What should you do when you have winter storm warnings and 100% chance of snow….and the day off? With the cold temps making ice finally safe to get out on, I have to go fishing. So, I guess this is our early ice….. Normally mid-winter ice by now. With the storm hitting at sun-up, I expected the morning bite would be the only chance to land fish. Once the front settled in it would get tuff. With that in mind I set out, flurries already falling from the dark sky.
I arrived just as light started to break. 2 guys very near the first spot I wanted to hit. I decided to try it anyway. I wasn’t sure how the ice was. I got out and found the ice to be fine. I would find the ice to be a mix of 4-6″. I used my H2o to find my spot and settled in. I marked a few fish off the bottom. I was using a Custom Jigs &Spins Gill Pill tipped with plastic. I caught a couple dink gills that hesitated to bite. Then, an aggressive red mark shot in as I was lowering my offering. The red mark hit my jig and my Quiverstick sent a shockwave to my hand. I set the hook and landed my first keeper crappie of the day. More time passed and it was obvious that this was not the time to fish this spot. It would be a better spot later this season. I decided to move to a different spot with wood.
The snow was coming down pretty good by this time and I had the feeling of time slipping away quickly. I fired up the gps again and trudged out to the next spot. I popped 4 holes in the area and setup on one. I could see fish on the Marcum hanging by the branches of the tree. I dropped down and a red mark moved up at it. I stopped the jig and just pumped it slowly breathing life into the plastic body. The fish killed it. I fought the fish to the hole and was greeted with some big paper lips. I grabbed it and hauled it up. A nice 14+ inch white crappie. With more marks waiting, I got my bait back down. I caught a couple more crappies then hooked into something bigger. At first I thought just a bass…. but it had a familiar pump that made me think Walleye. It wasn’t long before I saw the white tip on the tail. I had the fish right under the ice now. As most of you know, this is where you can lose them pretty easy. All went well though. The fish turned and came up the hole. I got a finger under the gill cover and lifted the fat 17″ eye. Icing on the cake. I managed to get a few more fish…. but it was pretty much over in an hour. The bite at the next spot I tried was negative. I released most of the crappie I caught, just keeping a few for a meal.
As I was walking off a guy from channel 9 news asked me about the ice conditions. I hate being on TV…but he talked me into it. I don’t like drawing attention to the lakes I fish with all the pressure things get tough quickly. The story would go on with or without me. At least I can finally fish near home….ice season is finally here!
Oh, GEEEEEEZZZZZZZZ…..
Very nice and way to go keeping the “others” out of ouy back yard!
