Took my kids out for their very first time today to Rockport.
I don't think I have seen my son
that much in years. [laugh]My daughter was so patient and never left her pole.
The weather was great and there was LOTS of people out today.
What a great day. Can't wait to go out again, maybe tomorrow.....
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Dang- I knew I shoulda gone today! thanks for the report Canuck, what were the ice conditions? Looks like it might have been a little slushy with the warmer temps. Also- mind sharing what they were biting on? Looks a like a fun day. Going Monday- can't wait.
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Glad you got out! No invite[:p] good to see your kids had fun nothing like seeing there faces when they hook into that first fish. I have that extra gear for you so you are prepared next time you go, and I expect a invite maybe tomorrow FOD is gonna hit me up later so if we go your welcome to come and I will bring that gear for you and your kids.
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Got a little slushy by noonish, but it stayed pretty frozen. Ice was 6 inches, we were lucky to have a fellow icer drill us some holes. Thanks Neighbor!
We started out with just some worms. Nothing was bitting for us. I think Fullmoonfishin gave us some good luck when I text him for some pointers, we caught 2 in a row right then.
We used a little power bait and my son caught the biggest one of us all.
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We would love to go if you guys head out. I even gutted my very first fish tonight, that was, umm, exactly what I thought it would be.
Always always, blanket invite for you.
You are awesome to share your gear, you would have been proud of me hauling all that gear in there today, not as bad as that hill you and FOD tackled, but I definitely was thinking about you guys while we were packing up [:/]
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Yeah well FOD tends to over pack and has to much shit! Just JK i have too much shit but its alot of fun when the kids get out and catch a bunch of fish and the
s are the best thing when they have a fish on and get it through the ice.
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Nice post and pix !!! Did you or anyone round you catch any perch ???
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Did not see anyone catching Perch around our spot.
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Where do you park when you fish Rockport? Is there any place to park where you don't have to pay the fee, or do have to pay every time you go?
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Last year the only place I knew of where you didn't have to pay is right at the first pull off at the dam. The fishing has been hit or miss for me for the past few years ice fishing the dam area. The problem I saw was that a lot of the people there trashed the ice, I am not trying to stereo type anglers who don't want to pay the fees are the ones who leave the most garbage on the ice, but it has proven true in most of my experiences in high traffic public areas. There are surely people out there that will leave trash no matter where they are.
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Hey, I just read the whole thread and as I am looking at the pictures, I had a double take. "I know that chick" Good to see your a member on BFT. I think that is awesome that you just went out and took your kids ice fishing. Not many moms out there that do that. The kids look happy and like they might take a liking to more fishing. It looks like you know what your doing out there. Nice job.
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No, I get what you're saying - sometimes I like to go to the places where you have to pay for that very reason - the number of people always seems to go down drastically when you have to drop some $ to fish.
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Man I was cracking up but that is true dont stero type its true they dont pay and leave there crap for us to pick up but I will gladly up your trash and i will glady turn them in for leaving it and they are probaly taking more than there limit as well P>O>S is what they are. Lets get out and tear it up again, bowhunter come on buddy lets hit the starvy for a weekend because I think thats what its gonna take. And the rest of the Starvy fisherman lets do a Ice recon for them eyes!
Babe sorry for changing your post glad you got out but FOD had a good point.
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That's funny FOD. Yes my kids are instantly addicted like I was. They were ready to go out again on Sunday and my son even cooked his fish up that night. He cant think about anything else than catching fresh fish for dinner [
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Fullmoonfishin is a good teacher so I have to give him the credit for me not looking like a complete idiot out there. We'll all have to head out again soon, you guys are welcome to haul all the gear [blush]
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Hey Im just glad so many people are interested in my Post, got some good dialogue going on.
Also, I will make double sure I don't leave any garbage behind, and I will definitely think twice about the whole peeing on the ice thing. [blush]
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[quote crazycanuck] . . . I even gutted my very first fish tonight, that was, umm, exactly what I thought it would be.
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Having gutted a few fish in my years - I've been converted to a fillet fan over the past couple years. Found it takes a bit more time in prep, but cleaner, and faster - easier for the eating. Grew up picking bones out of small panfish, and am trying to spare my kids that concern. Watching my daughter slam down smoked or fried fillets - I don't think the bones would stop her!
Even got sold on the idea of using an electric fillet knife.
Plus - as you might appreciate, there is a lot less contact with the "innards" of the beasts. I have a pair of gloves that are rubber dipped, helps keep a grip on them slimers!
Post I made on [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=632953"]Bluegill Fillets[/url]
Attached is a set of pix from Tubedude on Filleting trout. Also a collection of recipes. I'm making Perch Chowder tonight! Can't wait....yummmm. And don't forget the superspice. I have my own variants, but you can't go wrong with the basics - salt-pepper-plus.
Don't know if you're a fan of smoked foods, but a simple foil-pouch punched with holes on a BBQ can give a nice subtle smokey flavor. Or you can "plank" em on Cedar.
Nice use of the "green" grocery bag! See you got the insulated model! Just wasn't sure on that one pic if I should rotate it so your child is upright, or so the fish is upright! Hardeehar. Thanks for the post. Glad you got out with the kids - looks like ya'll had a good time.