fish up a 2nd time, but, since I can't see anything, the fish's lower jaw hooks on the bottom of the ice. When I feel extra resistance I slowly ease off and it becomes free again. Finally, after a long fought battle, I slide this pike up and out at 4:02 pm.
Pheww, success, and, by the way, as predicted...
I have finally iced that "lunker" I have been waiting for all season long.
She was a nice sized pike at 38.5"long x 20"thick.
She hit one of my home made predator / Y rigs.
After 2 photos, I remove the hook, and set her free.
By the time I get to the underwater camera all I see is a whirl of sediment blowing by as she sped off. I check just below the ice in all directions, just to be sure, but, she is long gone, to hopefully, spawn sometime this April.
Before I leave the lake for the season, there is a 3rd hit. It gets away, but added some last minute excitement, just to remind me that the fish will still be there when I get back in the new open water season. It was a better day than most had been this season, so I was grateful for that.
Over all, I am happy, and, shocked, on how my season came to an end this year - iceing my largest fish of the winter.
For me, it has been a finale to remember.
The season in general has been good. Even on slower days I was never skunked.
I would like to thank all of you for coming along with me this season, and hope that you are all safe and sound in the days to come.
Until we chat again, be safe and have fun.
Water Wolf out!