Saturday 1/31/09, Weeding Through Some Water

With Saturdays forecast looking like a spring day most people would enjoy, Mike C and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to hit some areas that have not seen a jig but looked good according to the maps we studied keeping us away from the crowds, sometimes these wild goose chases pay off and sometimes….well, we gathered some information

The first three areas were on pool 7 and landed us in 4-6fow. After drilling a series of holes with the Lazer Mag we found the cut we were looking for in the first 2 areas. There were a couple fish marked but no takers, the third spot looked very promising and even produced more targets on the MarCum but still no takers.
The trip on pool 7 had weeded out 2 spots that will be ignore but one that will definitely need another visit. By this time we had an easy 2 miles plus on the hoofs so it was time to work our way back to the trucks.

After a venture through the woods we made way to pool 8, the first spot was in 8fow with a sand/rocky bottom. After popping the first hole it was evident there was more flow than was expected. This area was only holding onto a few inches of ice. The spot produced some big marks just off bottom and the LX-5’s also revealed shad moving through the channel, this spot will also be visited again but with some heavier tackle and baits……the area had walleye’s written all over it

Being on the conservative side, we had at least 4.5 miles on the hoof arriving to spot 5, and the day was drawing to an end. After setting up in 17-22fow (an area we have fished before) it was a good feeling to see the MarCum’s producing targets at 14 feet as soon as they were fired up What a relief to see good numbers of fish after the long hike and drilling numbers of holes…..a little over a half tank of gas went through the Lazer Mag. For those of you who run the StrikeMaster that should give you an idea of the holes we punched checking out new waters.

Spot 5 produced action and made for a great ending to the day. Mike landed on some gills and with a little sorting was able to take 10 7.5-8 inch gills home. I kept targeting the crappies and caught a number of 8-9 inch fish but kept 4 10 inchers and one at 13 inches.
A Silver/Green Slender Spoon and Pink/White Demon jig (both from Custom Jigs N Spins) tipped with a minnow head produced fish.
The one jig that produced the keepers however was a Teeny Weeny???? I will get a picture of it up tonight. It looks like a blade bait but is on the extreme small side and has only one small treble hanging from the center of the bait.

After walking off the ice we sat down by the trucks and enjoyed a barley rewinding the day in are heads while letting the shakes leave from are legs
It is always fun checking out areas that are not being fished because of the work it takes to get there. Some of are favorite spots are because of days chasing after what looks good. This day’s meanderings didn’t produce as well as we were hoping but it did weed out some water. The day did however produce some always enjoyed camaraderie with a great friend, some awesome exercise and scenery all while staying away form the good weather crowds.

Get out and enjoy the wild people, good luck fishing

Nice Bret!!

And sweeeeeeet sweatshirt!!! I KNOW I WOULD HOOK BIGGER FISH WITH AN InDepth Sweatshirt!!

Way to put the miles on Bret and Mike. Nice pic!

One thing I have learned is that when Bret asks “hey should we try a new area” the first thing I should ask is “hey did you get an ATV?” That was a workout – One of us needs to buy an ATV. I sure want to go back there with my boat but not the woods part

I found the crappies hitting
a green Lil Cecil with a minnow head on. The gills were hot on a jig that I have no idea of what it’s name is. It’s a silver metal body that hangs horizontal with some black & green stripes on sort of like perch coloring and on the head end a plastic looking flat piece in green color. The sad part is I have no idea of it’s name, who makes it and can’t remembeer where I bought it.

It was an exceptional day on the ice though exploring new territory and enjoying almost spring like weather. And the aerobic benefits

sounds like a good day guys cept the hiking part
btw i have a 4-wheeler and love to ice fish

I have reached the point where the atv is as important as the hooks on the jigs. I don’t leave home with out it.

Here is a picture of the bait that I mentioned above. I am glad that it has been added to my arsenal. I’m sure there are plenty of guy’s on this site that actually know the bait by name and maker but all I remember is, the card it was stapled too said….Teeny Weeny If my memory is right….Mr. Jeff Jensen had such a bait last year on a visit to the La Crosse area.

Tipped with a small minnow head this blade style bait has iced some nice crappies during these funky weather patterns.

This bait was found at a local bait shop along the river…..gotta love river side bait shops

I have a couple of those little baits (I got sucked in at a bait shop that was closing out in central Iowa about 10 years ago)- I even tried one yesterday – but I didn’t have any minnows. Do you think a waxie might work?

Although a long day on the legs, that sounds like it was a blast. Makes me wanna go out now.

The name slips my mind now, but they were a pretty popular jig a few years back down around the PDC area. The Bridgeport gas station sold them and I’m sure Jeff has picked up a few jigs there before.

I believe they were designed by Mert Wolf and Dave Koonce amongst some others can set me in the corner if I’m incorrect. They were available in an array of colors. Best I ever did was on a yellow pattern fished baitless up at Stoddard a few years back. I do carry a purple variation with me now as purple has been my go to color this year. It hasn’t seen the water because I just can not take those Cecils off – another Wolf invention.