Posts: 15,517
Threads: 1,314
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
12
Fished Strawberry today with Shawn. Getting to the marina was an adventure. We found at least a foot of new snow, and some deeper drifts, on the road from Highway 40 to Strawberry Marina. The road had not been plowed and we slowly made our way over there with two other vehicles following me (Why am I always the leader?). Was hoping that at least the parking area would be plowed, but no such luck. I think all of us got stuck in the parking lot. Tried to get the vehicle and trailer positioned a little better and was able to move it about five feet and called it good.
Headed out to fish "The triangle"; however, it was snowing so hard that it was impossible to see where we were. I decided we had gone far enough and stopped the snowmobile and we stepped off into the worst slush I have encountered this year up there. There was about 1 1/2' of snow on top of at least 15" of slush.
I was worried that the snowmobile was going to be stuck when we tried leaving in the afternoon, but I shouldn't have worried. It handled it with no problems. I immediately drilled a hole and found that we were in about 78' feet of water, so I knew we were close enough to where I wanted to be. I spent awhile building an island to fish off of and Shawn started fishing. He had caught about 3 fish before I even baited a hook. I was pleased that I built a nice island, because it served me well.
After an hour or so I heard Shawn screaming with joy and I looked over and he had landed his first ever kokanee. A couple hours later he landed a second even larger kokanee. Between times we were reeling in many cutthroat.
I fished a couple hours with two rods rigged for kokanee and I may have had a hit or two from them, but I'm really not sure. I then fished most of the rest of the day with one rod rigged for kokanee and the other rod rigged for cutthroat. I was amazed at the number of cutthroat that we were able to catch fishing in that deep of water. I caught them from a couple feet under the ice down to almost 60' deep. Most were caught down from about 30' to 35'.
Shawn definitely won the quality prize and I won the quantity prize.
Getting out of the parking lot was also no small task. We found it was still totally unplowed. We unhooked the trailer and turned it around by hand. I then backed all the way out of the parking lot out onto the road. Then I backed all the way back in the parking lot to the trailer. Towed the trailer to the road and drove the snowmobile to the road and up on the trailer.
Another fun day of fishing with great company.
Shawn with his two kokanee.
[inline "Shawn kokanee.jpg"]
[signature]
Posts: 213
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2005
Reputation:
0
Sounds like an adventure. That’s what we all do it for. Congrats on the Kokes. I still am waiting for my first as well.
Gaetz
[signature]
Posts: 1,168
Threads: 169
Joined: Sep 2014
Reputation:
19
Great job I’ m jealous, nice fish Shawn!!!
[signature]
Posts: 317
Threads: 9
Joined: Feb 2008
Reputation:
1
Nice story. Way to brave the elements! I hope the Kokes are an indicator that this Spring/Summer will be great for Kokes again this year.
TiteLines
[signature]
Posts: 3,997
Threads: 56
Joined: Sep 2007
Reputation:
21
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]Very nice fish Kent. I'm planing on going up next Tuesday with Mike. Its been several years since I pulled a kokanee through the ice on Causy and Porcupine and they were under 12" long. Hope I can do better on Strawberry. [cool][/size][/#800000][/font]
[signature]
Bob Hicks, from Utah
I'm 82 years young and going as hard as I can for as long as I can.
"Free men do not ask permission to bear arms."
Posts: 1,762
Threads: 165
Joined: Jun 2010
Reputation:
3
Great report and thanks for sharing. I'm glad you are having these adventures so I can enjoy them at my computer.
If the slush gets much worse were going to have people drowning above the ice!
[signature]
Posts: 15,517
Threads: 1,314
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
12
[quote Piscophilic]
If the slush gets much worse were going to have people drowning above the ice!
[/quote]
Aint that the truth. I have fallen down in it a few times and each time I have been grateful that there has been someone close by to help me get back up. Otherwise, I would have had to put my arms down in it and get even that much colder and wetter.
[signature]
Posts: 1,762
Threads: 165
Joined: Jun 2010
Reputation:
3
Quote: I have fallen down in it a few times and each time I have been grateful that there has been someone close by to help me get back up. Otherwise, I would have had to put my arms down in it and get even that much colder and wetter.
OOOH, that does sound cold!
[signature]
Posts: 3,126
Threads: 172
Joined: Apr 2018
Reputation:
11
"I have fallen down in it a few times and each time I have been grateful that there has been someone close by to help me get back up. Otherwise, I would have had to put my arms down in it and get even that much colder and wetter."
One of the reasons I may try the chest waders. Or does anybody have a size 44 wet suit I could borrow?
[signature]
The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
Posts: 843
Threads: 26
Joined: Jun 2018
Reputation:
3
Thanks for another great outing Kent. Considering the conditions, transportation worked out quite well. I've heard it referred to as the slush monster. At times it sure felt like there was a 'monster' down there grabbing hold of my feet keeping me from lifting them up and out. Catchinon- I decided to wear an old pair of duck waders this trip. They worked well except my feet got cold. It wasnt a particularly cold day, but they aren't as well insulated in the rubber boot and I had to wear a thinner sock to get them to fit better. I haven't used them since high school and my foot seems to have grown a smidge since then. Overall I was very happy I brought them. I'm going to look into the breathable ones that were being discussed on the other thread.
[signature]
Posts: 3,126
Threads: 172
Joined: Apr 2018
Reputation:
11
Cold feet is something I have been concerned with when using waders. And how do the boots full of water work out? I did buy the $500+ Simm's last year and am wondering how the separate boots work out when out on the ice. They sure aren't insulated, though I think I got them big enough that I can wear extra socks.
[signature]
The older I get the more I would rather be considered a good man than a good fisherman.
Posts: 1,331
Threads: 62
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation:
6
Okay Kent, I have been curious since you posted this thread. The title referred to checking something off the "bucket list". I know you have ice fished before, fished strawberry before, used the snow machine before, caught cutts before, driven in the snow before. You said that you did not catch any kokanee, so what did you check off the bucket list? Being on the ice with someone that did get kokanee? Sounds like a great trip - I just didn't get the bucket list thing. [crazy]
[signature]
Posts: 228
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2016
Reputation:
0
Other than the slush it sounds like you guys had a great trip. Wish I could have joined you. What was your best cutt of the day?
Gotta say I'm a little bit jealous of that koke Shawn. He is a real beauty!
[signature]
Posts: 15,517
Threads: 1,314
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
12
[quote brookie]
You said that you did not catch any kokanee, so what did you check off the bucket list? Being on the ice with someone that did get kokanee?
[/quote]
Correct, Shawn having never caught a kokanee before and it was on his bucket list to catch one. That said, I have caught kokanee before, but still never one through the ice.
[signature]
Posts: 15,517
Threads: 1,314
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
12
No huge cutthroats this trip. The largest was only around 20 inches. The quantity was amazing though. While I was landing one I noticed another one swim right under my ice hole. I dropped my jig down, less that 5', and watched several of them hitting my jig. I landed 4 or 5 this way and lost several others. Great fun sight fishing through the ice.
[signature]
Posts: 1,331
Threads: 62
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation:
6
Got it, sometimes I'm a little slow. Catching kokes through the ice is still on my bucket list - good job.
[signature]
Posts: 15,517
Threads: 1,314
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
12
No problem, I could have been clearer in my subject. I also could have mentioned that the entire road had been plowed when we went home. It was just dicey getting out of the parking lot.
[signature]
Posts: 228
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2016
Reputation:
0
That is cool. Sight fishing is the best. Half the time I end up ripping it away from them because I get so excited. Lol! Hopefully we can get up there again before the season is over. Sounds like a hoot!
[signature]
Posts: 1,591
Threads: 75
Joined: Oct 2015
Reputation:
3
Cabelas sells some 9 volt socks good to keep warm but not so good for a long walk.
[signature]
Posts: 1,020
Threads: 0
Joined: Sep 2004
Reputation:
1
...after our adventure last Saturday (3/2) with the slush and the conditions I know I was pretty much done ice fishing at Strawberry for the year, but I kind of thought you were thinking the same thing!
I admire your perseverance and that is very cool that you got into the Kokanee's! Especially given the conditions, it's truly a remarkable feat!
I wouldn't have been able to get the day off, but even if I could have, I likely would have declined any invitation to go to Strawberry knowing the current conditions. It just confirms what you already knew about me...I'm a fair weather fisherman. I'm even a fair weather ICE fisherman! (...it rarely rains or snows inside my ice shack!)
Again, quite an accomplishment! I've never caught a Kokanee thru the ice yet either, but I think I can wait until next winter to try...
[signature]
I used to N.ot have E.nough T.ime O.ff to go fishing. Then I retired. Now I have less time than I had before. Sheesh.
|
