TubeBabe’s down in Arizona for a week. She emailed me some warm weather and I spent it on Deer Creek today. A balmy 31 when I hit the ice at Rainbow Bay at 8 AM and almost 40 when I left the ice at Charleston after 3.
Fishing coulda been better. Not a bite the first two hours on Rainbow Bay. Went on a perch search and drilled and dunked from 35 feet to 63 feet. Nary a blip on the screen…in the perch zone. Did see a few troutkind go through shallower.
Water all around the edges. The snow bridges onto the ice at Rainbow Bay will not last long. Plank time.
Changed venues to Charleston about 10. Already above freezing and the fog just lifting. More water around the edges. Evidence of wet boots off to the side of the “crossing”. Somebody had put a small plank there by the time I left later. Woulda got damp booties without it.
Not nearly the crowds at Charleston today. Not nearly the fish either. Just a shadow of previous week’s fishing. Few bites, light bites and mostly dinksters. Still, enough action to keep me from dozing in the warm sun. Everybody out in the “zone” iced a few trout. Again, mostly “footlongs” but more than a few 15 to 18 inchers. They pull good.
Got to try out my newest tripod design “quick draw” rod holder. Worked well, but I got most hits by moving and dropping…musical holes…and working the jig just off the bottom. Deadsticking was not as effective.
**My last batch of smoked 'bows turned out pretty good so I kept at it until I kept 4 big enough to fit the racks. Biggest just under 18 inches. **
**I think I may have enjoyed my last ice outing for this season. I hear the call of my float tube and I know if I do a drive and dunk expedition around Utah Lake I will find someplace to get my craft wet. And, I expect the south marina at Willard to be floatable soon too. **
Nice Report Pat, Glad to hear you got a few for the smoker. I am sad to say that even I have begun to tire of Ice fishing this year. It is time for it to blow away and begin the open H2O season again. It is this way for me every year…towards the end of Ice I pray for open water and vise-versa. From the sound of things on UL I don’t think it will be too long till I am out again fishing on open water. It will be great to hear how you do and see some pics from the UL day on Friday. Maybe you could run and slide on your tube from the ice till you hit the water??? Maybe not. Either way, thanks for sharing
There is open water wherever water is pouring into the lake…and at the outlet too. But, that water is still cold and not usually the best early fishing. Much better to find an area with some warm springs. I am thinking my usual spots at Lincoln Beach will probably see my fins and tube first. I usually hit it around the end of February or the first week of March and often am casting up onto the ice and dropping the jigs straight down. Sometimes only a couple of feet of water but the fish swarm the warming shallows and it surprising how many white bass and other critters show up to play early.
I gotta find open water. No way I am gonna auger a hole big enough for the float tube.
Thanks for the report, Pat. I’d like to catch some more slimers for my grill through the ice and then hit Pelican for my annual ice trip there, but then I want to go tubin’ whitie/walleye fishing at Lincoln soon in my tube… I look forward to your first tubin’ report from there.
I am sorry to hear about the melting ice in your report! I have been trying to get out on the ice all winter and now it looks like I am too late. I guess the new ice fishing “glow” lures I made this winter will just have to be put aside for another year.
Incidentally, I am sorry that I didn’t keep in closer touch with you. If I had known you were at DC yesterday I would have sought for an invitation to join you.
I am prepared with some new neoprene waders for early tubing so I will watch your posts to determine when the time is right to start tubing. I do need some help finding the leak in my Fish Cat though.
“Incidentally, I am sorry that I didn’t keep in closer touch with you. If I had known you were at DC yesterday I would have sought for an invitation to join you.”
I was not sure myself that I would be able to get away Tuesday. I woke up early, checked my emails and checked the weather and just decided to go for it. That is the way I prefer to plan trips. Everytime I announce two weeks ahead of time that I will be hitting a spot, you can bet that Mama Nature has plenty of time to prepare a suitable wipeout for the trip. Happens every time.
If you are truly out of winter hibernation, you know where I live. If you bring the patient to the operating table, Doctor TubeDude will give it a physical. Some of those leaks can be frustrating to find. Usually easy to fix once you find them, but sometimes almost impossible to locate.
**PS…the glow goodies also work well at night and in deep water during the summer. I am anxious to see what you have come up with. YOU KNOW I have not been idle. I have several new world-beating lure designs too. **
I will be making an appointment soon with Doctor TudeDude for a sick, leaking Fish Cat!
Glad to hear that the glow goodies can be used in the summer!
No one can ever catch up with your new fishing creations. I would never even try. You should post some pictures of the new designs. I am sure that others on the site, besides myself, would like to see what you have created lately!
**Some of the ice fishing stuff has shown up in trip pics this season. Others will soon be in the beta test cycle and will show up in the mouths of fish on future posts. Still others are only in the design and diagram phase to be made up for next ice fishing season. **
Hey, a guy has to keep some secrets. And, as my wife tells people…it keeps me off the streets and out of trouble…mostly.
**Most pier fishing around the US coastline is for small to medium sized fish…of many species. Only rarely is there much opportunity for hooking large fish or sharks…unless you specifically target them. Generally the fish will be salt water perches, sea basses and/or members of the mackerel or drum families. **
**A good stout fresh water spinning rod and reel will handle almost anything you encounter and will be much easier for you both to pack for travel and to use when fishing. Check with your airline to see what the size limitations are for carrying a rod case on board. A two piece 7 foot rod should fit in a long travel bag or a sturdy rod case. **
**Based upon a whole lot of pier fishing along the Pacific, Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico, I would recommend a 7 foot med to med. heavy spinning rod and a quality reel capable of holding at least 200 yards of 10 to 12 pound line. You should not need much heavier. **
**Most pier fishing is bait fishing…using various cut baits, worms or shrimp. Hook sizes will be size 6 to size 1 or 1/0. You will be using sinkers from 1/2 oz. up to 3 oz. but for most fishing it will be under 1 oz. Most piers have bait shops where you can also buy premade leaders and rigs. **
If you know where you will be going, check the internet for fishing reports and websites for the different fishing piers in the area. Some are free to the public…as long as you have a license. Others are paid entrance. Most will have info on the species you can expect and how to fish for them.
If you are going to have a problem carting even a 2 piece rod on the plane, there are quite a few travel rods available that are 3 or more pieces. I prefer no more than 2 pieces but I would fish with an umbrella if that was all I had to fish with.
HERE IS A LINK to the Browning line of travel rods as sold by Bass Pro Shop.
My recommendations were based upon you only being able to take one or two rods. Of course, if you were a REAL “pier rat”…like I used to was…you would truck out a big wheeled tackle box with several rods in holders around the box. And you would have everything from small bait jigging rods to heavy duty 12 foot surf sticks that can cast a hundred yards out off the end of the pier…for big fish, rays and sharks.
The reality is that no matter how many rods you take…of all sizes…most of the fishing will be on lighter tackle for smaller fish. If you happen to hit a run of larger fish, you can usually rent larger tackle at the piers.
Changed venues to Charleston about 10. Already above freezing and the fog just lifting. More water around the edges. Evidence of wet boots off to the side of the “crossing”. Somebody had put a small plank there by the time I left later. Woulda got damp booties without it.
Damp booties?
Did you wear this kind? Here is the pic of the booties I was wondering would be fit for ice fishing.
All I can say is that SMOKY TROUT was the best TD…thank you so much.
Paired it up with some stinky, expensive cheese on great crackers and I was a happy camper today.
Thanks again!
You DO NOT need heavy. Takes all the fun out of the regular sized fish you will be catching. The reels I use for catfish are Okumas in the 20 designation. They hold plenty of line and are plenty tough if you know how to set a drag and tie good knots. But, if you are going to be fishing Galveston area there are some big red drum and black drum and they will beat you up. Better to be a bit heavier than you like than not quite enough.
Whatever you get for light salt water will be perfect for catfishing…from your tube or from the shore.
Glad you enjoyed it. I know you still like fish even though you guys do not keep and cook 'em. Happy to share when I have a fresh batch.
Those were done with my old steelhead method…a quick smoke after just salting, sugaring and seasoning. No overnight brining. No need to cure it for storage since it never lasts very long. Also less salty than after brining.
'Bout ready to go rassle some buglemouth browns down at Lincoln Beach on the old fairy wand?
TubeBabe’s down in Arizona for a week. She emailed me some warm weather and I spent it on Deer Creek today. A balmy 31 when I hit the ice at Rainbow Bay at 8 AM and almost 40 when I left the ice at Charleston after 3.