I'm excited for this blog. Although all blogs tend to lose their appeal after a few months, this one is built around something that I love to do and will always love to do. Hopefully that keeps me motivated to post.
Considering the weather conditions outside in the beginning of March, I suppose it's only fitting that I start this blog off with a recap of the winter for 2011-2012. I'll try to keep it condensed, despite having several months of fishing to write about.
For those that don't know, my dad and I first got started ice fishing during the winter of 2010-2011. This was only my second winter ice fishing, and consequently, we are still very much in the learning process. However, this winter we were able to catch a couple nice fish for the metro area and put some meat on the table.
The season started as soon as three inches of ice is on the lakes, which is the general requirement for walking thickness. We started the season off with a trip out to Gray's Bay, and ended up catching a few small perch and a little northern. It would have been fairly uneventful except that Joey actually went with us for this one and I think he even had fun when he saw the northern. It was only two feet long and we let it go, even though anything over 14 inches is fair game for filleting. For some reason he did not trip the tip up, I must have set it up incorrectly. Below is the pike and my (slightly smaller) perch... haha.
I think that next we went to Eagle Lake with me, dad, and Nicholas. We started off slow but when we moved a little, it picked up and we ended up catching a few black crappies. We took those guys home and once they were filleted we had about 12 ounces. Wasn't much but you have to start somewhere!
We were able to get out to Medicine Lake twice this winter, which is my go-to spot for northern. The second time I had Kevin, Graham and Alex come out too - unfortunatedly they didn't catch anything. Each time we went out I got one on the tip-ups - first one was about 23 inches and the second was about 28 1/2. They were both under 30 so we kept both of those and filleted them to add to the crappie. Many people don't think about eating northern because of the y-bones, but once you know how to do it it's not hard. And it tastes just as good as walleye.
For my birthday, Dad, Grandpa Terry, Joey, Nicholas and I rented a shanty on Mille Lacs and went walleye fishing until around 3. It was painful because we left right when they started to get active... I caught an 11-incher and dad caught a 21 and a 23 (which got released because they are in the protected slot). We missed about four, which I am still mad about. It was still a blast though.
That was pretty much all of the eventful fishing of this winter. There were a few other trips resulting in no significant fish, including days at Spurzem, Carson's Bay, and Wayzata Bay. But for the most part, I consider us fairly successful.
Notes from this winter:
- Spurzem winterkills and is not a good winter lake
- Walleye bite much lighter than northern on tip ups
- Small changes in location matter a LOT
- a fish finder is invaluable
- presentation, presentation, presentation
- Always have a clear plan before going out and know exactly where to go
- Never forget the tent stakes
