Hit Hyrum for a while Sat and did pretty good on the trout. They kept me busy alright! Tougher to land on the ice - where they swim sideways, and had a number wrap up around the camera cable.
Most were planters, but did get into a burly one that stripped line, and fought like crazy. Busted off before I go him to the hole. Grr.
Sunday - hit it again, this time I was the first on the ice. Started out before 7am, and treked through the new snow toward the inlet. Found “the spot” and parked it. As I was drilling my holes and setting up the tent - an ATV tooled by, and decided to park not 20 feet from me. I thought for sure there were going to setup and start drilling holes in a gas auger. But no - they just sat there and idled. I was THIS (finger close together) ready to go have a word, and “suggest” the move on to ANOTHER spot on the WHOLE ENTIRE LAKE. I had worked REALLY hard to drag my tent and gear all the way out to be FIRST ON THE ICE. Only to have them casually buzz by and sit there (not just idling) idling and revving their engine to make SURE all the fish were properly woken up. Thanks for that.
So - popped up the tent, dropped some lines, and before I’d got the tent in position - the rod was jumpin. I really shouldn’t do that to myself. Get ready to fish - first, THEN fish. Ah well - missed him, donated bait.
Got settled in fired up the heater. It was cold - danged cold. The kind of cold that you need to wear your gloves when you handle the auger, or you’ll stick to it!
Got into lots of schooling trout yesterday, so chose a spot farther out, more to the middle - deeper territory. I wanted to get on some perch. And I did! Once I got the camera dialed up - they were there, as expected - just off the bottom. Very turbid area - lots of particulates. Had drilled the holes farther apart, in hopes of avoiding tie-ups. But with the turbidity - it was hard to find the lure. Finally did - but even so - could only see it half the time. That’s ok, the spring bobbers did the trick.
Lavaman showed up with his kids and they got into it. I still hadn’t landed my first fish - and then I got on em. Right down to the bottom - three turns up. Ice fly and waxmworm, and the game was afoot. Fresh bait was key - first hit needs a strike, and the perchathalon was under way.
Had a few heavy perch hits that turned out to be trout. Couple times my second rod (which I was too busy to keep an eye on) started dancing. One of them was a beast! Had 'er right up to the hole I think it was a tiger or a brown - was a bit uptight about getting the head pointed right, and not breaking off - so I tried to get where I could grab her, and of course- she broke off. Grrr - nice fish - probably a 20incher at least. I shoulda just muscled 'er up and gave it a tug through the hole. Hate that!
Anyway - continued to pull in perch - nothing of any great size. Maybe 9 inches the biggest. Hafta practice my fillet skills. Got a bagfull anyway. Perch Chowder for my B-day treat! Yeah baby!
After noon (ok, it was past 2) I dropped the tent and prepared to trek back. WAY less people out that Saturday (Sunday in Utah - way to beat the crowds). Kept a line down while I packed, and it kept dancing. Ended up pulling in another 10 before I moved on.
Sorry I didn’t get more pictures of the action, but that’s cuz there was so much action! Goal accomplished - I wanted to get on perch, and avoid the troutsters, and I did.
Ice was great - plenty thick and singing it’s songs. Snowmobiles and ATV’s out again, so if THEY can do it.ll
