Deer Creek 11/22/24

[MrShane]

Went on a solo trip looking for Walleye and Perch today.
Started at 9:30’ish and used bb’s with one floating harness on one side of boat and silver blade on other side, both were adorned with half a crawler each.
Surface temp 47.7F.
I bounced, and bounced, then bounced some more.
Then I used lead head jigs to no avail.
After 3 hrs or so I switched to death rolling half a crawler between .9-1.1 mph.
Then it was game on…..
But all trout, and lots of them. Sometimes two at a time.
Did that for about 1 hr. till sick of that.
Was about 1:30 now, and planned to leave around 2:30.
Had poles all over my boat so put away all my bb’ing poles and the slow death rigs.
A slight breeze pushed me out of my 15-25’ zone as I cleaned up.
I fired up big motor to go give a distant shoreline my last hour.
I put big motor in gear and was in 51’ fow about to lay the hammer down when I caught a Perchy looking school on the fish tv.
I immediately killed motor and anchored over them.
I sent down a plain jig head on one pole and a Kastmaster on other, both wearing 1/2” crawler.
Very small bites but they were there.
In next hour and fifteen minutes caught maybe 8-9 Perch and probably 6 more Bows while lowering jigs.
Bites were extremely light and tough to set.
Actually had to drop jigs straight down and fast as possible to bypass trout.
7-8”ers and some up to 11”.
Even the 7”ers were filletable due to girth.
Probably my last trip, have to have knees replaced starting with first one mid Dec.
Sadly, struck out bad on the Eyes….. 

[brookie]

I did fairly well for eyes on DC back in October, but my last two trips have been very similar to yours. Lots of rainbows, some perch but eye-less. I have moved on to Jordanelle looking to see if I can find any koke schools in preparation for December.

[dubob]

Probably my last trip, have to have knees replaced starting with first one mid Dec.

Been there; done that.  TKA left in 2015.  Still going strong with absolutely no issues.  Wish the same for you.  I won't be looking for you on the ice this coming season. 

[Jmorfish]

Tks for your report on DC..good to hear there are some perch to be caught again..we used to do ok on the perch thru ice 6 or 7 years ago..maybe we'll find a few again this winter, if it freezes up..

[MrShane]

Probably my last trip, have to have knees replaced starting with first one mid Dec.

Been there; done that.  TKA left in 2015.  Still going strong with absolutely no issues.  Wish the same for you.  I won't be looking for you on the ice this coming season. 

Thanks Bob.
I am hoping I do as well as you.
Can’t even walk safely through the duck ponds anymore without fear of going down.

---

Tks for your report on DC..good to hear there are some perch to be caught again..we used to do ok on the perch thru ice 6 or 7 years ago..maybe we'll find a few again this winter, if it freezes up..

You are very welcome.
I really miss those days of jigging up Perch through the ice on DC.

[Freakyfisherman]

Went on a solo trip looking for Walleye and Perch today.
Started at 9:30’ish and used bb’s with one floating harness on one side of boat and silver blade on other side, both were adorned with half a crawler each.
Surface temp 47.7F.
I bounced, and bounced, then bounced some more.
Then I used lead head jigs to no avail.
After 3 hrs or so I switched to death rolling half a crawler between .9-1.1 mph.
Then it was game on…..
But all trout, and lots of them. Sometimes two at a time.
Did that for about 1 hr. till sick of that.
Was about 1:30 now, and planned to leave around 2:30.
Had poles all over my boat so put away all my bb’ing poles and the slow death rigs.
A slight breeze pushed me out of my 15-25’ zone as I cleaned up.
I fired up big motor to go give a distant shoreline my last hour.
I put big motor in gear and was in 51’ fow about to lay the hammer down when I caught a Perchy looking school on the fish tv.
I immediately killed motor and anchored over them.
I sent down a plain jig head on one pole and a Kastmaster on other, both wearing 1/2” crawler.
Very small bites but they were there.
In next hour and fifteen minutes caught maybe 8-9 Perch and probably 6 more Bows while lowering jigs.
Bites were extremely light and tough to set.
Actually had to drop jigs straight down and fast as possible to bypass trout.
7-8”ers and some up to 11”.
Even the 7”ers were filletable due to girth.
Probably my last trip, have to have knees replaced starting with first one mid Dec.
Sadly, struck out bad on the Eyes….. 

I hit Deer creek looking for eyes about a month ago. I wanted to vertically fish them, but the wind was just enough to keep me from doing so. I did, however, manage to have a few mystery hits that I'm pretty sure were walleye, but that is a guess since I did not hook or land anything that outing. You know, those bites that make you say, what was that? My buddy was catching them deep, about 40 to 50 ft. So I wanted to duplicated what he was doing, but I had to settle for pop jigging a powerbait minnow in those same depths. If you make it out again, try deep and even if you dont mark anything on bottom, they may be hugging it so tight, sonar wont pick them up. Also, find the transition from rock to soft bottom. 
Gabe

[dubob]

Thanks Bob.
I am hoping I do as well as you.  Can’t even walk safely through the duck ponds anymore without fear of going down.

I've been using ski poles in the marsh for about 8 years now to reduce the chance of taking a header into the water.  Works 99% of the time.  ?

[MrShane]

Went on a solo trip looking for Walleye and Perch today.
Started at 9:30’ish and used bb’s with one floating harness on one side of boat and silver blade on other side, both were adorned with half a crawler each.
Surface temp 47.7F.
I bounced, and bounced, then bounced some more.
Then I used lead head jigs to no avail.
After 3 hrs or so I switched to death rolling half a crawler between .9-1.1 mph.
Then it was game on…..
But all trout, and lots of them. Sometimes two at a time.
Did that for about 1 hr. till sick of that.
Was about 1:30 now, and planned to leave around 2:30.
Had poles all over my boat so put away all my bb’ing poles and the slow death rigs.
A slight breeze pushed me out of my 15-25’ zone as I cleaned up.
I fired up big motor to go give a distant shoreline my last hour.
I put big motor in gear and was in 51’ fow about to lay the hammer down when I caught a Perchy looking school on the fish tv.
I immediately killed motor and anchored over them.
I sent down a plain jig head on one pole and a Kastmaster on other, both wearing 1/2” crawler.
Very small bites but they were there.
In next hour and fifteen minutes caught maybe 8-9 Perch and probably 6 more Bows while lowering jigs.
Bites were extremely light and tough to set.
Actually had to drop jigs straight down and fast as possible to bypass trout.
7-8”ers and some up to 11”.
Even the 7”ers were filletable due to girth.
Probably my last trip, have to have knees replaced starting with first one mid Dec.
Sadly, struck out bad on the Eyes….. 

I hit Deer creek looking for eyes about a month ago. I wanted to vertically fish them, but the wind was just enough to keep me from doing so. I did, however, manage to have a few mystery hits that I'm pretty sure were walleye, but that is a guess since I did not hook or land anything that outing. You know, those bites that make you say, what was that? My buddy was catching them deep, about 40 to 50 ft. So I wanted to duplicated what he was doing, but I had to settle for pop jigging a powerbait minnow in those same depths. If you make it out again, try deep and even if you dont mark anything on bottom, they may be hugging it so tight, sonar wont pick them up. Also, find the transition from rock to soft bottom. 
Gabe

Thank you for the tip Gabe.
I would much prefer using a live minnow but you know….Utah.

---

Thanks Bob.
I am hoping I do as well as you.  Can’t even walk safely through the duck ponds anymore without fear of going down.

I've been using ski poles in the marsh for about 8 years now to reduce the chance of taking a header into the water.  Works 99% of the time.  ?

Yes, I religiously use a ski pole while carrying shotgun cradled under bad arm while wading ponds/canals.
But, if I go down my shotgun sinks real fast!

[dubob]

Yes, I religiously use a ski pole while carrying shotgun cradled under bad arm while wading ponds/canals.
But, if I go down my shotgun sinks real fast!

One of these might help.  ?

[SkunkedAgain]

Good luck Shane, hope the recovery goes very well... Both at the same time will probably be a lot tougher than my single knee rebuild and I couldn't believe how fast I lost muscle in my leg that was operated on... I just had the ACL / MCL rework on my knee and I imagine the full replacement will be interesting... Best of luck on the rework... Later Jeff

[MrShane]

Good luck Shane, hope the recovery goes very well...  Both at the same time will probably be a lot tougher than my single knee rebuild and I couldn't believe how fast I lost muscle in my leg that was operated on... I just had the ACL / MCL rework on my knee and I imagine the full replacement will be interesting... Best of luck on the rework... Later Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Sorry to not clarify.
One knee Dec. 16, other knee roughly 6 weeks later.
Then shoulder after that.
Even only having one hand last 30 years I still felt invincible, until about four years ago (52 yrs old then). 
Now 56 and can’t believe how fast I’m falling apart.
I’m a mess….
I just hope my wife does not sell my fishing gear and guns for what I told her I paid for them. Haha

[dubob]

Good luck Shane, hope the recovery goes very well...  Both at the same time will probably be a lot tougher than my single knee rebuild and I couldn't believe how fast I lost muscle in my leg that was operated on... I just had the ACL / MCL rework on my knee and I imagine the full replacement will be interesting... Best of luck on the rework... Later Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Sorry to not clarify.
One knee Dec. 16, other knee roughly 6 weeks later.
Then shoulder after that.
Even only having one hand last 30 years I still felt invincible, until about four years ago (52 yrs old then). 
Now 56 and can’t believe how fast I’m falling apart.
I’m a mess….
I just hope my wife does not sell my fishing gear and guns for what I told her I paid for them. Haha

Both rotator cuffs repaired (2010 & 2011), total knee done (2015), and new shoulder coming Feb 5.  I'm 82 and still doin' it.  You'll be fine.  ?

[Jayweymouth1]

Hey Shane, my friend.  
I have had two Reverse Shoulder Replacements after both were reconstructed earlier. Two Hip Replacements, two Knee Replacements, Open Heart Surgery to put in a  Mechanical Aortic Valve and a just last year, a Pacemaker put in last year.
The worse by far were the shoulders. 
After all these surgeries, it has added 10 years to my life. Instead of being 77, I feel like I am 87!!!
Just kidding, you will do fine.
Still ice fishing, still traditional bowhunting-shooting my Longbow, duck hunting, and walleye and koke fishing. Just do it a lot slower now
Good luck.

[SkunkedAgain]

Hey Shane, sorry thing got so crazy for you lately... I sure noticed my age this last year... I hit 60 and can't believe how much things started to go down hill... Hopefully this building project has helped make me feel a little younger, so maybe I need to keep more active... Anyway, best of luck through all that fun...... I need to get a shoulder done as well or both, but I keep putting that off for fear of how long the recovery will be, plus it's not terrible so I don't have to do it... Anyway best of luck... Jeff

[MrShane]

Hey Shane, my friend.  
I have had two Reverse Shoulder Replacements after both were reconstructed earlier. Two Hip Replacements, two Knee Replacements, Open Heart Surgery to put in a  Mechanical Aortic Valve and a just last year, a Pacemaker put in last year.
The worse by far were the shoulders. 
After all these surgeries, it has added 10 years to my life. Instead of being 77, I feel like I am 87!!!
Just kidding, you will do fine.
Still ice fishing, still traditional bowhunting-shooting my Longbow, duck hunting, and walleye and koke fishing. Just do it a lot slower now
Good luck.

Jay, so nice to hear from you!
You are a bionic man now!
Sure did miss you at Powell last couple trips.
Art moved to Montana and Gary has been very busy taking care of his wife, Sarah.
The group dwindled down to just a buddy of mine and me this last spring.
Take care!

---

Hey Shane, sorry thing got so crazy for you lately... I sure noticed my age this last year... I hit 60 and can't believe how much things started to go down hill... Hopefully this building project has helped make me feel a little younger, so maybe I need to keep more active... Anyway, best of luck through all that fun...... I need to get a shoulder done as well or both, but I keep putting that off for fear of how long the recovery will be, plus it's not terrible so I don't have to do it... Anyway best of luck... Jeff

Thanks Jeff!

[gofish435]

Man, this thread started out as a great fishing report with lots of pictures.

Then it headed south into everyone's medical history. 

Now I'm starting to feel guilty because at 78 I still have all my original equipment.  

I know it can't last but so far so good.

Keep on keeping on!