Fishing Forum

Headed out about 6.45 got to the pond around 8.30 or so. Cooooold! Snot was freezing right in my nostrils! Latter found out that it was negative 16 so freezing boogers is understandable.
Anyways, we fished the first boat ramp in 11-12 feet of water, near the outer buoy's. Initial bite was great. Landed 3 nice rainbows within the first hour of so. Bite slowed thereafter but didn't stop completely.
Between 3 of us we landed and kept (we only keep fish in the winter) 19 bows between 3 of us, missed 1/2 that again and lost 5 or so at the hole.
Fish are in fantastic condition. The average today was 16" with the smallest being 14" and the largest being 21".
A lot of fisherpeople on the ice today. Little pockets of tents sprinkled everywhere.
Beautiful day, especially when the sun was at its strongest.

I also tried sight fishing through the ice (yes Im a sucker for anything I read in In InFisherman). visibility is really good, the trouble is that its gets damn cold laying on the ice! I think you have to be bloody loopey to brave that madness, Give me electronics any day!

A question; I noticed "stuff" moving around on the bottom with my electronics. Too small to be a fish. We came to the conclusion that it was weeds. Any other ideas?

Great day all in all at the Field apart from one gripe, why are snowmobilers as obnoxious as jetskiers? One theory is that both machines are designed for personal recreating thus creating a selfishness leading to an oblivion to others and their precious time in the outdoors.
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Between 3 of us we landed and kept (we only keep fish in the winter) 19 bows between 3 of us, missed 1/2 that again and lost 5 or so at the hole.
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3 people x 4 fish limit per person =19 ? Is there a different limit there? Exactly what is sf res?
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I believe he is talking about scofield res. trout limit is 8.
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If you are referring to Scofield Reservoir then the little blips were most likely crawfish moving on the bottom. I was there today too and there were some people with and underwater camera and they let me look and you could see crawfish everywhere with it. He had one that must have only been about 2 inches or so from the lens it was really cool. As for the fishing today. Four of us made it to the lake at about 10 this morning. Dave caught 4 rainbows biggest going 15 inches. Nathan caught 1 bow at 15 1/2 inches. Jason broke one of at the hole that I would guess at 18-21 inches. I had the hot stick for the day and iced 7 bows and 2 cuts. My biggest fish of all was only 14 inch bow. Both cuts are still swimming around and several of the rainbows. All our fish came on crawlers today again like the last trip up. I got most of my fish on a orange jighead with an off white ratso tail or a whatta criket tail, and the rest came on a size 4 circle hook with crawler. Most fish that would come up and take a look if you moved the bait at all they were gone. Only 2 of the 9 I caught today struck after seeing them and then moving the bait.
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Thanks for the info on the crayfish, it makes sense thats what it was. Maybe I will take a trap out next trip, although it may have to be modified to fit down a 12" hole!
I found that the "non" jigging method worked best as well.
We were using genzing worm jigs (or something like that) in a blue glow patten tiped with a waxie and salmon egg.
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Is Madsen bay a decent spot to try on through the ice??

Just came back from a half day today (12/16) at Scofield also. It seems I've heard of success on all colors already this year! (white, peppered, green, red, pink, green, orange, etc etc.) really interesting...

I caught (and released) 15 fish by lunch... 'sight fishing' is really a great way to go. I'll start with watching the finder; Once I see something approaching the jig on the screen I'll hop to the hole to 'sight fish' and set the hook. Most often you really can't see those fish biting otherwise... (indicators included) My fishing buddy(my die hard wife) today felt too cold to be that active to sight fish ... but only came away with 4 fish using the same rig.

(NOTE: a dark ice tent makes sight fishing a simple task!!)

For what it's worth...
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[size 1]in reply to: (NOTE: a dark ice tent makes sight fishing a simple task!!) [/size]
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[size 1]so does a Aqua-VU [sly].. [/size]
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Lol! Touche; the Aqua View reins supreme! I'm workin on a spot for that in the budget

Let's just say a dark ice tent is only one step up from layin on the ice on your belly with a coat over yer head (that works too though!)
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