Thanks for all the well wishes. We are packed and ready to head to Gillette within the hour or so.
We hit the lake hard this weekend.
Friday, we planned on hitting one of my favorite spots for an evening walleye bite. We left home at 3:45 pm and the plan was to get all set up for the evening bite. Unfortunately the landing at the lake I wanted to fish had a nasty heave and my vehicle was no match. It’s now 4:00. I decided to head back towards home and try another lake. The lake I decided to try was new to me and being that it was getting close to the evening bite I really didn’t have time to punch a bunch of holes. Besides, the kids were getting antsy.
I drive on the lake and visually look for where I think the best spot would be based on shoreline etc. I drill a hole and now my auger is acting up as it took several minutes to drill a hole (dull blades?). I test the depth, 30 feet of water and I have no idea what’s around us for other depth. It’s now 4:25. I punched another hole and set up the portable.
We got everything set up and due to the days getting longer we got everything set for the evening bite. We caught 5 walleyes all between 21 and 24 inches! Who woulda thunk it? Pure dumb luck.
Went out to the same spot Saturday afternoon around noon. Auger was still a pain in the you know what but I managed to punch enough holes. Set up the portable in 18 feet of water. Set 3 tip ups from 30 feet to 10 feet. During the day the boys had a blast catching small perch and hammer handle pike. The evening bite didn’t end up as productive as the night before. Fish were on the vex but I couldn’t get them to bite.
Went out prior to the sun coming up this morning. I was out setting up a tip up and the boys were in the portable. After setting up the tip up I came in the house and the kids ask me “dad, why are our bobbers just sitting under the water?” (Remember, my kids have only been out three times prior ever). Both bobbers are about 6 inches below the surface. I grab a rod and set one hook. Heavy fish. After a quick fight I lost it. Meanwhile, the other boy starts reeling. He didn’t set the hook. The rod bent big time and I could tell by the way he was battling the fish it was heavy. By the time I started to help him he lost his fish. I look outside and the flag is up on the tip up. I quickly baited one hook inside the portable and dropped the bait down the hole and rushed outside to investigate the tip up. Heavy fish on the tip up but I lost it. Come inside to grab a minnow to bait the tip up and the oldest boy is reeling in a fish! Nice walleye at 23″. It’s 6:45 am and not a thing after that. Whew! Nothing better than a feeding frenzy!
The boys and I continued to fish but ultimately we kicked back and mixed up some hot chocolate and watched the sun come up.
Not a great photo but here’s a pic of one of the walleyes.
Back to the auger. I am mechanically handicapped so at least I’ve got that going for me. 1. When it’s idling the blade turns. Not Turing like at full throttle but still turing pretty good. 2. Very tough cutting through the ice. It cuts but I have to put all my weight on it and it slowly chews a hole. Remember, 25 year old Jiffy that has been sitting in my garage the past 8 years. The last time I had used it I did take it in and had it sharpened/tuned up.
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