J in Cleveland wrote:
I was finally able to get out on the ice again. It had been about 14 years since I had ice fished but the Jones has been to much this winter so I had to get out there and feel that “tug”!
Myself and two other buddies headed out to a local inland lake Friday after work. I’d tell you the name but my buddy who took us there would not be ok with that. He’s a real secretive guy with his spots. There was only one other shantey on the whole lake!
We loaded up our gear onto a couple of sleds and headed up the hill to the lake. It was about 300 yards up a hill to get to the water and then about 1/4 mile across the lake to get to our spot. 9 inches of really good ice so no fear of falling through. The pull in was hard work and I started to remember you earn your fish when ice fishing!
We set up my buddies 8 man shantey, the heaters, drilled our holes and started fishing about 3:30. Using glo tungsten jig heads #6 tipped with live minnows, tail hooked. Freshly charged jig heads definitely out produced the non charged. My friend gave the other two of us a lesson on reading his Vexlar Sounder We caught a couple gills about 4:15. At about 5:15 the dinner bell went off and sounder filled with fish, the crappie arrived. From 5:15-8:15 we caught 26 keeper crappie and a yellow perch. Released a bunch that where less that 8”. The bite was still on but I knew it would be a treck getting out of there and home. (My kids have basketball and cheerleading on Saturday mornings.)
We packed up and headed out. I knew the end of the walk would be down hill and looked forward to that but the 1/4 mile across the lake was brutal!!!! We had gotten a couple inches of fresh snow on top of the 6” already on the lake. I think we had to stop 8 times to take a break. I was really worried the guy my age was going to have a heart attack!!
We made it. Best workout I’ve gotten in years. Does make me envious of those who can just snowmobile out to there spot. Ice fishing would be down right easy and comfortable that way! Was 65 in the shantey and could have bee 80 if we turned the heaters up. The freezing is only in the way in and the way out RJS.😉
I was finally able to get out on the ice again. I... (
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Good eating there J thanks for sharing 👍
Fredfish wrote:
Nice Job J. Great setup and beautiful fish! Many up here use quads to pull their sleds. They climb rough terrain better than snowmobiles, but are slower once on the lake. Great story, and thanks for the pictures.
I’ve done the Quad thing a couple times in years past and it worked great. The biggest problem with them is if you have to go a ways in the Deeper snow and it’s not already been groomed they can get high centered and stuck and a snowmobile should not. And like already stated, some places don’t allow either one, then it’s all about 2 Foot Power.😁 Either way, it’s always Cold
J in Cleveland wrote:
I was finally able to get out on the ice again. It had been about 14 years since I had ice fished but the Jones has been to much this winter so I had to get out there and feel that “tug”!
Myself and two other buddies headed out to a local inland lake Friday after work. I’d tell you the name but my buddy who took us there would not be ok with that. He’s a real secretive guy with his spots. There was only one other shantey on the whole lake!
We loaded up our gear onto a couple of sleds and headed up the hill to the lake. It was about 300 yards up a hill to get to the water and then about 1/4 mile across the lake to get to our spot. 9 inches of really good ice so no fear of falling through. The pull in was hard work and I started to remember you earn your fish when ice fishing!
We set up my buddies 8 man shantey, the heaters, drilled our holes and started fishing about 3:30. Using glo tungsten jig heads #6 tipped with live minnows, tail hooked. Freshly charged jig heads definitely out produced the non charged. My friend gave the other two of us a lesson on reading his Vexlar Sounder We caught a couple gills about 4:15. At about 5:15 the dinner bell went off and sounder filled with fish, the crappie arrived. From 5:15-8:15 we caught 26 keeper crappie and a yellow perch. Released a bunch that where less that 8”. The bite was still on but I knew it would be a treck getting out of there and home. (My kids have basketball and cheerleading on Saturday mornings.)
We packed up and headed out. I knew the end of the walk would be down hill and looked forward to that but the 1/4 mile across the lake was brutal!!!! We had gotten a couple inches of fresh snow on top of the 6” already on the lake. I think we had to stop 8 times to take a break. I was really worried the guy my age was going to have a heart attack!!
We made it. Best workout I’ve gotten in years. Does make me envious of those who can just snowmobile out to there spot. Ice fishing would be down right easy and comfortable that way! Was 65 in the shantey and could have bee 80 if we turned the heaters up. The freezing is only in the way in and the way out RJS.😉
I was finally able to get out on the ice again. I... (
show quote)
That was an awesome setup you guys had to fish in J. The trek in and out isn’t that bad when you consider the fun y’all had and the nice fish y’all caught.
Hack 🇺🇸🍺🍺
Nice haul! To cold for me
Thanks all for the encouragement. I’m hoping to hit the ice again this weekend. Much shorter walk in at this lake. Maybe 300 yards total. We haven’t had good ice around here much the past 10 years. I’m trying to take advantage while I can to stock the freezer. Fried up my whole summers catch on Halloween for friends and family.
Able Man
Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)
¡Nice catching, neighbor! Glad for your success!! I KNOW that I'm no longer "fit for duty"; after reading all about it...
Nice set up. I saw 2 gentleman setting out on the ice, fishing in Yakima, WA today. I didn’t know that particular lake even had fish. And I doubt the ice was very think near shore, but that didn’t stop them. Nice catch, that should make up for all the hard work getting there and getting up that early.
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