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Ice Fishing Thread

Skerpokes

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Anybody have ice yet? My guess is only up North has some.

Probably won't be able to get on the ice here until at least after January 1st I'm guessing. Been a short season the last few years, hoping that changes this year but we need colder temps ASAP.
 

NEhomer

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Sadly, I've missed ice fishing the past couple of years due solely to laziness. I plan on getting out more this year.

Guess I better plan on cleaning out the auger fuel lines.
 

Skerpokes

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Sadly, I've missed ice fishing the past couple of years due solely to laziness. I plan on getting out more this year.

Guess I better plan on cleaning out the auger fuel lines.


I bought a hut two springs ago. Spent last winter down in Arizona so I have yet to use it still. That's going to change this year.
 

NEhomer

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A hut is very important. You have to be able to get out of the cold on many days.
 

DHoey

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I haven't ice fished in probably 5 years but I do fish the banks of the Columbia in the winter time. Grand Coulee backs up the river for 100+ miles and it produces some of the finest rainbows around.

Here's a pic from the last time I pulled something through the ice though.

camera pics 073.jpg
 

Skerpokes

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Sadly, I've missed ice fishing the past couple of years due solely to laziness. I plan on getting out more this year.

Guess I better plan on cleaning out the auger fuel lines.


I've only actually REALLY wished I had a hut about half a dozen times or so and mainly it was because of the wind.
 

NEhomer

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Some days are unfishable without a hut. Single digit temps with a stiff wind is just too miserable to tolerate.

Nice DHoey....great table fare.

We go after big pike that winter over in the slackwater coves off the Housatonic river that runs south through the Berkshires of MA.

I'll post a few pics later....work blocks imgur for some reason.
 

MAIZEandBLUE09

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Anybody have ice yet? My guess is only up North has some.

Probably won't be able to get on the ice here until at least after January 1st I'm guessing. Been a short season the last few years, hoping that changes this year but we need colder temps ASAP.
I think I might give it another shot this year, but the ice is just too thin yet. I haven't been in probably 15 years but all the stuff to do it is still up in my parent's garage.

I'm having a hard time this "off season" with not being able to regular fish. I had so much fun with the trips I took this year that I'm going through withdraws.
 

Wingingit

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I think I might give it another shot this year, but the ice is just too thin yet. I haven't been in probably 15 years but all the stuff to do it is still up in my parent's garage.

I'm having a hard time this "off season" with not being able to regular fish. I had so much fun with the trips I took this year that I'm going through withdraws.

MB, Awesome place to get ice/fishing reports, Michigan Sportsman's Forum LINK:

Michigan Sportsman - Online Michigan Hunting and Fishing Resource
 

NEhomer

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Pulled out the auger and it fired up last night. Raining here though.

Anyone have experience with the electric drill augers?
 

Skerpokes

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We should have enough ice here to fish in about a week or two. Most lakes are locked up or nearly locked up. Supposed to have an entire week of below freezing weather which will help
 

NEhomer

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We're in a deep freeze here in Western MA so it's a go for Thursday morning. I just have to get bait tomorrow. We're fishing a cove off of the river where the river once ran. Not sure if we'll be the first ones to hit it and it's been a couple of years but it once held some really nice pike and bass.
 

Skerpokes

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We're in a deep freeze here in Western MA so it's a go for Thursday morning. I just have to get bait tomorrow. We're fishing a cove off of the river where the river once ran. Not sure if we'll be the first ones to hit it and it's been a couple of years but it once held some really nice pike and bass.

You use waxies? Minnows?

It's 4 below here today and the high over the next 5 days or so is supposed to be 21. Every other day is teens or single digits so I think it's a go for us on Saturday with a high of 2 degrees.
 

NEhomer

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I'm gonna go see if the local bait shop has pike bait as we call it. Giant shiners up to 7 or 8 inches. My buddy's son and his friend are looking to start up the hobby so we're gonna show 'em the ropes.

The ropes start out for us at 5:30 in the dark. All of our type is in before first light. 1) we get our spot and 2) at first light it's flag! flag! flag!

Folks who go out on the ice at 8 or 9 have already missed the best bite of the day.
 

NEhomer

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Shit, after spending the entire day buying bait and gearing up we decided to postpone until sat or sun. We have 1 degree here with a stiffening wind (18mph) so it was going to be brutal out there.
 

Skerpokes

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I think I'm playing hooky tomorrow and heading out, assuming there is enough ice. 1st time out always makes me a little nervous each year. Most reports are showing 3 inches of ice so far. It's been cold as f@#k here for about 3 days straight and will continue through the weekend so hopefully we'll have fishable ice in the next 24-48 hours. By Sunday for sure.
 

NEhomer

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Nice. You guys should be good after three days of serious cold.

Even with a hut and heater, answering one flag, playing and landing the fish, releasing it and winding up the cord back on the spool, re-baiting with a fresh minnow and resetting the type. In single digits with a stiff wind, your fingers are in absolute pain.

We're going Saturday....single digits but with zero wind.
 
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NEhomer

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Good times eh?

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