03-11-2013, 01:29 AM
First of all, it has been a couple of weeks since my last post and I am done ice fishing, chomping at the bit to hit some steelies. So I went over Saturday evening to Ellis. To early I hear you saying to yourself and you are absolutely right, but here are a few important details.
If you are zipping over at night don't forget all of the deer and elk along the roads. Ten miles out of Mackay a doe launched over the fence we had maybe 50 feet to stop a full size truck pulling a camp trailer, not going to happen. Do you know what a 125 lb. doe will do to the front end of a truck a 60 mph. Need new bumper, new grill, new lights, new front quarter panel. Fortunately, a kind rancher stopped in the dark and help us pry the bumper so we could turn the wheel without catching.
As we pulled into Ellis there is a little campground. You know the one, guess how many campers were parked there? None! Uh Oh, there is your first clue that the fish aren't there yet, no people. Well, that didn't deter us from pounding the water mercilessly from morning till about 3:30 in the afternoon. I saw three fish landed and fortunately I got one of the three. I have never landed a steelie on this stretch over 30 inches so when I hooked this fish I thought I would muscle in as usual..... Fifteen minutes later I still haven't seen fish. Finally a sneak peak.... HOLY COW! THIS FISH IS BIGGER. Final measurement, 30 and three quarters long and 8lbs and 14 ounces heavy. A personal best.![[Image: happy.gif]](http://www.bigfishtackle.com/images/gforum/happy.gif)
Hopefully you can see picture at bottom. My guess everybody is that we are at least two weeks, maybe even three before those fish hit that area. Still some big ice chunks coming down river and very cold at night. Looking forward to next trip at end of month. By the way please don't curse under your breath when I tell you I use bobbers, I have the utmost respect for you drifter fisherman. To each his own right? But I got off of a double bead set up tipped with shrimp.
Happy fishing.
Hope I got pictures right.
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If you are zipping over at night don't forget all of the deer and elk along the roads. Ten miles out of Mackay a doe launched over the fence we had maybe 50 feet to stop a full size truck pulling a camp trailer, not going to happen. Do you know what a 125 lb. doe will do to the front end of a truck a 60 mph. Need new bumper, new grill, new lights, new front quarter panel. Fortunately, a kind rancher stopped in the dark and help us pry the bumper so we could turn the wheel without catching.
As we pulled into Ellis there is a little campground. You know the one, guess how many campers were parked there? None! Uh Oh, there is your first clue that the fish aren't there yet, no people. Well, that didn't deter us from pounding the water mercilessly from morning till about 3:30 in the afternoon. I saw three fish landed and fortunately I got one of the three. I have never landed a steelie on this stretch over 30 inches so when I hooked this fish I thought I would muscle in as usual..... Fifteen minutes later I still haven't seen fish. Finally a sneak peak.... HOLY COW! THIS FISH IS BIGGER. Final measurement, 30 and three quarters long and 8lbs and 14 ounces heavy. A personal best.
Hopefully you can see picture at bottom. My guess everybody is that we are at least two weeks, maybe even three before those fish hit that area. Still some big ice chunks coming down river and very cold at night. Looking forward to next trip at end of month. By the way please don't curse under your breath when I tell you I use bobbers, I have the utmost respect for you drifter fisherman. To each his own right? But I got off of a double bead set up tipped with shrimp. Happy fishing.
Hope I got pictures right.
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