Long overdue report from Canada part II

[Scombrus]

On December 14th I snuck out to that spot again. No whitefish today, I did see a couple on the x67, they chased but would not commit.

However, where the whitefish were scarce the walleye took up the slack. I'm gonna promise myself to re-tie my fluro leaders with the correct knot in future...I lost 2 monster walleye right at the hole today, one was close to 30" for sure! Bummer.

Mind you I don’t think I would have kept it, even though I needed just one for my limit, three keeper size is enough for the wife and me, I just would have liked the picture!

Here's the pics and vid.....I fished for exactly 2 hours, started slow but as the sun set, the fish turned on......was an awesome sunset on another chilly (-26) afternoon.


VIDEO














As I settled back into my family/work/fishing routine I was heading back to that same lake again on the 17th December with Carmon, as its relatively easy access to walk and we knew the ice was good given that the snow never let up much.

Same set up, jigs and minnows on the drop off at 20'-25' Fow.

No big girls showed today but I got supper. Mysteriously Carmon only got one hit, guess I had the honey holes today.


Here's the vid.



Almost like clockwork, after 4 days of work and looking after young Jack I went out again 0n 22nd December. This time however I went across the lake to deeper water as I was confident the ice was safe across the lake. I went out from 2pm till around 4pm. What an awesome session.

I lucked out with the first hole drilled, fish all over the screen, walleyes on the bottom and schools of baitfish at 20' FOW over 50' FOW.

It wasn't 10 minutes and the auger was still hot by the time I had 3 keepers on the ice. I took 20 minutes to drill a few holes 100yrds away on a spot I had got them last year, came back and iced a few more keeper size before moving to the new holes.

Same kind of depth, only it’s a steeper drop from a 20' shelf I marked in the summer.
Lots of keeper size again, then just like last year I spotted a fish way up at 20' FOW over 50' FOW, reeled up quick to where it was, the fish slammed it! A nice 23".

Lost one at the hole trying to get the camera out, again it was around 24". Both those fish were suspended at 20' over 50', just like last year.

Anyone who is undecided about getting a flasher/fish finder for the ice...don’t...JUST GET ONE! I would have missed both those fish as I was jigging at the bottom when I saw them come in some 30' above my jig...reeled up and SLAM!

Just before 4pm I started to pack up, went to get my set line (which saw no action until I moved it) dropped the transducer down and gave it a sharp jig. No sooner than that a fish screamed of bottom and nailed it. It felt small at first but turned out very close to 27"! All fish on 1/4 white jig with a tail hooked minnow...largish minnows.

Anyways...here's the vid and some piccies.

















After the whole Xmas thing was out of my system (what an awesome Xmas now we have young Jack), it wasn't planned but took my boy (21months old) out for the first time. HE LOVED IT!

He was fascinated by the ice auger drilling holes, loves riding with dad on the "snowmean"...he can’t quite say snowmachine(snowmobile).

His little hands resting on my thigh while he's perched at the front to hold on is sooooo cooooool, 2 buddies out for a ride!

We went and checked out my buddy Lew's shack which he drove out Boxing Day, Jack thought that was awesome, he loved the little hatches for the ice holes.

We only stayed for one hour, and fished for a total of 20 minutes and caught nothing...who cares! But nap time was fast approaching (for Jack) and lunch, although I had brought it with us was not gonna happen out there...he was way too excited to eat.

He cried a lot on the way home, partly because he was tired but also....in his own words ...."LAKE AGAIN....LAKE, SNOWMEAN AGAIN"!!! He did not want to leave!


Will have to get Mum to join us in the shack which is situated right over a prime walleye spot.


Here are some pics from this afternoon. I'll never forget today....ever!!!!

[pingu]

great report

dave

[jthomas]

Wow very nice pictures!!!