21/22 Ice Season Starts With A Crappie

10.5" VMC Fly/Wax (Pink)

 Didn't get a skunk to start ice fishing season for the first time since 2017.

Tullibaby Baby!

17" VMC Fly/maggots

8.90" VMC Fly/maggots

7:20-9:30AM Tullibee Hole 25'
31-29℉, Cloudy/Partly Cloudy, 13-20mph SE

I got out a little later than I should have.  There was snow on the truck and on the road.  As far as I can tell I was the second one at the access.  A couple of trucks drove on when I was unloading.  I walked out which ate more time.  It was quite windy.  I got to the area drilled three holes and put the camera down first.  Then I put waxies down on the bobber rod.  The first fish of the morning was the bull gill that bit at about 7:50AM.  I was not on point with keeping the fish. I had to fill a bucket with water using the hawg trough in hopes the fish would survive if I wanted to release it.  That took time and the fish went belly up so I had to keep it.  I'm pretty sure there were others down there that were gone by the time I got my line back down. About had an hour later the tullibee showed up.  There were at least two of them by the marks I had.  Fortunately, I got a bite and hooked it in the shoot.  Excellent fight.  I got the camera and transducer out, but I got caught up on the bobber line.  Landing these slippery things is tricky.  I was using 3lb test. After that, I might have had one more tullibee come through. But who knows I also had crappies come through that I got to see on the camera.  I watched a crappie charge the Fly and suck it in, but I didn't connect with the hookset.  I had perch messing with me by the bottom and eventually put the camera down to watch them.  It was quite windy and my right foot was cold so I called it a day at 9:30.

Bulldog Lake Again with A Couple Of Bonus Pic's

7.5" VMC Fly/maggots (Glow)

21" VMC Fly/maggots (Glow)

Sculpture created in 5 Gallon with water dripping off the roof last nigh 

The GOMH from today

5:00-8:00PM Bulldog Lake 7' NE Point
31-35℉, Cloudy, 3-18mph SE

I must have arrived just after Matt W. left.  I went out and put the camera down in some of the holes he drilled.  I only saw one sunfish, so I headed to the NE Point where I have been fishing.  Some guys were on the lake earlier in the day and drilling holes like madmen on the NE and N side of the lake, there dozens upon dozens of holes drilled.  I used their holes to find fish with the Aqua-Vu.  It took me a few for me to locate any fish.  Not a good sign as fish were all over the place every time I've been out.  I finally found a group of sunnies and put two additional holes there.  By the time I had any lines down the sunfish had moved off because pike were patrolling the area.  First fish was presumably a pike that broke my line at the dropper, so it wasn't a bite off.  My mistake, shouldn't have happened.  A little while after that I caught a pike on the Glow Demon and Minnow.  I then got a nice bluegill. Then I got the pike in the pictures that snuck into camera rage when I wasn't looking.  When I looked back, there he was with my jig in his mouth.  I'm was lucky I hooked him at the tip of the shoot.  I saw a couple more pike swim through and couple crappie swam through but didn't look at my lures.  I did catch a couple other decent gills and played keep-away with some small ones.  I did move out to 10' when it was too dark for the camera but didn't mark anything until I was all packed up and about to leave.

I'm probably going to fish somewhere with Matt W. tomorrow

Fished Rock Because of the Wind

6.5" VMC Fly/maggots

There is open water in the channel

6:00-8:00PM Rock Lake 9' Sunz Spot
30-35℉, Cloudy, 15-20MPH NW

I finally achieved victory with the headlight tonight.  I didn't even need Jeff's help.  I went to Rock because the winds were hellacious and I would be protected there.  It had been above freezing the previous night so the top of the ice was a slushy mess-making pulling the sled much more difficult.  There was open water in the Platte River Outlet Bay Channel.  I drilled about 7 or so holes 3 of them being to shallow.  There is Eurasian milfoil in the lake. The ice was 6-8" thinner than on Bulldog or Sullivan.  I found sunnies high in the water column in 9'. There was small mature bald eagle chirping when I was setting up.  I told it I would throw it a fish, but I forgot; Sorry Mr. Eagle.  Lots of little sunnies around.  I caught 8 on the VMC Fly with maggots.  I lost a crappie in the hole and saw another on the camera. I saw one small pike.  I also lost something the felt really good when I first put down in the hole where the fish were.  I quit at 8PM.  The walk back was much easier as things had firmed up with the falling temps.

Bulldog With Crappies Engaging In Social Distancing

5" VMC Fly (Glow)

6:00-8:30PM Bulldog 6' to 10'
32-36℉, Partly Cloudy, 0-4mph S

Thanks to dealing with car issues I got a later start than I wanted.   There was a guy fishing that packed up as I was halfway there.  We talked.  He had gotten a few crips and sunnies to keep.  I drilled holes out deeper.  Crappies would spook lookie-loo it.  Missed a couple of bites.  I was surprised to bring up the rock bass.  Not as many sunfish swimming around; I caught a few small ones.  On the way back I drilled holes in the deep hole didn't mark anything.  With all my cold-weather gear on it was comfortable. 

No Tullibee, First Bass OTY in the Evening

8" Glow Demon Spoon/Mag&Wax

7.5" VMC Fly/Maggies

6:00-10:00AM Sullivan 24'
20-16℉, Partly Cloudy, 2-4mph North

Nobody was at the Sullivan access when I arrived.  I went to my Tul Hole waypoint and drilled holes.  I got one Crappie in the first half hour.  It was annoyingly cold before the sun came up, my guides kept freezing up.  At about 6:45AM John W. showed up just to the north of me.  I saw some nice Sunfish on the camera but couldn't get them to bite.  I went and talked to John.  He had one tullibee and filled me in on how the fishing has been this winter.  I went back and caught the Sunfish, which I gave to John.  Eventually, I moved to the Sunfish spot.  There was a pike swimming around there. Nature called so I packed up and left.
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10' VMC Fly/Maggies (Pink)

Half Way back to the Car

8" VMC Fly (Pink)

8" Glow Demon Spoon

5:30-8:30PM Bulldog Lake 6' and 9' NE Point
36-32℉, Mostly Sunny, 2-5mph N

There was somebody out at the NE point with an ATM fishing when I arrived.  Because of that, I needed to move the truck after I unloaded.  I forgot to take my cold-weather gear with me as I headed out to a new area to the South.  The ATV moved off of the NE point when a was about 75 yards out.  I started heading to the NE when I realized I hadn't brought the cold-weather gear with.  I wasn't happy about that.  When I finally got to the NE Island I used two holes from the guy that had just left.  One was in 6' and the other 9' right by where I had been fishing just slightly shallower.  I saw fish in the shallow hole so that is where I set up to start. The first fish of the day was the bass.  Lots of sunfish around and a few crappies most of which were swimming around out deeper where the camera was pointed.  I had a couple crappies come in and inspect my offerings and leave.  Saw pike a few times.  At 7PM I headed to the deeper holes.  Once again I could see crappies swimming out deeper.  I elected not to move.  Had a few crappies move through, but they were extremely fussy.  Only caught one.  Saw multiple fish nibble and spit. I should have moved out a little deeper both times.  The fish never moved shallower like I thought they should.

Bulldog Again After Plan A Almost Fell Through

9' VMC Fly/maggot

4.5" VMC Fly/maggies

6:00-8:30PM Bulldog NE Point 9'
40-31℉, Partly Cloudy, 12-20mph WNW

The plan was to drive out to the sunfish spot on Rock Lake put the camera down and if I didn't see anything head to Bulldog.  I had just gotten onto the lake when I sunk down the front tires in the slush.  Thankfully there was strong ice underneath.  I quickly put it in reverse and got outta dodge.  I realized I had forgotten the maggies and wax worms, so I drove back home to get them.  Then I headed to Bulldog.  The wind was blowing pretty good.  I drilled two new holes and put the old Aqua View camera down.  There was a school of crappies in the area.  For some reason, I wasn't able to figure out which direction to point the camera, very frustrating.  After messing around for about 10 minutes I gave up. The first fish was a crip that hung me on the transducer line and got off.  I then put the Aqua-Vu Micro down and quickly located my lure.  The crappies had moved off and sunfish moved in.  Occasionally crappie would swim through.  I caught 2 crappies on the VMC Fly and 2 on the Glow Demon Spoon.  I caught 5 little sunnies.  Didn't see any perch.  Didn't get any bites on the minnow. I packed up at 8:30PM.  On the way home I got pulled over by a cop because I  have a headlight that doesn't work.  I got a stern talking-to because I didn't pull over right away electing to drive to the Club of the Pines.  I saw someone pulled over the other day on 8 and noticed it's a very narrow shoulder.  I got off with a warning.

4 Crappies
5 Sunfish

First Fish of 2020

7.5" VMC Fly & Maggies (Pink)

5:00-7:30PM Sullivan 25' Sun Spot
36-31℉, Cloudy, 2-5mph SW
25'

It was lightly snowing when I arrived at the NE Sullivan Access.  I elected to walk out, but I could have driven.  I'm lucky I didn't fall before I came to my senses and put the spikes on.  I used the GPS to find the 25' Sunfish Hole. I drilled two holes.  I originally had something come in at 15-feet. Didn't feel a bite.  After whatever it was moved out. I put the Aqua View down, not much visibility but I did see a pretty good-sized sunfish.  I missed a few bites on a spoon and the VMC fly before I finally landed one.  One was all I got and I threw it back.  Think I'm going to try Bulldog tomorrow.

Lucky Tackle Box November 2017 Review

I know I know, I got way behind on writing this review.  The thing is there was a screw up at Lucky Tackle Box and I didn't get the box until December.  A few days after it arrived I got the box for December.  Had the box arrived when it was supposed to I most probably would have gotten the review done in November as I waited for safe ice.  But it didn't so I didn't.  I'm getting the review done now because open water fishing is beginning to seep back into my conscious thoughts and I want to get these last two Lucky Tackle Box reviews done by April.

This was my favorite box of the 3.  Here is what was in it:

 

Bagley Sunny B (Retail Price $12.99): I wonder if the LTB exclusive is the fact that it is a square bill? Haven't thrown a Bagley in years.  I think I only own one.  One the first crankbaits I ever got was a small Bagley.  I caught a few fish on that lure over the years then the tackle box it was in got stolen.  I suspect this bait will be gold at the Grumpy Old Man Hole provided that a toothy doesn't steal it right away.

Castaic BD J115 (Retail Price $6.99): These Boyd Duckett Series 115's are among the least expensive Megabass knockoffs out there.  I won several of them on eBay last year but never got around to giving those a try.  The scuttlebutt on these is they tend to be slow sinkers.  Can never have too many jerks is my attitude.

Z Man Finesse TRD The Real Deal (Retail Price $3.99): Ned rigs catch fish and I've wanted to give these baits a try. Now I've got my chance.  Thanks, Lucky Tackle Box.   It would have been nice to get some ned jig head in the box to go with these. Smart on their part not to, as I will be buying myself some.

  Bass Attacker Attacker Stix with Bass Fuel (Retail Price:$4.99):  Senko knockoff and it's a sample pack with half the lures of a normal pack.  Apparently, they are only sold through the companies website.  This lure will probably catch a few fish and be quickly forgotten.  Just being honest.

VMC Ike's Approved Weedless Neko Hook (Retail $3.99):  Another sample pack as if VMC couldn't afford to give us 5 hooks👎. 

Duo Realis Pencil 110 in LTB exclusive Smokey Bone color (Retail $13.99): I have wanted to get my hands onto some Duo Realis topwaters and now thanks to Lucky Tackle Box I've got one.  Was kind of surprised it didn't come with a feathered treble.  I will be adding one.  The hooks appear to be super stout.

6th Sense Quake 70 (Retail: $8.99):  This bait could be a smallie killer. We'll just have to see about that.

Overall, this is my favorite of the 6 different boxes I have received between Mystery Tackle Box (3 boxes) and Lucky Tackle Box (3 boxes).  If you debating between the two companies I'd recommend going with Lucky instead of MTB.

Will be trying the baits out starting May 12th when the season opens. 

I give this box an A-.

My Day Ice Fishing With Dev

10.5" VMC Fly/maggots

4:00-6:15PM Platte Lake Out Front
Conditions: 30-24℉, Mostly Sunny, W Windy
Depth 7' or so

Devin's first ever ice fish

I finally got my act together and took Devin ice fishing for the 1st time.  I searched for fish using the GPS and Aqua -Vu Micro 5c. I started drilling to shallow.  By the time Devin got out there I had spied some fish.  I had Devin help me drill the second hole, which we put the old Aqua-Vu in.  While I was getting that setup Devin was outside with Storm.  Unfortunately, there was a weed partially blocking the screen.   Sure enough, the perch were still down there.  I caught one perch then took Storm from Devin and told her what to do.  She quickly located the lure on the Aqua -Vu and caught her first fish lickety-split.  We caught a bunch and avoided a bunch.  Didn't see any sunfish.

    We tried to avoid the little ones, but Dev managed to catch a couple of really small ones. 

Steve felled the tree, while we were out fishing. Steve came out and Devin showed him how she was catching them while I held storm.  They went back up to the cabin.  I had a pike bite off a Rippin' Rap.  I elected not to move and packed up around 6PM.  Steve helped me pull my stuff up the hill.  Shortly after arriving at home I got a call from Steve.  Kim hit a deer on 27 just before the turn on 8.  So I drove down to where she was at.  There was significant front-end damage to the Expedition and the airbag went off.  Kim was shook up, but able to drive it to J & D's service station.  Sherman drove Steve down and picked Kim up.  I don't know if the truck is fixable r not.  Thankfully it looks like the snow storm we were supposed to get tomorrow has veered to the North.  Hopefully, the storm on Monday/Tuesday misses us as well. 

1st Ice Trip of the Winter

4:00-5:45PM Bulldog
Conditions: 40-36℉, Mostly Sunny, West Wind turning calm, 30 feet of water

8.5" VMC Fly/Jamei/Wax (Glow)

So the Bugaboots arrived in the mail today.  Think I should have gone with a size 10, oh well.  Trying them out on the ice gave me the motivation to finally get my act together.  I went to Bulldog because I figured the ice would probably be safe there.  There was a guy out fishing when I arrived.  I elected not to go and get minnows by eeny, meany, miny, moe the decision in the Holy Family parking lot.  I checked with the spud bar on my way out.  A couple of times I was able to put it through with two shots, but most of the time I couldn't get through with 3 shots. Shortly after I started fishing the other guy left.  Somebody left a container of waxies out on the ice.  I missed the first fish that bit.  Then nothing.  I hole hopped a few times before finding something.  I landed a couple of Bulldog Lake Specials.   I found a few more fish back towards the North.  I forgot to put the heater in the car, so when I got cold I left.

Maybe I will go after some sunny's out there.

6 Crappie

How Bow Dah!

19.75" VMC Fly w/Maki Jamei (purple)

4:00-7:30PM Rock Lake My Spot

Conditions: 56-40℉, Mostly Sunny, Light SW wind,  16' mostly the waypoint holes.

I drilled a total of 4 sets of holes with the one's at the waypoint being triples, instead of my usual double, so I could put the new Aqua-Vu Micro 5c down.  When I went to use the MoPod the batteries were dead, so I had to position the camera manually.  Today there was better water clarity than the first time I tried it;  On that day it was basically unusable visibility was so poor.  I had a few sunfish and perch come in at first then nothing.  I stopped looking at the camera for a minute as I straightened out some things in the Fish Trap.  Next time I looked at the camera there was a fish looking right at the camera.  It was far enough away I couldn't tell if it was a pike or a bass.  It then swam right up to the VMC Fly as I was jigging it.  It sucked it in and spit it before I could react.  I kept jigging it and it sucked it in again.  The battle was on.  I pulled out the ducer and got the camera pulled up as well.  It did get tangled in the minnow line, but I was able to land it without a problem.  She put up a great fight.

19.75" VMC Fly

I was like dang, this fish is a really good one, almost 20 inches.  Unfortunately I didn't think to take a picture of it in my measuring cradle.  I released her down a different set of holes.  I would say it went a bit shy of 4lbs.  

I went back got the lines untangled and put on a new minnow and got the camera back down the hole.  I put the Rippin' Rap down the hole for doing the camera centering.  I had it almost right on, just needed to make one little adjustment.  When I got that done, low and behold there was another good bass staring down the Rippin' Rap.  Sure enough it could't resist and took a bite. I had it hooked for about 5 seconds then it got off.  

I'm not sure if it was the same fish or not, but almost immediately after it got off a fish came through and took my minnow.  I  set the hook and the battle was on.  I thought to switch off my anti-reverse switch so I could back reel my baitcaster.  There was not going to be a repeat performance of me breaking a fish off like a couple of weeks ago.

17.75" Glow Demon w/minnow

This fish was much more chunky and I thought to get the picture in the measuring trough.

I went back to fishing.  The visibility started getting more difficult due to little things in the water, not because of lack of light.  I missed the first crappie that came through and I started catching some sunfish and perch.  Mostly I just played with sunnies because they weren't very big one's.  I did get this 7", which was my biggest for the night.

7" VMC Fly w/Jamei & spike

I finally landed my first crappie for the night. Didn't think to take a picture of it.  When it bit I thought it was a sunfish I was looking at on the camera.  Not long after that I gave up on the camera because the visibilty was so bad.

    I caught this one potato chip.  I started moving around to my other holes and picking up crappies on the Fly and the Demon.  I finally thought to take a picture of a crappie.

9.25" Demon w/minnow

I decided I was on my last minnow at 7PM.  I caught a couple crappies on the Fly before a crappie came and took the minnow; I landed that fish.  I got a couple more crappies on the Fly and then I packed up.  I think I got fish in each set of holes.  It was a bit sloppy on the ice, but not to bad.  All in all a good night on the lake.

13 Crappies

19 Sunfish

8 Perch

2 Bass