Newton quickie 12/17

[gaardvark]

Told the kids I would take them ice fishing on Saturday, but got off to a very slow start. About 3 o'clock, we finally got out the door and ran up to Newton as I had heard there was a tent city on Mantua. Took a 13 yo daughter and an 8 yo son with me, and as we arrived we walked onto the ice with some hesitation at first. After drilling a hole, we were far more comfortable. 4-5 inches of clear ice, with some frozen slush thrown in as well. We drilled 6 holes, and dropped lines. After 15 minutes of no action, I drilled some more holes progressively farther out from shore. I told the kids to switch up, and we all moved.
I started getting some very light bites, but was unsuccessful for a bit. Finally, I got a hookup and told the kids. As I was taking it off the hook, my daughter announced she had one on. She got it up, and as we were taking the hook out of that one, my son announced he had one as well. Perfect, no skunks for any of us.
We continued to fish for another 20 minutes or so, and my daughter did get one more. Fortunately I am a big enough person to be glad when my daughter out fishes me. It usually seems to happen that way so I am used to it by now.
By then, the sun was dipping below the mountains, and the holes were freezing up along with our noses, so we packed up and left.
All in all a great, successful, abbreviated trip for just a few perch.

Score-
Me: First fish
Daughter: Most fish (2)
Son: biggest fish (maybe 9 inches)
Everyone was a winner
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Thanks for the report. That's kewl that you got the kids out, and everyone got on some fish. What depth did you finally find the perch at? I need to make it up that way, but probably won't be until "next" year.

[gaardvark]

Didn't really check the depth. We were running so late, we just threw the rods and auger in the trunk and left. Didn't bring any sonar, and don't really know the lake well enough to hazard a guess as to depth.
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[thefriends03]

That was me directly east of you. We didn't get into much either -way just a few sinks. I hit Mantua in the morning then came out to Newton. To be honest, Mantua isn't as busy with tents as it was this time last year.

I am hoping to get back out to Newton this week. The ice I was in was a good solid, clear 5 inches, in case anyone was wondering.
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