Fishing Forum

Ok, so I finally got out and went ice fishing today. I ran over to Deep Cr since it was fairly close and the morning was half gone already. I got there at about 10:30. There were a few other groups on the ice -- about 5 or 6 altogether.

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One guy I talked to said that the bite pretty much quit at about 9 am. That's what I thought too, after all they must eat sometime, and it stands to reason that it is whenever I am not there! I am going to have to get out earlier next time.

The ice was about 14 inches thick and the edges were fairly solid in the early part of the day and softened up in the afternoon.

It seemed pretty slow for everyone that I talked to after that. I even over heard two guys from Utah lamenting about wasting a $12 license on the slow fishing.

I drilled 3 or 4 holes and tried each until I started seeing fish come through on their cruise schedule. I started seeing fish in about 16 feet of water. About every 15 minutes or so a small pod of fish would come through. I got my first fish on the ice with a red and black bugger that I was using for weight.

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I caught a few more and missed at least twice as many. They were all about 13 to 16 inches long. Most of those were caught on a red and chartreuse bugger that I usually use for bass fishing. Strange!

The weather was amazing with sun and no wind. It was nice to be out and just enjoy the day. Not a super exciting day of fishing, but definitely relaxing. I about fell asleep!
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Nice fish, I'm glad you had a good time. Oh and by the way the relaxing thing and about falling to sleep on the nice days is what its all about. There is just something about listening to the ice and sitting in the sun, even on the really cold days, that makes it feel like you can go to work one more week!
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Yeah, but the unsettling part is the ice groaning, popping, and then settling right under you!! Wakes me up pretty dang quick!! [shocked] [blush]
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Cool.. gald to see your efforts paid off.
One of these days imma have to try a fly on the ice..
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congrats and you will get use to the noise takes a little bit my wife is a lot more comfortable and enjoying it more each time even tho once in a while she gets a scared look [sly]
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sounds fun eventually we'll start getting everyone to change from bait to flies only [] I,ve got my set ups all set up for nymphing for my thurs chesterfield trip
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Glad to see the flies are working through the ice. I'll have to try it sometime soon.
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Nice work, C! Glad to see you having some success. You are now officially and ice catcherman. Keep the good reports coming.
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Thanks, everyone, for the kind comments. It is a fun learning experience. I lucked out that the fish happened to want something red.

I also need to bring more of a variety of flies with me, A sanjuan would have worked also and I had none left. I need to get some of those flytying jigs that Fly Goddess used. They had some serious bling going, but until then beads will do.

Having a fish finder with me really helped, otherwise I would have moved around even more. I've gotten spoiled floattubing with one and now consider fishing lakes without one as fishing blind. It is more for depth, bottom structure, and what depth the fish are cruising at rather than just if there are fish or not. Yesterday they were almost all at 12-13 feet over a weedy soft bottom at 15. One came through at 7 ft, but it was the only one I saw in 4 hrs. It took awhile to find something that they would take, so it was good that the FF said they were there.

One fish that I caught had a 2 inch long dark brown leach in its mouth. I thought at first it was some fisherman's worm. Leaches are ICKY, but good fish food. He was a chubby little guy. They still didn't take my leach imitations unless they were half red.

Now I want to go after some pan fish or kokes!
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That is awsome I have never fished there. I always keep going up the canyon to Weston. Did you hear any reports about how the ice and fishing was there. I havn't been there after the warm spell the ice was ok at that time but the fishing was real slow. I would like to try it again if you can still get on.
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I have no idea on Weston's ice. It has been cold enough in that area to refreeze the edges, so I would guess that it would be ok especially in the mornings.

Deep Creek was really slow, so I am wondering if the weather changes are also a factor.
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Woo Hoo, nice job icing the first fish![]
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pierce i have cut open there stomachs when i clean them and found alot of leaches in them... but like you said red! Also a ton of snails. i have pulled fish out before that you can hear the snails cracking
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Way to go CP! How is that new auger treating you?
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Going to deep creek or weston tomorow we will se when I get that way..
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Great report. Glad you got into them. The fly/icefishing is going to take off for sure. I know I am going to tie some patterns on those flyjighooks.

Windriver
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cpierce,

I have tied up a couple of FG's jig hook patterns. I hope to try them out soon.
Glad you were successful using fly patterns, that's pretty cool.[cool]

Match
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