In loving memory of Kenis D. Keathley 6/4/81 - 3/27/22 Loving father, husband, brother, friend and firewood hoarder Rest in peace, Dexterday

2019/2020 ice fishing season thread

Discussion in 'The Game Room' started by Sean, Dec 1, 2019.

  1. Unclefish

    Unclefish

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    With my nickname being unclefish you would think I would like ice fishing. Use to but bones just don't like going out in the cold away from that nice warm fire anymore. But come spring summer and fall usually where you will find me in my spare time on the boat fishing. Good luck to you all that still ice fish and be safe.
     
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  2. Sean

    Sean

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    This trip was actually on December 12th. We are having a very low snow year so far. You know the fishing is slow when there are multiple pics of the same small fish lol. I did have multiple strikes and fish on moments but for some reason they didnt make it above the ice. Its such a pretty hike in area that I thought I would share a few photos of the area.
    I thought this mossy icicle covered rock was pretty cool. There wasnt much colour on the trip so this caught my eye.
    20191212_131005.jpg

    Heres a pic of moss laden trees on a section of the trail. Trees are larch, doug fir, birch and aspen for the most part.
    20191212_133146.jpg
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    Following our tracks out by head lamp across one of the lakes.
    20191212_180209.jpg
     
  3. Sean

    Sean

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    Some more pics of my travels that day.

    20191212_125731.jpg 20191212_134151.jpg 20191212_134154.jpg 20191212_134204.jpg
    What my girl does when dad isnt catching fish lol.
    20191212_153321.jpg
     
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  4. Gary_602z

    Gary_602z

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    Seeing as I have been in the Wholsale Bait Business for close to 60 years I can't belive I missed this thread!!
    Here in the central and southwest part of Michigan we are about like last year at this time. Few lakes they were getting on and a few channels but then it would warm up.
    Last year we never really got crankin until around the 10th of Jam. and yet we ended up having one of the best winters that we have had in many years!
    Over here our best selling dry bait are: Spikes, Wax Worms and Moussee's.
    Our Minnow sales for the Winter are: Emerald shiners,Golden shiners, Fatheads and Suckers with a few Rosey Reds thrown in.
    Any questions on Live Bait?:thumbs:

    Gary
     
  5. Sean

    Sean

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    Gary_602z Im glad youre here and hope that your ice fishing season will get rolling soon. I mostly use small live pink maggots when ice fishing although Ive been branching out a bit and use dead shiners occasionally for lake trout and pike (we cant use live). As the winter season matures a bit more I get out and fish for kokanee (landlocked sockeye salmon) and use pink maggots which are hard to come by in my area.
     
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  6. Gary_602z

    Gary_602z

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    No live shiners because of the VHS virus?

    Gary
     
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  7. Sean

    Sean

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    Im not sure why live bait isnt allowed. I know some of our lakes are full of introduced minnows. Maybe thats why?
     
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  8. hovlandhomestead

    hovlandhomestead

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    upload_2020-1-6_17-7-2.png

    The fish were running this morning in the Mpls area.
     
  9. Gary_602z

    Gary_602z

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    Nice mess of fish! We are still ice-less over here. Looks like it will be that way for another week or so.:(

    Gary
     
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  10. Ronaldo

    Ronaldo

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    Nifty ice tongs. Tools of the past....wont find tools like that these days.

    Sent from my SM-G930VL using Tapatalk
     
  11. hovlandhomestead

    hovlandhomestead

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    Mine were handed down, but they are pretty common items at flea markets, antique shops and sporting shows around here. They go for about $20-30 which is funny considering you would pay twice that much for a new and inferior product.
     
  12. Ronaldo

    Ronaldo

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    It surprises me that you'll find many of them like that.

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  13. Loon

    Loon

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  14. Woodsman

    Woodsman

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    Wow. Some beautiful scenery and fish pictures posted last couple weeks. Anyone out lately? Drove by the lake here on the way home and four groups were out there. I’m dying to hit the ice. Just haven’t had the time ... and the two days I was able to go it was monsooning. Now if I had a pop up ice shed... that may have to happen soon.

    C991B6BA-9095-4BF0-BE03-E33BCCA0E4D4.jpeg
     
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  15. Woodsman

    Woodsman

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    Beautiful area!!!
     
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  16. hovlandhomestead

    hovlandhomestead

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    It must be a regional thing. There is a long and storied past here of lake ice harvesting prior to refrigeration, as well as removing blocks for winter spearing pike. But nowadays most people don't know what to do with them anymore, so they end up for sale here and there.

    I would imagine that they are a pretty rare item to see in many areas. I see them for sale so often that I usually take them for granted, but you are right they sure don't make them like they used to.
     
  17. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    The ice fishing derby here this year was a dud unfortunately.
     
    Last edited: Jan 7, 2020
  18. Sean

    Sean

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    I was out with the family for a few hours on Saturday. The only fish caught was a brook trout that I landed in about 2.5 feet of water. The rest of the time nothing but a few nibbles. My wife sure enjoyed her first time out in our portable ice tent. We picked one up at Costco last march and glad we did. It weighs around 33 lbs if I remember correctly so not to bad. Its very easy to set up. You should get one. Its cool being able to see the fish below you. Ive been out in the rain a few times with it and love how dry and warm it is inside.
     
  19. Sean

    Sean

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    Thats to bad. Was it to mild?
     
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  20. hovlandhomestead

    hovlandhomestead

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    No one ice fishing? or slow fishing?
    Sean?
    Woodsman?

    I am on a mid winter break from the action as I have enough frozen now for pickling and pressure canning. I plan on going out a few more times and maybe harvest a another fish or two for fresh eating before pulling my permanent shack. Where I am they have to off the lakes by midnight March 1.
     
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