Ice fishing

jackpine · Post by **jackpine** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 6:03 pm

Anybody besides me drilling holes yet? Here in Northern ILL we've been drilling up to 8" of ice. I wait along time every year to go ice fishing and it's finally here. The last 4wks we have had some bone chilling temps, I Love it.

Anybody else doing the same?

Fran

Bill Muth · Post by **Bill Muth** » Thu Dec 25, 2008 10:59 pm

I went out today off my back yard for about an hour, caught one little perch. There was NO ONE else on the lake, and I drilled through an inch of ice, then an inch of slush (it rained yesterday), then about three inches of good ice. I probably would have done a lot better if I ventured out further, but didn't want to take any chances. Safety first!

Jason · Post by **Jason** » Fri Dec 26, 2008 1:10 pm

I went out a couple times last month. All I caught was a couple small trout and char. Now its just too cold and there's not enough daylight. I'm done till March & April.

Bill Muth · Post by **Bill Muth** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:23 pm

Went out this afternoon with a friend and my two oldest kids (ages 10 and 7), caught this 34 inch, 8.2 pound pike on fishing a sucker under a tip-up in about 25 feet of water. The best part is that it was about 40 yards off my back yard, gotta love that lake living!

Post by **Brian F.** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:08 am

Whoo hoo, nice fish, Bill!

Robin Sayler · Post by **Robin Sayler** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 3:25 pm

Nice Pike Bill, Way to go. I've been out a couple times this year and haven't pulled anything thru the hole yet.

Bill Muth · Post by **Bill Muth** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:12 pm

My buddy Steve was fishing with us and took a video of the catch with his digital camera. It turned out pretty well, so we posted the video on YouTube if anyone wants to see it. My two oldest kids (ages 10 and 7) were fishing with us, and the best part is their reaction in the background, make sure you have your volume turned up loud enough to hear them: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhJH7yxjaRw

Post by **john elder** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:40 pm

Ah, that's just too cool!...no, I mean really...too cool!

Ed Clark · Post by **Ed Clark** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 5:43 am

Nice Bill! You have to love how excited the kids get.

Post by **Brian F.** » Tue Jan 06, 2009 6:24 am

That's just a great video, Bill. Love hearing the kids and I'm sure they will remember your catch for years to come!

jackpine · Post by **jackpine** » Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:22 am

Really a nice Pike Bill. I've been chasing those pesky Gills and Crappie for the freezer. Nothing better than to get some of those iced gills out of the freezer in the summer. Brings back some good memories and the "want" for some ice fishing again.

Also always on the look out for some old ice reels while talking to fellow ice fisherman.

Fran yay-banana

Ron Mc · Post by **Ron Mc** » Fri Jan 09, 2009 6:47 am

never seen a gator wearing ice skates before.

BirdDog · Post by **BirdDog** » Thu Jan 15, 2009 12:06 pm

A couple of photos of larger fish from last weekend.

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Bill Muth · Post by **Bill Muth** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:22 pm

We hit them again today, this one is smaller than the last one, just a little over 30 inches. Also caught about a dozen little perch, all fish were released. The lake surface was strange today, we've had sub-zero temps and a ton of snow, so I expected some pretty thick ice. We stepped out on the lake to find only about five inches of ice under about eight inches of snow and then another six inches of slush and water. Made for some cold feet when the waterproof boots filled with water! That being said, I am really enjoying the first winter on the lake!

BirdDog · Post by **BirdDog** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:43 pm

Nice Northern

It must weigh in the 8 - 10lb. range.
Sometimes the weight of the snow will push the ice down causing the water to come up on to the surface of the ice.

Don

Post by **Brian F.** » Sat Feb 07, 2009 6:19 pm

Don't go too far out on that lake!

Ice Floe Breaks Away on Lake Erie