01-20-2024, 09:30 PM
Due to questionable ice reports at Echo and justified concerns from parents the NS student Angler club abandoned its ice fish plans and instead went exploring on the Artificial lure only section between Rockport and Echo. Got access to a private section. Absolutely spectacular holes and runs. Great water clarity and ice was limited so we could access the majority of the river. Weather was great. Students were in high spirits with a wonderful collection of leaky muck boots. Beaver and deer activity kept it intresting.
Fishing for brown and whitefish - well in my short span of existence I can say with all sincerity that my home turff river has never handed me a complete skunk until today. The club students beat the water with jigs and every shinny thing in thier boxes. I whipped the water with every nymph patter I own. I got one flash on a size 16 sow bug and a bump on a Tubedude chub jig. But nothing locked on. I know shock surveys in that strech show really solid numbers so no question they were there.
Might be we had so many face popping up over the bank to launch a spoon that spooked them to quick. Best answer I can come up with cause them white fish always want a sow bug or beadhead when it drifts by.
The good news is the kids had a good time and were asking where and when we are going again.
Hopefully early Feb ice will be solid around us or I might have to drag them to the berry
Fishing for brown and whitefish - well in my short span of existence I can say with all sincerity that my home turff river has never handed me a complete skunk until today. The club students beat the water with jigs and every shinny thing in thier boxes. I whipped the water with every nymph patter I own. I got one flash on a size 16 sow bug and a bump on a Tubedude chub jig. But nothing locked on. I know shock surveys in that strech show really solid numbers so no question they were there.
Might be we had so many face popping up over the bank to launch a spoon that spooked them to quick. Best answer I can come up with cause them white fish always want a sow bug or beadhead when it drifts by.
The good news is the kids had a good time and were asking where and when we are going again.
Hopefully early Feb ice will be solid around us or I might have to drag them to the berry
Remember: keep the lid on the worms, share your jerky, and stop by to say hi to Cookie and the Cowboy-Pirate crew