Big Bear Farewell

[CoyoteSpinner]

. . . for me and Lavaman anyway. Still some pretty solid ice, but hard to say how long it will last, or how quick it will go.

Gots me my firstest ever Bear Lake fish. So I go to the big lake and catch small fish - wohoo, BUT - it spanked the skunk. At least Lava and Bama had chances to meet some of the big boyz. I think I touched base with a few, and least today, didn't get unpinned. Only a 13 inch Cutt, but I know we got eyeballed by a few bigguns.

[inline "Firstest Bear Lake Cutty.jpg"]

Had loads of good looks - lots of 'race up from bottom' to only 'drop back down'. But dang, seeing those arcs gets your blood pumping. Figure - it's late season - they've seen it all, but still funny to have em come up- show on my finder, then a minute later Lava's got 'em noodling his gear.

[inline "In Cognito 32incher.jpg"]
Neighbors hooked into a nice one, they landed this 32 incher - what a toad. The photo is 'disguised', but when it takes two hands to hold it, um - yeah.


Ran across the "sword in the stone" - we suspect it was Bamaboy's broke rod, suspicious spits, what can ya say!
[inline "Rod in the Ice.jpg"]
[inline "Bamaboy's Broke Rod.jpg"]

Never know what kind of luck the Bear's gonna bring. Might just have to try floating it some - see what I can learn.

[inline "Step on a crack.jpg"]

This may not be my last ice-outing, but don't think I'll be up to the Bear again during the fading hard-deck season.

[inline "I love ice THIS much.jpg"]

[wiperhunter2]

Good for you John but that sucks only that one fish after how many trips[:/]? Well that is BL for you, at least you didn't get skunked. So the edges were good getting off the ice?
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[catmaster23]

Nice job! Why didn't hold the fish out for the pic?
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[hookngrinin]

[quote CoyoteSpinner].
Neighbors hooked into a nice one, they landed this 32 incher - what a toad. The photo is 'disguised', but when it takes two hands to hold it, um - yeah. [/quote]

Was it a cutthroat or laker? A 32" cutt would be a toad.
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[CoyoteSpinner]

4 trips, 5 hookups, one fish landed. Feels like ME on Willard. I think you have it right though - that is Bear Lake for ME! alrighty! It's new, had to try the ice while the opportunity was there.

Catmaster - if only my arms were longer... that sucker was wiggly strong for a pup. About bait size to your big lunker!

Hookn - mine was a Cutt, the big toad was a Laker, they dropped it back down, but one of the other neighbors had a more significant Cutt flopping on the ice. Seen a few other fish caught, but slow day all around.

Edges were good - I'd start to worry about the wheelers, there were some puddles forming on top of the ice at the edge.

[wiperhunter2]

Looks like we will be making one last trip up there tomorrow, hope the ice hangs on, I'm thinking after that I might be looking for some open water to fish. You are right about taking the opportunity when you can at BL, good ice years like this, don't come around very often.
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