30's Club

Sunday morning we intended on getting out at a decent time, but it just didn't work out that way, as often happens. We decided to work our way back out onto Indian Springs, but Adam wanted to try a point out on the main lake, so we worked our way out onto the main lake. Paul and I walked most of the way out while Adam took Cathy and Andrew out first to get our spot and set-up. Cathy took but a few minutes to find a perch but it was a little slow for the morning.
The first fish was on a tip-up in less than 2 feet of water. When I got her to the hole, I had to turn her sideways to slip her up through the shallow water.

 

Another 31 inch fish that was a blast to pull through the ice! This never gets old!!!

We caught a few more pike that were just short of the 30 mark and slipped them back in. I found a couple of old holes from someone fishing in the tournament the day before, and was able to find a couple of perch, one decent one, and an absolute slob I lost at the hole. Adam eventually found the money fish, a perch over 12 inches. This one taped out to 13.75"

As I was over at my perch spot, I happened to look back and see Andrew hauling towards a tip-up. I just waited to go over there until he had it on the ice. When I saw him pull it out I knew it was a good fish so I ran over to take a pic.
Before I could even get there another tipper was up and I pulled in yet another, but it was a bit of dink, so back to Andrew's fish.

We finally found a fish over 31 inches, and at 33 inches, it was the largest pike of the weekend! We had pulled in a half dozen this weekend at or a hair above 30 inches, and this one really showed what difference a 33 is from a 30. We no more than slid the beast back into the lake when I see our deep water tipper up right next to the ice hut.
When I grabbed the line I knew this was not a snot rocket; this was a gator. When I got her to the hole, her head wouldn't come up, so I just waited for her to slide back a little and then up she came and I had my GATOR!!!

This fish was an 11 pound 12 ounce, 37 inch behemoth. I have waited all season for a fish of this magnitude, and it was with great pride that I also slid this fish back into the depths to eat giant perch and walleyes another day. Grow 3 more inches and I will be back for you...

I know not everyone reacts the same way, but Adam and Cathy can attest, I was shaking like a leaf after this one. All this has done is fuel my desire to find a bigger one, and I will eventually find that mythical 40-incher. So until then;


Stay Tuned

Bay Hoppin' Pike

I had the opportunity to take advantage of another weekend of fantastic weather, and as you may have guessed, it was ice fishing. Dad came up Friday evening, and we had our things ready to go for the morning fish.
After a quick breakfast we headed out. There was a tournament on Indian Springs on Saturday, but we forged ahead, hoping we could find somewhere away from the thundering hoards. When we got on the lake, we headed in the opposite direction of the train of four-wheelers headed out into the main lake. As usual Dad and I set up our run of tip-ups. I want to thank Dad for letting me use his tip-ups and thank my Uncle Rick for the gear he has sent my way, including many tip-ups. I truly appreciate it!
It didn't take long before our first flag went up. Dad started us off with a great fish!

We hole-hopped most of the morning waiting for the next tipper, and we caught a few, but not a slew of them, and they were fair in size, but it sure beat getting skunked.

A little before noon Paul, Adam, Cathy, and their friend Andrew made their way out on the ice. Awhile back, Paul told Andrew that he would get him in on the ice fishing thing, so this was his first time out on the ice.
We set out more tip-ups and the waiting game began. Dad had some luck with a few small perch, so that was how we kept ourselves occupied. Most of the hits on tippers came in flushes, and we would go a hour at a time without a hit, and then have 2 or 3 in less than 5 minutes.
We were able to get Andrew on his first pike on hard water.

We continue to find a few, here and there, and the quality of fish was much better than it has been in the past.

With the advice of Dad, I changed the bait out on one of our tippers, as there was one particular fish that kept spitting out the giant, festering smelt I had on that hole. After a change to a lively sucker the wait was on. Dad ended up leaving early as he had an evening engagement back home, and he stopped in town to bail me out of a whipping cream related absence on my part. Unfortunately, he was probably not even to the pavement when I finally hooked up with the spitter pike.

 The craziest part apart pulling this fish out was the tiny pike and white teardrop jig buried in the teeth of his upper jaw. BONUS!

At 31 inches, it was one of the better one we had this season, and I will take these kinds of fish any day!

 Shortly after this fish we moved across the bay, closer to the boat ramp, as the perch were not really biting where we were, and there was another spot I wanted to try.

We found some perch when we first got there, and Paul was able to pull in a hog perch.

The new spot was producing as well, and again we found more good sized pike.

 

Just before the sun went down, Vet-bells went off in 2 feet of water, and was not spinning. I looked down the hole, and could see the pike laying on the bottom with my sucker in her mouth. In one swift yank, I had her in the ice!

 At 32 inches, this was a hefty fish, and the best on the day. These are the gators that are worth shredding fingers. 

Upon returning home, much later than I had anticipated, my dearest wife had a crock-pot of the most fantastic chili ready to dig into, AND a restaurant quality cheesecake in the fridge. I am a blessed man.

We feasted and proceeded to drop like flies until morning. Tomorrow is another day, and another chance at a gator.

Stay Tuned

There is Never too Much Pike Slime

Valentine's Day weekend we had some more company for a weekend of ice fishing fun. Nick, Lisa, Michael Parker, and Ethan Shetler wanted in on the fish that we have been pulling through the ice up here. I never could have imagined we could do better than the weekend Josh and kids came up, but we were going to try. The week before, I did some flag overhauling so we could actually see when there was a tip-up.

 I may or may not have raided Rachel's scrap materials. We have from left to right: Typar, Vet-bells, Alien Bob, Iowa, Iowa State, and lady-bug. They will serve us well.
Saturday morning we ate a quick breakfast, and then headed out into the frigid cold in search of pike. It was -10 degrees when we left in the morning, but warmed up to a balmy 3 degrees by noon. To top that off it was rather windy, but we were a motley crew, and we don't give up that easily. We set up the tent, and rotated who was on deck for tip-ups. Again, we hammered the fish, but the cold made for pike-cicles for most of our pictures.
My goal was to put Ethan on some toothy critters as he has not caught many. The shear look of enjoyment made my day.

This was probably the funniest moment of any ice trip I have witnessed: Ethan watch taking his usual rounds to bust open frozen holes, checking tippers in the process, and he caught yet another one. After unhooking the fish, he took 5 or 6 attempts at getting the pike back in the lake without success. He then proceeded to pick it up and try to stab the fish back into the lake.

 This is one of my favorite pics as well: The fish is literally freezing to Nick's hands as the pic is being taken, and these were the faces both Michael and Ethan produced when I said to drop the face masks. It was windy, and horrendously cold.

While everyone was out of the tent tending to their rotation on the tippers, I managed to catch a great pike, on Dad's pieced-together rig with a bobber and a double fat-head. We listened, and he was right. IT WORKS!

Not Long after, we called it an afternoon and headed home for FOOD!!!
We feasted on grilled, Yes, grilled dove, duck, steak, twice baked potatoes, and for those that remained conscious long enough, a double wacked-out chocolate cake. After a day on the truly frozen tundra, we ate like it was going to be our last meal.

The next morning, we didn't dawdle and got out on the lake in decent time. We decided on Indian Springs again, as it was closer and there was a better possibility of a missed bag. We got the catching fish part out of our system the day before, this time we were looking for a little finesse or big.
We continued our streak of decent pike on the tip-up, and our size average was much better on this lake.

 We sent up the tent initially in the shallows, but Nick and went out deep scouting for more fish and Nick found some perch. We moved camp and it was a wise decision. Ethan caught a few toad perch, and Nick managed a slob as well in the tent.

 We were having success in the tents and out. Michael iced what would have been one of the largest of the trip, but it was a really skinny fish, and upon closer inspection, some mouth malformations were the root of the problem.

 As with most trips, all things come to an end, and Nick gave us the one more tipper and done and Ethan pulled in a good one to finish out their ice trip.

I was happy to see these guys again and we enjoyed every minute on the ice. These guys goofed around more than anyone else I know. It was nice to get out on the ice and fish with a group that don't take things too seriously. I have always had an issue with that, and it was a nice change of pace.

As Michael and I watched them pull out of the drive, I got pestered for the next half hour by Michael. Each evening we watch the deer behind the house and Michael was convinced there was a shed back there that he needed to check out. While watching my landlord finish up plowing the parking lot, Michael scooted around the corner and off he goes.

The kid just couldn't help himself. No it was not a giant, nor was it the 'antler' he thought he was looking at from our window, but it was out there nevertheless....


 Monday morning was President's Day and as a government employee, I had the day off and Michael stuck around for one last try at the fish.
 The morning was not exactly what you would call going through the motions. We got stuck in a sizeable snow drift on our way out, to which we spent half and hour just trying to dig out. Once out, I started drilling holes and it we got 3 holes before I hit frozen mud.... I then hauled ass back home for tools, to which point I STILL grabbed the wrong ones, and something to attempt to sharpen the blades while on the auger. We did eventually get our holes drilled, but I about broke my arms in the process.
Anyway, We caught fish, and that's what mattered.

We did manage to get video of the last pike, but there are a few PG expletives. Michael was a tad excited.

As much as we thought it was a good idea to spend the rest of the day fishing, Michael took the responsible route and decided it was time to get on the road. The last few days we have been so tired after fishing, it was best to get back not at midnight. This inevitably concluded a fantastic weekend filled with excessive amounts of slime, and an extra run for bait. What a terrible problem to have! I am glad everyone was able to make the trip, and I look forward to the next outing with these guys.



Stay Tuned