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Full Version: Rabbit Gulch-Starvation 01-12-12
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Made another trip to Bunny Hollow at Starvation today with two of my friends from the Price area. We arrived at 0820 and began fishing about 200 yards off shore from the access point. Due to the lack of snow, you can back right up to the edge of the ice. The ice is absolutely as slick as I've ever seen. Don't even think about venturing out on Starvation without some cleats or other grippers on your boots. There is still some open water in Rabbit Gulch toward the middle of the bay and somewhat east toward the main body of the lake.
The ice near the access is clear and strong and is about 7 to 9 inches thick. It does get to singing a little when the sun starts to warm the surface in mid-morning.
We started fishing for perch in about 15 feet of water and got into the smaller ones almost immediately. We fished for about two hours and I'd say the three of us caught about 80 or 90 perch and I think we kept about a dozen of the larger ones that were around 8 inches. We didn't find any jumbos on this trip.

I walked out deeper and fished for the Starvy Steelhead for about 90 minutes. I caught four of the rainbows, three females and one brightly colored male. I released the male since they are not as good as the red-fleshed females for the smoker. I fished in 35 feet of water and caught the trout about 15 to 20 feet deep. My Marcum Showdown earned it's keep today. I could see the fish approach my jig that was suspended and I would just jig it a few times to entice a hit. I didn't get all of the rainbows that looked at my jig, but I got 4 out of about 10. It does add another dimension to a fishing trip when you can watch the "video game".

I rejoined my friends and fished for perch in shallower water the rest of the day. We were using small jigs tipped with perch eyes or a strip of the perch belly with the white skin attached. The action was fairly constant for the perch, but there are hundreds of 4-6 inchers and only a few any larger. One of these days I hope to find the jumbos like TD and I did last winter.
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Darn good action if ya ask me! Nice work and great report.
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[cool][#0000ff]Sorry we were unable to join you. You just know that if I had brought some of my new trinkets and some "stank bait" the fishing for jumbos would have been better.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]We thought last year was wierd. Looks like this ice fishing season is even wierder.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I hate that super slick ice. A "triple klutz" on that stuff at Pineview about 3 years ago is what messed up my back. That is part of what has kept me off the ice so far this year...slick ice and a sore back.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Let's hope for some snow and cold temps to make more ice and better traction.[/#0000ff]
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Sounds like you had fun, Anyone have a report for under the bridge.

Going up there tomorrow and heard the larger perch are hanging there.
You know me, always receptive of the trinkets and "stancky perch pieces". There is some snow in the forecast and hopefully that will help the slick ice situation. Looking forward to getting with you and TB in the near future.
P.S. haven't found that [#0000ff]TubeDude[/#0000ff] lure box yet, still looking.
Mike
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[cool][#0000ff]If you can't find them, I know the guy that makes them.[/#0000ff]
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I heard the same thing about some larger perch in the bay west of the bridge. There isn't any snow on the ground or on the trail going down the hill to the lake. I didn't want to carry all my gear down to the water since my ice sled wouldn't be of any use. We went to Rabbit Gulch because the access is much easier.
If you do go tomorrow, I'd be interested in how you do because I might give it a try next week if we get some snow. Good luck!

I've fished it before when we took 4 wheelers from Rabbit Gulch around the point and over to the bridge area. Current ice conditions are not suitable for that plan of action. There may be some open water on the route around the point and I suggest people be real careful riding ATVs on the lake if it skims over and we get a dusting of snow.

BTW--There were a lot of drilled holes in the area near the bridge, so it appears it's getting a lot of pressure.

Mike
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Sounds good, I will be going to the Gultch since I don't want to carry everything down to the bridge by myself also.

I will venture out to the deeper areas and see if I can find some.