Linn County Pond

Went to a local pond, near my acreage in SE Linn county on Saturday, just to check the ice thickness. Other than a few spots near brush and rocks, the ice was a good 4″ thick. Adequate for my purposes-though I wouldn’t want it any thinner! As always, don’t take my word for it-make sure you very careful when venturing out!

I headed out yesterday afternoon (2-5pm, should have showed up at 4:30pm since I usually do best the last hour before sunset) and gave it go with some power-bait tipped rockers.

I had one chunky bass nosing around the jig for a few passes, but no takers-action was non-existent. I may get some waxies and try today with my son late in the afternoon, just before it gets dark.

I think these next couple of weeks may be the ones to get out and ice-fish in these parts. It was actively making ice when I was out (ice expansion moaning and holes freezing up fast), but these bitter cold temps are not forecast to last (looks like we will be returning to normal temps by tomorrow-then a “mild” artic blast for the weekend) and the days are noticeably longer, all factors which will hamper ice production.

Curious if anyone has dared to venture out on the borrow pit by highway 13?

With the McBride reports coming in, I’m thinking I may need to head over there sometime this week.

We tried it last evening, just before dark and couldn’t get anything started.

I tipped my marmooskas with some meat (waxies) and could only manage a glancing look or two from what appeared to be the same finicky bass from the day before.

It was nothing to pull up pie-sized bluegills from this pond back in December; usually in fairly short order. It was lots of fun for my boys. We put everything back, so I wonder if someone got in there and took home the mother lode? It was pretty good last year too, with predictable action at sunrise and sunset. The pattern seemed easy to lock-on.

Nevertheless, its good for the young ones to get skunked every now and then too. Its not everyday that the fishing is easy or even good. Despite the lack of action, I enjoyed the time with my middle son and he had fun telling me all about his day and asking lots of questions about the ice and ice fishing. Sometimes, its just about spending some quality time together!

As far as the ice fishing goes, if I manage to get out again this week, it will have to be someplace else since my little local pond seems devoid of fish for the time being…

Joe