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+--- Thread: FG trip (/showthread.php?tid=1097517)
FG trip - catchinon - 03-09-2021
I don't really want to make this post because I have nothing to brag about and kinda doubt it will do anyone any good. But one person told me they were looking forward to my report so here it is.
Brett and I headed out from Park City about 4 Friday afternoon. We stopped in Evanston to get a reciprocal permit at the Walmart. Their ice-fishing gear and some other things were on closeout so I bought a few things. We tanked up at Arbys so we wouldn't have to hit the ice on empty stomaches. We made it to Firehole right after dark. In short order we were where (we thought) Brett had caught 9 burbot two weeks before. We drilled some holes but didn't see much. We were in about 25 fow just out from the side of a rocky ridge. We decided where to put the shelter, a double-wide insulated Eskimo, and used the adapterI borrowed from Obifishkenobi to quickly secure it tp the ice. Spoiler alert: the wind never did blow seriously at all. We used Brett's Nils and Milwaukee drill to make a couple of holes each inside and a few outside. We both got our lines in the water and then Brett went out to see what he could find down the other holes. A bit later I went out to see how it was going. When I came through the tent door I could see my rod butt moving about. In short order I landed the skunk-buster a 17.5 incher. Not my dream burbot but it would put me on the board. A while later I got a 21"er that made me feel better that would ultimately do me no good in the contest as it tied for smallest in the Other category. Around eleven I caught another that slotted between the other two. And that was it. I was dismayed that Brett never caught a one as he usually drubs me, but you never know until you go. We spent the night jigging away all to no effect. I had only brought my 6-gallon bucket to sit on so my back and shoulder began to ache quite a bit so eventually I spread out a tarp and tried to get some rest. I may have dozed off but every once in a while I would look up and jig one pole. It was nice and warm in there with Brett's lantern and heater going.
I got up and we got more active trying for the early morning bite before dawn. It seemed like there were no fish left in the lake; we never marked a single fish. When the sun came over the ridge we packed up and headed for our laker spot off swim beach where we had caught a lot of fish last year, including a 25.5"er. (As we left our burbot spot we noticed where others had fished and had fires. It looks like we missed the best spot in the dark.) Brett caught a 21" lake trout that gave him a bump in the contest. I (sorta) hooked a couple but they got off halfway up. By about noon I was ready to throw in the fish-slimy towel but we stayed another hour. Brett got a bigger fish on but it got mixed up in his transducer before I could get there and lift it up out of the way and it got off. And that was the end of the excitement.
The water temperature was cold. The air wasn't very cold, probably in the low 20s. The ice was 3/4-7/8 of the auger thick. We got 11.5 holes per battery. A fun time was had by all.
RE: FG trip - Cowboypirate - 03-10-2021
Tough run to go all the way out there and have the fishing off. But, I guess it was better than not going.
RE: FG trip - Mooseman75 - 03-10-2021
Nice to hear how things went and glad you were all safe. So since you were safe, you had fun, you caught fish, (sort of) it wasn't a total waste right? Hmm I don't know it's 2:30 in the morning maybe I'm not thinking straight but time with Brett is priceless
RE: FG trip - Bduck - 03-10-2021
My annual spring fling is coming up also. I usually venture up for a day when the bows are running in wolf packs along shoreline. I like seeking for early season kokes.
RE: FG trip - SkunkedAgain - 03-10-2021
That's kind of the same story I've heard all year from the gorge this season... It never really got going from the stories I've heard... Always lots of potential, but not a lot of catching this year... I mean fish were caught, but not the big catches like we all dream of... Sounds like you did fairly well though, I've heard of slower trips, so don't feel too bad about that one... Later Jeff
RE: FG trip - catchinon - 03-10-2021
Well Jeff, I think I'm going to throw in the smelly old fishing towel and just get ready for the cats. I just thought that I could finally put something on the scoreboard in all five categories. Maybe by next year I'll have my snowmobile going and go places like Smith and Morehouse and Echo Lake as well as Strawberry and other places. I've always wanted to be one of the cool kids and tag along.
RE: FG trip - Springbuck1 - 03-12-2021
(03-10-2021, 01:53 AM)Cowboypirate Wrote: Tough run to go all the way out there and have the fishing off. But, I guess it was better than not going.
A lot of guys have probably already heard me gripe about this, but I've never seen the ice fishing ON up there. I'm just snake-bit or something.
Quite few years ago, my ad and I got all excited about burbot, and everybody made it sound so easy. Three years in a row we went 3-4 times/year, I think a total of 10 times, blowing hundreds on gas and the reciprocal, toughing out single digit temps past midnight and 25 mph winds with no tent. The total take for the whole enterprise was a couple of fat 16" rainbows. Every time, I'd log on BFT afterwards, and every time, everybody was saying how nobody ad done very well.
So, I'm sympathetic, but it's about time to give it another try now that I have a little gear. Aren't they spawning or about to spawn, or am I off?
RE: FG trip - Cowboypirate - 03-14-2021
(03-12-2021, 04:01 PM)Springbuck1 Wrote:(03-10-2021, 01:53 AM)Cowboypirate Wrote: Tough run to go all the way out there and have the fishing off. But, I guess it was better than not going.
A lot of guys have probably already heard me gripe about this, but I've never seen the ice fishing ON up there. I'm just snake-bit or something.
Quite few years ago, my ad and I got all excited about burbot, and everybody made it sound so easy. Three years in a row we went 3-4 times/year, I think a total of 10 times, blowing hundreds on gas and the reciprocal, toughing out single digit temps past midnight and 25 mph winds with no tent. The total take for the whole enterprise was a couple of fat 16" rainbows. Every time, I'd log on BFT afterwards, and every time, everybody was saying how nobody ad done very well.
So, I'm sympathetic, but it's about time to give it another try now that I have a little gear. Aren't they spawning or about to spawn, or am I off?
I love spring fishing at the Gorge. Ice off rainbows, when the wolf packs are shore crusing, can be a hoot, and a great way to make the spring test with the smoker. For us bank tanglers, its a must do.