Hello, my name is Bret and I am an ice fishing addict…..that’s what I told work as I walked out at 2pm heading for the ice to chase Walleyes. The temperature was 32 degrees and the barometer was holding steady with a 5-9mph North to Northwest wind, conditions like these made it impossible to stay for a full day at work.
Joining me was AmWatson and later on Mike C and neutron. Upon arrival there was not a hot a heavy bite, but there were some nice fish being caught. AmWatson iced the first fish being a 16inch Walleye. After catching a very short fish this 22 inch Walleye (released) smacked my #7 Blue/Silver Jig N Rap tipped with a minnow head in 18fow. At the beginning of the trip the fish were holding in 18-22fow, when the lights in the sky went out the fish slipped up on a flat into 13-15fow. Hole hopping while looking for a biter produced more fish than setting up shop and playing the waiting game, and the StrikeMaster made plenty of holes to hop around in leaving me with plenty of energy to stay on the move 
The first trip 2/5/08 I was able to ice and release 6 fish and keep 2 fish for the table.
Looking at the weather forecasted for the upcoming weekend, taking Friday 2/8/08 off of work was in order to fish before the strong winds were to arrive. Another day out of the office and another ok day of fishing
The first fish willing to take my offering of a Blue/Silver Jig N Rap was this 19 inch fat girl. After the picture she was slipped back into the hole unharmed, maybe just needed the spots in her eyes from the flash to go away
The crew of Mike C, Naomi, Jim, Dan, and JP Mason found it to be a tough bite but, there were fish to be caught. Again the key was to stay on the move and follow the fish throughout the day. The only way to do this is drill, drill, drill. Between JP Mason’s StrikeMaster and mine we had drilled an easy 60 holes.
When drilling a series of holes looking for Walleyes and Saugers I like to keep near contour such as the edge of flats dropping off into the channel or the top edge of scour holes so I can bounce around and fish at different depths. Early morning and late evening during the dark hours the hole hopping is done on top of the flats staying in 13-16fow. As the day light grows these fish slip off the flats and look for a little deeper water. Like I mentioned, we were on an ok bite and by the looks of things we were doing better than the others that set up camp. By using this technique there was a 3 man limit of some nice saugers put on the ice. JP Mason had the hot stick by far and found that the Fire Tiger Jig N Rap was the way to go.
Another tool helping us to catch fish….the MarCum flashers. There are not a lot of people using flashers fishing the current because they cannot see there jig. The trick is to punch a hole down current for setting up your flasher. The stronger the current the farther away you will need your second hole. Tuesday just a foot apart worked but with the flow picking up Friday the second hole had to be 2 feet down current.
The flasher is the key for knowing when you had a looker at which time you would slow your presentation to a twitch causing the kill trigger to go off on the Walleyes/Saugers.
The half day Tuesday, the all day Friday, and the 2 nice Walleyes have only made the addiction I have for ice fishing stronger.
Yes, my name is Bret Clark…..and I am addicted to ice fishing 
Good Luck Fishing People 
Some very nice fish and tips in your report Bret!
You maybe addicted…but you don’t have the “ankle bracelet” on yet…I’m guessing it’s coming if the ice holds out.
It sounds like you really had to hunt down the active fish. That is a great suggestion regarding the Marcum downstream of the hole you are fishing! Sure wish I would have thought of that back when I used to icefish the river
Out of curiousity, I used to have pretty good luck on blades and bucktails down your way in addition to the jigginrap. Does your area down there see these presentations through the ice ?
Nice report Mr. Clark. I am told, the first thing you must do to bet an addiction is admit to it, you’re on your way.
Thanks again for a great trip on the ice. As Bret stated, the bite was slo in the AM, but sure seemed to pick up for me in the afternoon. Hole hoping was a must. I was able to bring home a limit of nice eaters.
It was nice to see Dan, Jim, Naomi, Mike C, and Bret on the ice to share the day chasing some EYE’s.
Later,
JP
Dean,
I have not been bumped on a blade this year
The raps tipped with a head or whole minnow makes me believe these fish are preferring meet with the presentation.
When pulling a mark we are not trying to get a reaction strike, the jig is fished with a slight twitch. It is by no means an aggressive bite. A lot of times you will just feel a small amount of dead weight or notice your line go slack.
When a mark is at the bait a person must pay close attention to the line.
I had a blast JP….glad to see you get over your fear
Nice report Bret!
Those are some nice walleyes and saugers you guys are catching thru the ice. Sure wish I had the time to get out but so far this winter, that just hasn’t happened.
Boog
Great read Bret. You’ll make it through this. At least you’ve admitted you have a problem
Brett the first step in any addiction is admitting that you have a problem
You have taken the first step only 11 more to go now 
Great Report sir 
I find that giving in to my addictions feels so much better.
Way to 
em.
When is our next IFA (ice fishing annonymous) meeting Bret??
Great report Buddy
and a great time on the ice again yesterday. 
That was great to have our former coworker Naomi join us for a day of ice fishing. 
After a day of fixin’ stuff around the house 
I’m ready for another fix.! 
Heck Bret….First time I met ya I knew that!!
I also tried blade baits two weekends ago and like Bret with no real results. What I did have good results with, and this may a little unorthodox, is an BFN Orange/Chart 1/4 oz. Go Devil spoon tipped with a minnow. We were in some fair current and I let it drift downstream bouncing off the bottom and then slowly retrieved it, again bouncing it off the bottom. This produced several fish when things had seemed to slow down.
Great fish Bret! So do you think there are any others around here that share your sickness?
Bret,
This weekend’s weather is going to enable you addiction. Open water will be the cure.
Nice report Bret. This is one addiction I hope you enjoy the hec out of.
Thanks, Bill
[and I see you are.]
Very jealous. Really nice catch and a great report. Kinda made me feel like i was out there too!
Nice job Bret
That strike master has been very busy this season
Thanks again Bret for the great report. Wish we all could say we were as addicted as you.
You have a great backwater fishery down there Bret. I can see why you are addicted to ice fishing pool 8. ENJOY!!!
Thanks, Bill
ps. I enjoy reading about all the fun you guys keep having down there.
Bret- I was going to try my hand at some walleyes through the ice on the river this weekend, but was wondering if you could give a general idea of the area you are fishing. I’ll be on pools 4,5, or 6 so I’m not looking for exact spots. I imagine that since you mention a lot of current that you are below a damn or spillway??? How far below the dams are you? couple hundred yards? middle of the pool??? And what depth range are you working? Ice thickness? Sorry so many questions, but thanks for the great reports.
We are covering a lot of area fishing anywhere from the do not cross this line at the dams to the end of the long wall. Rock points along the main channel creating current seams and some wing dams are fishable now. We are working back and forth from the flats to the middle of the main channel. The same stuff a guy would look for during the open water season.
We are working 13-16fow water early morning before light and late evening as the sun sets. During the day we are covering a lot of water staying in 18-25fow.
As far as how much ice, you can be on 12 inches at one time and move only feet and be on 4 inches the next. There are still some areas that are not walk able. A spud is always a good thing to have for checking ice conditions while walking along.
A trip along the river road (HWY 35) Tuesday, reveal people fishing at every dam and accessible wing dams from Lynxville to Trempealeau.
If anyone is new to this game extreme caution should be used. Do not be a pioneer when fishing the main channel of the Mississippi.
That’s good advice. I hope it’s heeded.
dont feel bad bret im also a recovering ice fishing addict. i havent seen my girlfriend since we got ice but she knows im a diehard when it comes to fishing.(plus it helps not to hear her nag about things)