Fishing Forum

To those of you waiting for this report with baited breath, I have a suggestion for you. Quit eating your bait!

Seriously, here's the report from our trip over there today. We drove into the Rabbit Gulch access and found the road plowed, restrooms open and fishable ice. Remember that the Rabbit Gulch access is part of the State Park and there is a fee station. Daily use fee is $7.00. A word of caution: The ice is about as thin as I will fish and walk on. There is about 4 inches of new, solid ice that starts about 50 yards offshore. There is a distinct line marking the older somewhat thicker ice near shore. The most recently formed ice is clear and strong. We hiked about a mile and a half today and the thickness was consistent all around Rabbit Gulch. There was a set of tracks from yesterday or the day before and they headed across the bay to the rocky island on the far side. We followed the tracks and started fishing in water about 40 feet deep. Almost immediately one of my friends caught a nice rainbow. We were fishing typical perch rigs with small pieces of perch belly and right on the bottom. We didn't get any other hits, so we started moving around and trying different depths. We fished in water from 32 feet to nearly 60 feet and couldn't locate the perch.
At noon we decided since deeper wasn't the answer, maybe shallower was. We hiked toward the back end of the Gulch and found 22 foot water. This was around 12:30 and we got into the perch. The action was fairly steady but the vast majority of the fish were in the 4 to 8 inch range. We did get five jumbos that were 11 to 12 inches. We also caught three more RBT about 17 inches each and FAT! They have been invited to a smokefest in my yard. We just didn't find a group of the larger perch. I would estimate the three of us caught about 50 perch and we took home around 12.
I would not recommend the use of 4 wheelers or snowmobiles until the ice can get a few inches thicker. Now that the lake is capped, the ice should build fairly fast with the current temperatures. I think we'll give it another try and start at the upper end of the Gulch and hunt around for the bigger perch and maybe some walleye.
The photo is of the three larger RBT we brought home for the Masterbuilt smoker.

Mike
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Good report Mike. Thanks for the info/update......
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if you dont mind asking i was wondering where you access rabbit gulch is on your way to the main marine or what i have never ice fished there and i am planning on trying to catch some eyes through the hard deck any if thanks in advance.
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[cool][#0000ff]The turnoff to Rabbit Gulch is not marked on Hwy 40. I like it that way but it makes it tough for anybody trying to find it the first time.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]As you approach Starvation and can see the bridge ahead of you, there is a left turn lane to the north and some mail boxes on the south side of the road. This is just a little over 1 mile east of the Strawberry River access sign. Turn north onto the frontage road (old Hwy 40) and then keep following the paved road east to Rabbit Gulch. There WILL be a sign a short ways up the road to confirm you are on the right track. Don't follow the turn to the left. That goes back into some private property and oil drilling area.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Here's a map.[/#0000ff]
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thank you TD can't wait to get out and try it
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Thanks for posting Mike.

In the past, the perch on that lake have been tough to locate. Many of us have tried!! A few guys (Pikeman, FOD and Wet1) have been able to find a few, but tough to pattern.

I've never winter-accessed via the Rabbit Gultch route. Is there plenty of parking area/turn-around space plowed?
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The Rabbit Gulch road is plowed to a point about 200 yards beyond the fee station. They have plowed a parking area that would probably accommodate about 10 vehicles if everyone pays attention and spaces their vehicles appropriately. If there were a number of ATV or snowmobile trailers, the space could get a little cramped. There is room back up the road a little ways that people could park trailers and leave room for more vehicles at the end of the road.

Mike
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[#0000ff]Thanks TD for the map.[/#0000ff] I'm sure it will help the folks unfamilar with Starvy. Just for a little more help, we found the perch yesterday in the general vicinity between the letter "p" in the word Camping and the letters "u and n" in Launching on TD's map. At least for now, the perch seemed to be in water around 20 to 23 feet deep. I would imagine the entire upper end of the Gulch may be productive now.
Mike
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[cool][#0000ff]Good report Mike. Glad you got out and found some fishies. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have had it in mind to try the shallower locations in Bunny Gulch myself this winter. Everybody seems to want to fish the deep fish, but there are a lot of them that run back up into those weed areas to feed both on the baby perch and the invertebrates. Got some intel from a couple of old timers last year that they were getting jumbos all winter in less than 30 feet. I have some spots that hold fish in the summer that just might produce under the ice too. I am willing to do the R & D to verify. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let's plan a meetup over there. Do I have to bring my rear view mirror?[/#0000ff]
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No, you won't need the rear-view mirror. You should continue using the back-up beeper alarm though!

We are probably going to try Starvy again next Tuesday or Wednesday depending on work schedules for those who are still impaired with responsibility.

I think the ice will be good enough for ATVs or snowmobiles next week which would reduce the hiking distances.

Mike
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Thanks for the report. I might head up there next tues or wed if I can find a way to break free of my wintertime duties around the house.[:p]
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I hope you can make it over next week. Wednesday is looking most likely for us. I always enjoy meeting the others crazy enough to venture out when it's minus 20 degrees.

If you do come over, leave the tube at home. Like I told TD, it's a long drag and the rules do not allow you to make a hole big enough to float your craft. []

Nice picture of your tube. I'm pretty sure the Navy's Aegis guided missile cruiser has fewer things sticking up.
Mike
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Dang. I guessed the auger will have to do. Thanks for the compliments on the tion. I was able to obtain another one similar that I am currently working on pimping out. Trying to fi[]gure out how many more rods it can hold.[]
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OMG! The next hit reality show: Pimp My Tube!!

Hope to see you at Starvy.

Mike
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Hate to tell you TD, you are an old timer !!!!!

Thinkin about heading out mid-week next week as well. We might have to take a radio or something and work on finding them jumbos. I would consider taking a four wheeler if the ice thickens up like it should. Eighteen below? Yea buddy,[fishin] I will see ya there.
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[quote Therapist]Hate to tell you TD, you are an old timer !!!!![/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Oh nooooooo! You mean there is really NOT a problem with my mirror?[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You're no spring chicken your own self.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]But, it's NOT the years of your life...[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff]it's the life in your years.[/#0000ff]
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Well said TD.[]
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