12-13-2004, 10:17 PM
Finally made it up to Woodruff this morning. I was a little worried about ice conditions with all the warm weather, but I figured what the heck...at least I'll be able to buy cheap gas in Evanston even if I can't fish. So I got up there around 8:30, temps were 22 at the reservoir. The ice looked OK, so I tossed a rock...no problem. Went out a few feet and drilled a hole. About 4 inches, so I'm good. I fished from 15 feet to 50 feet of water. Probably drilled 20 holes, and moved around a lot trying to locate some fish. Never happened! I moved around on both sides of the lake, walked about 1/2 way to the back, and even fished the middle. I only landed 3 fish. All were cutts, about the same size. I only ended up with 4 strikes, at least I hooked 3 of them. I only saw 10-12 fish on the finder all day long. I was either in the wrong place at the wrong times, or there aren't many fish left in there. I'll bet the drought is really having it's effect on the spawn. There was barely a trickle running down the stream.
I left about noon, took a quick drive up to Birch Creek, it was really low. I didn't have time to fish there, but it looked like a few people had been out on the ice. I've heard that since KUTV did that thing on BC last fall, it got fished out. I should have left Woodruff earlier and given it a try. Oh well. The weather was beautiful, 35 degrees when I left, and no real wind to speak of!
Use caution if you go up, the people that were there over the weekend made 2" tracks through the slush. It had of course refroze, but it is very slippery. All of the holes I drilled away from shore were 5-7" of ice. 2" was that white bubbly ice, and about 4 inches of clear. If it doesn't cool off soon, you'll need a plank to get out, as the edges are opening up a little.
Here is a pic of one of the fish I caught. They aren't really big, but they have nice colors.
[inline woodcutt.jpg]
[signature]
I left about noon, took a quick drive up to Birch Creek, it was really low. I didn't have time to fish there, but it looked like a few people had been out on the ice. I've heard that since KUTV did that thing on BC last fall, it got fished out. I should have left Woodruff earlier and given it a try. Oh well. The weather was beautiful, 35 degrees when I left, and no real wind to speak of!
Use caution if you go up, the people that were there over the weekend made 2" tracks through the slush. It had of course refroze, but it is very slippery. All of the holes I drilled away from shore were 5-7" of ice. 2" was that white bubbly ice, and about 4 inches of clear. If it doesn't cool off soon, you'll need a plank to get out, as the edges are opening up a little.
Here is a pic of one of the fish I caught. They aren't really big, but they have nice colors.
[inline woodcutt.jpg]
[signature]
