Hard Water Fishing

[Ridgeratt]

So it's the time of year that some of us will be able to walk on water for perhaps a month or two.   

There is a gamut of stuff to use from a tried and true bucket to some quite elaborate shelter's.

This is one I use. Including the led lites  in the tub both Red/White.

 Before all the hi-tech shelters My father had built some from 30 gallon water tank skins and a kids sled. The bows where made from the old aluminum Lawn chairs and the Blue roof tarps were the top. He would put a small camp stove in them for het and he could make his coffee while passing the time.

[Gobble Doc]

That looks like a serious operation.  The perch are in peril.

[Ridgeratt]

Not sure if I am serious or just have 2 much time on my hands. But after I go to pasture then I will get serious. Most  of the time the wife comes to see what I am improving.  Shakes her head and gives me one of these 

[Gobble Doc]

What's the thing with the red handles?

[jackelope]

Auger

[jackelope]

Man I used to love ice fishing where I grew up. Catching 5 gallon buckets full of yellow perch. Good times. Wish it was doable here without having to drive across the state.

[C-Money]

Looks like the ice will be with us for a while, have you seen the forecasted temps for next week?

[quadrafire]

My Dad was pretty serious about it as well. Don't have a pic of his set up, but he even had an auger with a small gas engine.

[Ridgeratt]

Looks like the ice will be with us for a while, have you seen the forecasted temps for next week?

  The best part was we got the first ice with no snow in it, makes for clear solid ice. Even if it get snow now ice is formed from the bottom down so just keeps getting thicker. 

[jackelope]

My Dad was pretty serious about it as well. Don't have a pic of his set up, but he even had an auger with a small gas engine.

We had one of those augers too.  We had a trailer we'd pull behind the snowmobiles with all our gear in it.

[Woodchuck]

My Dad was pretty serious about it as well. Don't have a pic of his set up, but he even had an auger with a small gas engine.

We had one of those augers too.  We had a trailer we'd pull behind the snowmobiles with all our gear in it.

Ah yes, the ol Jiffy Auger, they were awesome. We had a shack on wheels that had a woodstove in it. Those were good times.

[jackelope]

So how do tip-ups work here? Can you even use them? We used to have 1-15 of them set out at a time. I'm assuming that with the 1 pole restriction, that's not legal?

[Ridgeratt]

So how do tip-ups work here? Can you even use them? We used to have 1-15 of them set out at a time. I'm assuming that with the 1 pole restriction, that's not legal?

Tip-ups are legal. With a 2 pole endorsement any combination of tip-ups or rods are ok as long as you don't exceed "BOTH" rod's. 

It is also a proven fact that the strength of the strike is directly related to the distance you are from the rod. You can stand there and watch the rod until your eyes hurt, but just wander off to talk to the other guy and BAM rod looks like it has a seizure.   

Just look for my hut.

[boneaddict]

We used to snowmobile to the lake, dump some gas on a bag of pressed pellets sawdust, light a fire.   Chop a hole with a steel bar with a hunk of sharp steel on the end and then catch trout.  Sleds parked so we could sit and watch.   We'd cut our rod lakeside.   (Willow switch)

[jackelope]

We used to snowmobile to the lake, dump some gas on a bag of pressed pellets sawdust, light a fire.   Chop a hole with a steel bar with a hunk of sharp steel on the end and then catch trout.  Sleds parked so we could sit and watch.   We'd cut our rod lakeside.   (Willow switch)

Did you have to ride your sled uphill both ways to get there?

[Timberstalker]

 

[boneaddict]

Well there were two ways to get there and they were both uphill. LOL    Simpler times for sure.  Dang near vintage pic time. 

[JJB11B]

I went Ice fishing on the 23rd hadn't done that in a long time

[DOUBLELUNG]

I haven't ice fished since I moved to WA, but after 16 years I still have my tip ups, jigging rod and auger.  I did not bring my ice house since it's bulky and cheap to recreate if I ever go that route again (just plywood, 2x4s and a tarp). I definitely miss the days of 6 tip ups each and live minnows for bait. 

[NRA4LIFE]

Jesus, where I grew up, everyone just drove their cars and trucks out onto the ice. Lake Winnebago sometimes had 4+ feet of ice on it.  A power auger was a must.  Gramps would drag all of the kids along to catch more walleyes.  I think we could have 3 tip-ups per human.  we caught a LOT of fish.

[JJB11B]

Sprague Lake use to be good for Crappies and Walleyes through the ice. I haven't fished there since I was in middle school

[Ridgeratt]

Jesus, where I grew up, everyone just drove their cars and trucks out onto the ice. Lake Winnebago sometimes had 4+ feet of ice on it.  A power auger was a must.  Gramps would drag all of the kids along to catch more walleyes.  I think we could have 3 tip-ups per human.  we caught a LOT of fish.

Last year I fished Waitts the end of the year and the day I was there the springs were still soft and the ice was about 4 inches but the temps were dropping. Went back the next at the launch were 2 empty Keystone boxes and car tracks all over with no big holes. Someone was looking out for them.

[C-Money]

Anyone been by Fernan lake lately? Had some good ice fishing days up there when I was a kid...

[sled]

Man I used to love ice fishing where I grew up. Catching 5 gallon buckets full of yellow perch. Good times. Wish it was doable here without having to drive across the state.

easy limits of perch at fish lake.

[C-Money]

Any ice reports from fish lake?

[724wd]

nothing for fish lake, but White Elephant has some other reports