Mud Creek

[fairwayphilly]

I didn't end up making it to mudcreek friday until about 1:30 or so. I know I bumped into the middle finger angler coming off of the ice. I was the guy in the grey dodge just heading out as you were leaving. I did so so; I picked up probably 10-12 fish from 1:30 - 4:00. The fishing really died after four, not another single bite. Many days that is about the time it starts to pick up again, but not last night. I only put the tape to one fish, she was 21, caught one really fat rainbow that I sent back all the rest were 18-20 inch cutts. Bites were really light, I can only remember actually feeling one or two bites, all the rest were subtle movements of the strike indicator. I; like one of the other anglers mentioned, had several fish pick my offering up out of the mud. The fish were really low, within 6" of the bottom most of the time and I was using a bounce the jig 1" up and back down into the mud technique. Only one other group stayed to fish until dark. Talked to them and they said the same thing as me, fishing really got slow after 4:00, they had lanterns and said they were going to stay another hour or so.
I drove by CCE on my way out, it was right at dark, but there was one group of people still on the ice. Conditions looked very iffy. Ice extends only about 150 - 200 yards off of one shore line, I didn't walk out and talk to the people fishing, but I did walk about 20 yards out onto the ice and it still looks like there is 4" or so judging by the bubbles I can see. It's still clear and black for the most part; however, I would use EXTREME caution, especially if there is much snow that has fallen.
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