Tip toeing on the ice

Huntindave McCann

Huntindave McCann

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You know it is a good start when your 1st Crappie measures 12 1/4 inches.
Fished for 2 1/2 hours and kept 8 fish, threw back 4 smaller ones.
Access to the ice will become an issue real soon. Already a bit of open water around the edges. The ice, once away from shore, is actually quite solid and 22 inches thick.



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Nice fishes!

So are the fish sluggish when the water is super cold? Do they fight well or are they just like an old boot you drag up?
 
Dani said:
Nice fishes!

So are the fish sluggish when the water is super cold? Do they fight well or are they just like an old boot you drag up?
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An old boot??????????????????? what are you inferring? [cool]

They fight quite well once hooked. They can be sluggish in taking a bait. Yes, they feed a lot less due to lower metabolism in the cold water. Right now the water is warming, from say around 39 degrees to 41-42 degrees and a couple degrees can be night and day in how quickly they will take a bait.

Getting back to the fight,,,,,,,,,, keep in mind we down size our tackle during the winter. The baits are smaller, the line test is lighter, the fishing pole is more limber. Using a limber pole and 2 lb, test line makes it uncertain if you will get the fish to hand. Yes it is the "tug" which is the main attraction, the eating is a side benefit. A good benefit for sure, yet I'd fish for the tug alone and release all, if the situation required it.
 
Like it Dave, Nice haul of quality fish for a couple hours!

Make sure you have the gopro running when you cross the edges in case there is a mishap.
 
I fondly remember laying 2x8's across the opening/rotten ice at the shoreline to access the good ice right before things got too dicey to ice fish any more. Last ice always seemed to be the best bite!
 
I was out yesterday afternoon with a buddy. Caught 22 crappies but nothing Id keep to eat later. They all went back.

I was a solid 30"'s plus. Landings are OK but with the recent ice storm and following slushy snow made getting on and of the ice a challenge. Purposely drove two trucks out in case one of us got stuck (most likely hime since he drives a Chevy and me a Ford). I had my Chevy tow strap with me so we were good to go.

We marked dozens of fish the whole time. The bite was very weak and without a spring bobber it would have been impossible to pull any through the hole.

Watched part of my reel fly through the air and hit a perfecty middle hole shot and sink 33 feet to the bottom of the lake. Bummer. I think yesterday was my last day out. Putting the stuff away later today or this weekend.

Mark
 
Carl.

I walked the plank with my Granddad many times back in the 60's. Never thought anything of it back then. He had a steel spud with a T handle he carried to check the ice as we went.

RVZ
 
Carl said:
I fondly remember laying 2x8's across the opening/rotten ice at the shoreline to access the good ice right before things got too dicey to ice fish any more. Last ice always seemed to be the best bite!
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This is common here. I saw a FB post locally a week or so ago on a day the air temps hit 60 after a rain storm, and they were out in kayaks, paddling across some very deep puddles to get from high spot to high spot where they could drill holes. Ice was plenty safe, but would have been miserable walking through the knee-deep puddles.
 
Dave,
Don't you love Tod's "deep concern" for your well-being by asking you to have the Go Pro on when you cross sketchy ice so that we can see and hopefully laugh at and with you?

Such love from your buddies!

Larry
 
Larry Eckart said:
Dave,
Don't you love Tod's "deep concern" for your well-being by asking you to have the Go Pro on when you cross sketchy ice so that we can see and hopefully laugh at and with you?

Such love from your buddies!

Larry
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My plan is to ignore him and hope he goes away. [ninja] ,,,, [whistle]

I may be done for the ice season. The ice is still OK but it was gusty windy today. Not fun sitting in a tent with a slick plastic base, when the thing wants to skate across the lake at 30mph. Yes I know, another golden moment for a GoPro. Next week is predicted to be mid 50's all week. That, along with the rising river water will take out the ice in no time flat.

I did end the season with a bag of 5 Crappie which included 2 at 12 inches. [smile]



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Larry Eckart said:
Dave,
Don't you love Tod's "deep concern" for your well-being by asking you to have the Go Pro on when you cross sketchy ice so that we can see and hopefully laugh at and with you?

Such love from your buddies!

Larry
Click to expand...

I was hoping he would make it out alive, otherwise there would be no video for us to watch - proof of my deep concern right there!
 
tod osier said:
Larry Eckart said:
Dave,
Don't you love Tod's "deep concern" for your well-being by asking you to have the Go Pro on when you cross sketchy ice so that we can see and hopefully laugh at and with you?

Such love from your buddies!

Larry
Click to expand...

I was hoping he would make it out alive, otherwise there would be no video for us to watch - proof of my deep concern right there!
Click to expand...

Tod,

Nice spin on that! LOL
 
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