Started at about 12 and fished till 4 or so in the narrows. I caught 6 perch and lost a good tiger at the hole. The ice is questionable for big groups and swiss cheese makers. The edge is mushy and it gets thin the further out you go but do-able. The perch were very small and very finicky. I had fish on me all day but very few bites.
Now, for the bad part. Parking is non-existent by the caretakers. The plows pushed a car-wide path in one spot and that’s it. I actually stopped and asked the caretaker if i could park in front of his house. He said yes unless it is going to be snowing. He gets pretty pissed when people just park in front of his house. We all need to band together and see what we can do to get the parking area plowed for fisherman. He has done it himself a few times to keep people off his property but doesn’t like to. So if someone has a connection to UDOT up there, please beg them to do a parking area for us. It is impossible to just scoot over on the road, the snow is 2’ deep and hard as rock where the plows have pushed it up.[pirate]
Dang Tigers! Let me guess, did it cut you off or come unhooked by turning lengthwise at the ice surface, making it hard to get into the hole?
Was that you I saw fishing in the narrows? I came back from Causey and saw a couple people there. I imagine that’s the only place with safe ice, since I saw open water at Cemetary point.
He just spit it out. I had my tiger rod down and just reeled it in. I was about half way down with the other perch rod when he showed up on the Vex. I reeled up to him, bounced it once and he nailed it. 4# line and a tiny ratso. Barely hooked in the jaw. I will get one next time though.[;)]
Are you fishing for tigers opportunistically when they show on the sonar or will you actually look for them? This is something I want to do this year but it seems like a good strategy is needed to increase the chance. Do you fish big baits or find that they prefer smaller stuff in the winter? Any info you’re willing to divulge on tigers is appreciated. Thanks.
Last year i targeted them for the contest. This year it is a target of opportunity. The one today i saw on the finder and reeled up to it. My musky rod was not even down the hole but he hit a ratso. They will hit almost anything but some baits will increase your chances.[;)]
Wow .. What is up with the crappies up there this year ??? I chased them all year long till right before ice up and only had real success right after last years ice out… 1 thing I have noticed is that theres still alot of smaller bait fish cruisin round an bigger fish eat the smaller ones all day every day so why would they be interested in fake baits???
This report makes me a bit iffy on fishing New Year’s Day with the warm temps. What should I do? How thick was the ice when you stepped on and when you got out! 50ft is a deep to recover a body and to put my family through hell.
I do exactly what troll said except my rope isn’t 100’. I wear a life jacket buckled up, picks around my neck and take my time. I am heading to Echo in a few minutes and i will wear the same stuff up there.[;)]
Wow .. What is up with the crappies up there this year ??? I chased them all year long till right before ice up and only had real success right after last years ice out… 1 thing I have noticed is that theres still alot of smaller bait fish cruisin round an bigger fish eat the smaller ones all day every day so why would they be interested in fake baits???