Hit the west launch yesterday morning at 7:00 with light rain and no other cars. Brought a plank and used it although there were probably access points away from the ramp. Ice looked scary however was 5.5 " thick average. Walked to shoreline connecting Wallsberg with Rainbow and proceeded to drill from 8 to 70' approx 35 holes. Jeanine landed the first and only trout at 9:00. We used a variety of jigs tipped with waxworm. Other people would look and drive off. Some people fished sail boat beach around 11:00. We set up our new fatfish 949 in 35' of water just as the rain began. The tent leaks in all the seams And I will add 10, pcs of 1/4" rope to the wall tie offs instead of their shoestring. Left at 3:00 in a steady drizzle everyone else was gone. On a side note we bought 2 Coleman legacy suspension chairs. They are the finest fishing chair ever. There was about 2 to 3' of water in front of the ice when we left. We need more cold or it is over.
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I fished deer creek yesterday afternoon. I first went over to Charleston only to find tons of open water. As I was leaving I almost went right off the road around the snowy turn. My front tire was just a inch or two from the edge when I finally came to a stop. That scared the crap right out of me. I drove over to the island and unload there. I got to the water and noticed open water around all the edges of the lake. Some spots within 5 feet of the ice other spots 50 feet from the ice. I would recommend taking a plank or piece of wood to get onto the ice. I feel in to my knees when I left. I walked across the lake to the north side and fished about 30 yards from the shore in 33 feet of water. 2 hours pasted without a bite. I was marking fish half way down on the fish finder though. Packed up and walked back over to the north side of the island. This time I fished about 10 yards from shore at 17 feet deep. I caught one big fat rainbow right off the start. 22" 3.5 lbs. The biggest I have caught out of DC. That was all action I had for about an hour then I caught the Last fish of the day around 3:30. The bite was very light but the fish were there. I was using pink ratfinky's tipped with a wax worm.