My son and his wife and daughters enjoy all outside activities. For this time of year, that often is ice fishing. They go a lot, keeping a few but usually release their fish back into the water. Here are few pics taken yesterday:
I haven’t been able to get out much this year with family obligations but will be participating in the Meredith rotary derby next weekend. Can’t wait!
We were out for a half day yesterday. We have just small ponds around here with easy access, so we pack light and don't need too much. It was a bit windy, so a shelter or wind break would be nice to have down the road. My son(in the middle) and his buddy had a great time goofing off and pulling each other around the ice on a bucket. I cooked some chicken soup on my Coleman pack stove. I screwed small self-tap screws into their boot soles for traction. I have steel spike creepers. We tried the ice picks I made the other day, and they sink in about 1 1/2" into the ice taking a nice divot. The ice was only 8" - 10" which surprised me with the cold weather a few weeks ago. I think the sun angle and some warm days reduced the thickness. The wind was moving the ice so lots of noise from the ice and shuddering under our feet
Looks like you guys had fun! I have ice picks that I take ice fishing with me as well as a throw rope. Good idea on the screws in the boots.
Anyone ice fishing this winter? My son and I got some nice lakers in the Adirondacks a few weeks ago. Not much safe ice here in CT yet.
Nice looking fish! I went lake trout fishing the other day and had a skunk following me around all day. Got some cool pictures of the ice though. Clear black ice of 17-20 inches.
Hi Sean, Looks like that ice is ready to go in the old ice house - already cut up. I’d love to see some pics of the scenery in your area. Must be beautiful.
Yes. I have been out every weekend since the day after Thanksgiving. I also take every Monday off during our pike spearing season. I also angle for panfish, walleye and lake trout. We are driving on 20-24". I hope you can get out with the cold weather that should be coming your way soon. Typical darkhouse action from the spear hole:
Hi Rek. No chum is used. Some guys use a live minnow on a harness. I use a fish shaped decoy which you can see in the hole. The decoy is suspended in the water column by a line hanging from the ceiling of the shack. It is jigged occasionally so that it swims in a circle. Pike are active in the winter and are hunting for potential food. When a pike slides into the hole it can be speared by lowering the spear into the water and rather lightly thrown like a dart, or simply "pushed" toward the fish. It takes practice and a good spear to be consistently successful in hitting the quarry with a good shot right behind the head. It is really more akin to hunting in many ways, but I like to angle while I am spearing for other species that come and go. Here is an example of a realistic wood fish decoy for spearing pike. The maker uses a tank as seen in the picture to make sure the fish is weighted properly and swims well. There is quite a culture of decoy carvers and collectors here in the Great Lakes region of the country.
Your post reminds me of my favorite movie Grumpy Old Men.Ice fishing on Thanksgiving.Also you being from Minnesota.Even tho they just jigged.We are getting ice now but it's ugly with all the snow we have gotten.
I use to ice fish all the time when I lived in Michigan when I was a teenager and into my 20's. My buddies and I had a nice homemade shanty like the grumpy old men movie with a woodburner and all the trimmings. No pics though... Great time.....