01-03-2023, 02:18 AM
(01-02-2023, 10:34 PM)Jig-fisher Wrote: Slush monster did not touch what the conditions were like at East Canyon today. Drive in was 4wd the last couple of miles with about 8" of snow on the road. State park had not yet plowed in the park although they showed up while I was unloading. Snowplow did clear the roads later in the morning. Edges were super soft and I went through in about 3 ft of water just trying to get on. One boot wet. I should have brought my waders or hip boots. Once on, it was a thin crust with about 4-5 inches of water/slush beneath, then about 6" of clear solid ice underneath that.
Walking was like leg day at the gym. Every step was a breakthrough slushy mess. Legs were burning after a bit of a hike out. Nothing in my first holes. No marks. Decided to get the full workout and hiked across to my favorite spot. Fish were there, but not many marked. But the ones that did were very nice. Big fish on soon after first drop. Lots of drag taken and when it started up the hole, pop...gone. Broke the line. Next fish was a solid 18". Then a good 19" that wrapped the other line, wrapped around the ice ducer and made quite the mess of everything taking drag several times. But landed it. Next fish came unbuttoned near the hole and last one after several runs just did a Houdini and disappeared. I don't know what happened there. Those big bows fight like freight trains and are a blast. But that was it. Slow but 2 good ones on the ice. I won't mention the hike back to the truck. I know I hiked too far and I paid for it.
We really need some cold weather to firm everything up.
Thanks for the info on ice and fishing conditions.