A Berry Good Weekend

[MWScott72]

The Berry has been nice to me this weekend.  I think the storms that blew thru changed the dynamic out there.  Fishing was much better this weekend than it has been over the past month.  I got to take my wife out on Friday, and we had a good time.  She’s not fond of fishing, but being my birthday, she said she’d go.  She’s over liked lake fishing because it’s “boring” but with a finder to “see” what’s going on below, she was entertained.  Something about being able to
visually see what was going on made it a lot more enjoyable that she was thinking it would be.  Bite was good from 8am until about noon then it tailed off.  We stuck around till 1:30, but that last 1.5 hrs was not too productive.  Lookers but very few takers.  Ended up taking 7 bows home for friends and family.

I hit the lake again this morning with a friend.  Ran into Icerman and two of his boys.  We headed to the same point, and both groups did well.  One of his boys even landed a 12-13” Kokanee.  Gotta say, I was a bit jealous.  Never landed any in that area in half a dozen trips the past couple years.  Fishing was great from 8 until about 11, then slowed way down until 1pm. We made a move from
 45 FOW to 31 (all of about 30 feet distance-wise on the ice) and the fishing exploded for the next hour.  Aggressive fish (mainly bows) 10-20 feet down.  It died around d 2pm (lookers but not takers), so we packed up at 2:30 and headed out.

Best baits were the normal - 1/16 and 1/32 white jigs with Gitzillas or Gizzy Bugs.  White with red flake was best, but Chartreuse and Green got hit too.  Also caught a number on a pearl paddle bug.  Evenly divided between some rigs with flasher/kastmasters to attract or just the jig.  Rigs were tipped with mealworms and smeared with smelly jelly.  Best depth were between about 8-20 feet.

There was about 3-4” of new snow at first light.  Easy walking in.  Walk out wasn’t difficult either, but the top was soft and you sunk 2-3”.  Still not bad by slush standards whatsoever.  Probably will become an issue by Tuesday/Wednesday with the warmer temps coming.

Nice to see you again Tim and glad you guys got into them.  I was surprised that you remembered me!  I may have to Give you buzz if I strike out on birds this spring.  I love hunting down Monticello way.  Just wish the drive wasn’t so dang far!