01-01-2005, 04:45 AM
I started off year 2004 with Tincanfsh fishing Strawberry on New Year's Day, so it seemed only fitting to put 2004 to rest by fishing Strawberry with him. Fished the Marina area, we walked the furtherest of anyone to the north (almost to the first point). Watched a young man put his arm all the way to the shoulder through his ice hole trying to catch a fish that got off at the hole. I have a hunch he regretted doing that. Set up the shack in 19 1/2 feet of water. Caught about one half of the fish there, and then in early afternoon we went out and fished the deeper holes we had drilled earlier trying to find the fish before we put up the shack. When the schools would come through it was non-stop action for awhile. All fish we caught were cutts, with the largest going about 21 inches and all were in the slot. I ended up catching 13 and Tincanfsh caught 11. Missed more bites than we should have, and lost several that weren't educated to hold on. My best lures were a white and chartreuse Nils jigging lure and a silver Kastmaster. Tipping everything with a chunk of minnow was the ticket. Tincanfsh caught most of his on a jigging spoon and a jigging Rapala. Found out that Billy is of absolutely no help at all if one accidently hooks himself in an almost delicate place, because he can't quit laughing long enough to be of any help. He sure is a blessing in hauling the shacks and sleds up the hills though. The drive home was almost a whiteout to about Park City. Very grateful to get home in one piece and with no damage to the Suburban. Lots of slush on the ice near the boat ramp. We were fishing in on ice that was only about 3 1/2 inches thick, and further north the ice appeared to get much thinner.
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