Ice Fever

Buck fever is slowly subsiding. “He” still roams having successfully outwitted the worst of the best to date. With a couple of sunsets left to hunt with the big stick “he’s” still in danger of becoming a permanent fixture on the wall but eye’s are beginning to wonder back to the water. Open water that is. Last year we were gingerly tip toeing on ALMOST 2 inches of clear solid ice by Thanksgiving. Not the case this year. The number 3 is a magical number when it comes to river fishing & time. What will the next 3 weeks bring?

Long term forcast for Eau Claire is very promising. First ice for next weekend on small ponds and protected sleughs is a real possibilty for the brave and dumb (that would be me on both accounts) Actually these areas are all a few feet deep making the window for catching short and relatively safe even if you break through- something I have yet to do . All the more reason to get out on 2″ of ice and pi$$ pound. before all the riff raff show’s up and the fish leave