I have never fished ice off and was hoping for any tips on what to use and where to go. Is it the kind of fishing my sons ( 8, 5, 2) could do? Thanks in advance.
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i hear tyube jigs are awesome, but i only FF there and use zoo cougars and chubby's or choronimids
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[quote brunomoki]
I have never fished ice off and was hoping for any tips on what to use and where to go. Is it the kind of fishing my sons ( 8, 5, 2) could do? Thanks in advance.
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Probably not. Ice off is most effectively done casting and retrieving, which may not work too well with your young sons. The shorelines tend to be muddy at ice off and the temperatures can still be on the cool side.
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I agree with Kent. Sure you could toss out some bait in open water for the kids, but Ice-off fishing usually includes lots of walking shorelines and casting jigs. Perhaps if you found a productive large stretch of open water where you could jig and also tend to the young ones you could still do OK. Just remember large stretches of open water at ice-off at Strawberry can also mean large crowds. You often need to walk a ways to find the better fishing.
Timing is critical also. Once the ice pulls too far off shore, fishing success drops dramatically for about a month up there.
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Looks like I might get a day on the water by myself. What kind of jigs or flys are best? Without the kids there i might just break out the flyrod. Do you just need to find a spot with some open water and cast out near the ice?
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That can work well, but a sinking line would be a good choice too. Like Koch mentioned, Chironomids under an indy....killer.
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[size 3]know the oneswith the button you push and release to cast.... I take my son 18 months littlebrothers 4,9,11 out and all but my boy cast own rod and catch fish. I just takethe fish off and release it so I know it is done right. with my boy I fish mynormal rod and he reel's in the fish so I say take the boys.... not a day goesby I don’t try to take my son out with me fishing when I go. Kids are like spongesin many I say otherwise. 8 and 5 are plenty old enough to get a casting rod forthem to use their self. you ways they soak up everything you say but also youractions. A 5- 10 min lesson on casting with one of those rods I mentioned andthey will catch on. Also they are boys right??? So get them out there get muddyand just have a good day spending time with your kids... you never know whenwill be your last day with them or their last day with you. As for cold weatherput there snow cloths on them and dress them warm they will love it[/size]
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FG how do you fish with chironomids, I think i remember you posting about a slip indicator. How do those work, Im planning on hitting the berry alot more this year.
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Then we will had to get together. I have some slip indicators.
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Yes for sure, I have missed ice off the last two years! Last year I drove all the way to meet someone in heber and it was a horrible drive in the snow, decided to turn around and went to little dell and by then the strom had cleared, later read that strawberry was awesome that day. I never made it back up there last year so we will defintely have to go so you can show me the ropes!
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[quote STEVEF39]Yes for sure, I have missed ice off the last two years! Last year I drove all the way to meet someone in heber and it was a horrible drive in the snow, decided to turn around and went to little dell and by then the strom had cleared, later read that strawberry was awesome that day. I never made it back up there last year so we will defintely have to go so you can show me the ropes![/quote]
I hit ice off last year, well there was still ice ,but enough open water to get the pontoons on. Hit it one year when there was only about a hundred yards of open water at the ladders, seemed like the rest of the lake was still iced up. I too need to try fishing the chironomids. I looks like it will be a learning experience. In the process tying some flies for it. It is always nice to have someone show you the ropes.
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Lets plan for it guys. I am so ready[cool]
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when is ice off usually for strawberry ??
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Early May this year.
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[quote flygoddess]Then we will had to get together. I have some slip indicators.[/quote] I'm so in!! I bought some slip indys and haven't touched them for fear of not knowing what im doing. Be a good place to try out my new furled leader[
] Lets make it happen!
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[quote STEVEF39]Yes for sure, I have missed ice off the last two years! Last year I drove all the way to meet someone in heber and it was a horrible drive in the snow, decided to turn around and went to little dell and by then the strom had cleared, later read that strawberry was awesome that day. I never made it back up there last year so we will defintely have to go so you can show me the ropes![/quote] +1!
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[quote TylerKunz][quote flygoddess]Then we will had to get together. I have some slip indicators.[/quote] I'm so in!! I bought some slip indys and haven't touched them for fear of not knowing what im doing. Be a good place to try out my new furled leader[
] Lets make it happen![/quote]
Being retired I will keep a close tabs on the ice conditions, we hit it pretty close last year ,probably could of been up there a day or two earlier. I am in also. No problem for me what days, I fish with a friend that has a couple days off in the middle of the week, so that is nice, but any day is good for me.
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Cant wait! Ill have to do some reasearch on slip sinkers and how to fish them. Joni do you have any go to patterns for the berry that I can start tying. You can pm me if you need to with some pics maybe [blush]
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I am good during the week as well except Thursdays. Let me know how you want to get those indys.
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Count me in too. I can go just about any day I want if I give the boss enough notice ( I am self employed I own a carpet cleaning business) .
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