01-17-2013, 02:36 AM
Thanks all. I have had fun and it is good to get out even if it is only a few hours.
Hawkins is very small and it gets fished hard in the spring when it's planted. I think the smaller reservoirs should have a two fish limit as they really are basically put and take community fisheries.It gets fished out a lot. But it is close for me, and I didn't have much time today.
I thought I would add some of the things I have learned so far ice fishing. Over all It has been fun doing some fishing that's new to me. I have learned so much from all of you. Thank you!
Some of the things I learned from ice fishing so far:
1. It's different, but it is still fishing, and it is outside!
2. Keep your camera around your neck and inside your coat.
3. If possible, turn it on before getting the fish out of the hole. Afterwards my hands are wet, and there is no way to keep the fish in the water while I mess around. Unless I am going to take it home to eat it, then I guess it doesn’t matter!
4. It can be colder at a lower elevation lake. It can also have completely different weather in its own little microclimate.
5. If I plan to stay longer, at least bring the shelter and heater in the car. (I wasn’t planning to stay more than a few hours this time, but dang it was cold!) I am having a hard time deciding to set a shelter up because I want to move around. I think that is because I am not confident that I know where the fish are in the winter months. I am learning though..
6. It may have just been the time of day, but the bite really slowed way down after the machines came on the lake. It is a small lake, and they didn’t come close. But the minute they came on the ice I could feel it through the ice and could see the water pressure waves they were making in my hole. I kind of think that the fish in the whole lake knew there was a disturbance of some sort. I got one more bite about a 1/2hr later but that was all for the next hour.
7. Fish can take their time and nibble the marabou ends right off of a fly without getting hooked. I need to make a mental note to use small nymphs or a stinger hook next time.
8. I need a swivel on my lines. Even a little vertical jigging can put some wild twists in the leader. It seemed to be only with some flies.
9. I should make it a snap swivel, because in the cold I don’t want to take my gloves off to tie a knot!
10. Also to go with #9 above, I need to tie up some leaders with an assortment of flies and jigs already on them. Maybe wrap them on a piece of pool noodle.
11. The fish are not always in the same areas they use in the summer.
12. I need to be more patient. I am so used to moving around on a river or in a float tube that I am having a hard time sticking with a few holes and only fishing with the lure moving vertically or not at all. I want to check out too many areas. Mean time I am getting a bite on the pole I just left!
13. I am content with catching only one fish. I am content with catching only one fish. I am content with catching only one fish………[laugh][laugh]
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Hawkins is very small and it gets fished hard in the spring when it's planted. I think the smaller reservoirs should have a two fish limit as they really are basically put and take community fisheries.It gets fished out a lot. But it is close for me, and I didn't have much time today.
I thought I would add some of the things I have learned so far ice fishing. Over all It has been fun doing some fishing that's new to me. I have learned so much from all of you. Thank you!
Some of the things I learned from ice fishing so far:
1. It's different, but it is still fishing, and it is outside!
2. Keep your camera around your neck and inside your coat.
3. If possible, turn it on before getting the fish out of the hole. Afterwards my hands are wet, and there is no way to keep the fish in the water while I mess around. Unless I am going to take it home to eat it, then I guess it doesn’t matter!
4. It can be colder at a lower elevation lake. It can also have completely different weather in its own little microclimate.
5. If I plan to stay longer, at least bring the shelter and heater in the car. (I wasn’t planning to stay more than a few hours this time, but dang it was cold!) I am having a hard time deciding to set a shelter up because I want to move around. I think that is because I am not confident that I know where the fish are in the winter months. I am learning though..
6. It may have just been the time of day, but the bite really slowed way down after the machines came on the lake. It is a small lake, and they didn’t come close. But the minute they came on the ice I could feel it through the ice and could see the water pressure waves they were making in my hole. I kind of think that the fish in the whole lake knew there was a disturbance of some sort. I got one more bite about a 1/2hr later but that was all for the next hour.
7. Fish can take their time and nibble the marabou ends right off of a fly without getting hooked. I need to make a mental note to use small nymphs or a stinger hook next time.
8. I need a swivel on my lines. Even a little vertical jigging can put some wild twists in the leader. It seemed to be only with some flies.
9. I should make it a snap swivel, because in the cold I don’t want to take my gloves off to tie a knot!
10. Also to go with #9 above, I need to tie up some leaders with an assortment of flies and jigs already on them. Maybe wrap them on a piece of pool noodle.
11. The fish are not always in the same areas they use in the summer.
12. I need to be more patient. I am so used to moving around on a river or in a float tube that I am having a hard time sticking with a few holes and only fishing with the lure moving vertically or not at all. I want to check out too many areas. Mean time I am getting a bite on the pole I just left!
13. I am content with catching only one fish. I am content with catching only one fish. I am content with catching only one fish………[laugh][laugh]
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