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Outdoor topics => The Outdoor Board => Topic started by: Gary_C on December 23, 2006, 03:14:35 PM

Title: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Gary_C on December 23, 2006, 03:14:35 PM
How many of you go ice fishing? Every year there are many people that die for the pleasure of standing on some very cold water, sometimes frozen and sometimes not, to catch some tiny little fish. Last year there were people that actually pushed sheets of plywood out ahead of them to ice fish. All of this to catch something that is best if it "doesn't taste like fish."

Some years ago, a Minneapolis paper did a survey on ice fishing. Most of the people surveyed said it was the dumbest, coldest sport they could think of, but admitted to doing it anyway.

Did you hear about Ole and Swen going ice fishing? They started to drill a hole in the ice and a voice came from above that said "there are no fish under that ice." So they moved over 50 feet and started to drill another hole. The voice was even louder "there are no fish under that ice!" Ole looked up and asked "are you God?" The voice came back "no you idot, I am the ice rink superintendent!"   :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: beenthere on December 23, 2006, 04:08:13 PM
I've gone......and have enjoyed the brisk, cold air........and the excitement of seeing that ice jig trip when getting a strike........and seeing a 17" walleye come squirting up through a 6" hole in 16" of ice. Have also experienced the disappointment of getting my feet wet, fingers frozen numb solid, chilled to the bone, and no fish to show for it.  :)

As a rule, I find I don't get that bored anymore.   :)

Now Gary_C.  Are you saying you'd rather be out in that forest cutting down trees and forwarding them out to load on your truck in that warm, cozy cab all day long, just listn'n to the smooth, mellow hum of that big diesel engine  ::)   ???    ;D

How is that logging project coming along?  Knee deep in snow yet, or are you getting by without any deep snow so far ??  Hope it's going well. Maybe we'll hafta run up there and visit with ya again.  :)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: sawguy21 on December 23, 2006, 04:35:06 PM
Fishing is one of my favorite activities in summer but I can't get into sitting on a cold lake freezing my butt to the ice. ::)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Jeff on December 23, 2006, 04:44:54 PM
I love to ice fish but have not been able to for several years as the cold gets to my shoulder and hands now. If I improve a bit more I might try this year. That is if we get ice. I dont go on thin ice. I need 5 inches to feel safe. I have been ice fishing as early as Thanksgiving day here, this year so far we dont have ANY ice yet. I have a shed full of gear that I haven't even looked at for at least 3 years.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Gary_C on December 23, 2006, 04:51:43 PM
beenthere

The weather could not be better. No snow and just barely cold enough to keep the ground froze on top.

The problems with the pulp mill could not be any worse. I have just 4 or 5 loads of maple pulp to haul and now may not have any place for it till second quarter next year at the earliest. On Friday morning when I hauled the first of a planned two loads in, they handing out papers telling everyone this will be your last load till Jan 2, 2007 and I had just recieved a notice that I get no quota for next quarter.   >:(  And they did not say "Merry Christmas" either!

The DNR is checking their rules to see how long they can extend my skidding and hauling time, but it may have to be for 6 months or more. Things are grim all over the state in the pulpwood business. The state and counties are now taking back contracts without penalties and they may have to do more.

I always welcome visitors.  8)

Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: gary on December 23, 2006, 05:18:15 PM
The only fishing I do is ice fishing. I have a pop up shanty that I put a one burner stove in to make coffee . That and a lantern is enough to keep you warm enough that you don't need to wear a jacket. The fish taste a lot better when you catch them in cold water.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Norm on December 23, 2006, 05:20:52 PM
I'll have to admit I'm one of those that does it too, there is a small lake north of us that I'd go all the time to. You cannot believe how beautiful it is on the coldest clear evenings. I'd step out of the ice house after dark on a moonlit night and just stand there in awe of how the snow would glisten in the moonlight. Most times I was there my myself, most likely as others were smarter than me. You could hear the coyotes in the distance and watch the deer cross on the ice carefully. Boring yes but you'll never experience God and mother nature closer.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Furby on December 23, 2006, 07:04:57 PM
I go once or so a year on average.
Didn't go last year.

Now Jeff, there was plenty of ice at the launch by you the other day, just can't go out very far.
Been out on ice that thick before......  don't plan to do it again if I can help it. ;)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Jeff on December 23, 2006, 07:09:31 PM
THat ice is all gone. Any time ya wanna go, come on up. I can fish, I just cant get a hole in the ice anymore.  Cant spud, cant use my hand auger and I dont have a power auger unless its a furby powered one. ;D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Furby on December 23, 2006, 07:30:02 PM
Not expecting much ice this year, so we may not get a chance either way.
Suposed to be warmer then normal through the month of January.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Mooseherder on December 23, 2006, 07:44:27 PM
I went Ice Fishing once on a Salt Water Tidal river in Addison Me. ::)
Der was a little village of shacks on da ice waiting to fall in. ;D
What were we thinking ??? :D
Der was alot of cracking going on. Don't remember it being too much fun worrying about going thru da ice.  Next time, it will be on a lake. ;)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Jeff on December 23, 2006, 07:54:47 PM
When you hear cracking, thats a good sound. Ice cracks as it freezes and expands and makes more ice.  Thawing ice does not crack.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Daren on December 23, 2006, 08:06:34 PM
I though I would drag this out of the photo archive Tom with a little mess he got ice fishing

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10026/tom-icefish01.jpg)

but if I remember the story right he left the stringer in the sink and they mostly got away

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10026/tom-icefish02.jpg)


I ice fish, but we have not had a "good ice" in 2 years. It was 50 here today.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Part_Timer on December 23, 2006, 08:52:05 PM
Dad and grandpa used to be die hard ice fishermen.  I remember them dragging us kids out fishing and we had to take a canoe along cause the ice was so thin.  Not some of my fondest memories
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: sawguy21 on December 23, 2006, 09:23:07 PM
 :D :D :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: jon12345 on December 23, 2006, 10:26:32 PM
I got a few tip ups and a couple jiggin rods, but haven't gone in over 2 yrs since I was at college. During college went almost every day after winter break til end of feb, before that I had only gone on a week long trip to lake ontario when I was about 12.  I wouldn't go on the ice unless it is at least 1' thick  :)  My favorite part of it was the tip ups, but still not sure if it was the ones with the orange flags or the 12 oz ones.  ::)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Part_Timer on December 23, 2006, 10:51:07 PM
Sawguy

Mom didn't find it to funny.  You should have seen the look on her face when  I told her we had to cross a 10' 2x12 to get from the shore to the ice cause it was melted so far back from the bank.  Matter of fact I think that was my last fishing trip with them. :D :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: chet on December 25, 2006, 09:32:39 AM
Soon as we can git da formalities of Christmas Day done, ( and da wives give in and say ok) me and da sons are headed out. Set out a few tip ups, nice warm fire in da shack, a case of barley pops and we'll be set 'till midnight.  8)  8)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Part_Timer on December 25, 2006, 10:51:40 AM
sounds like a fine way to spend Christmas day.  Anything in particular your fishing for?
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: johncinquo on December 27, 2006, 11:36:48 AM
I'm warm weather bred, but in the middle of deep winter, with darkness 18 hours a day, I'll go ice fishing.  Anything to get out of the house.   Can you pull a cord Jeff?   I could lend you my ice auger.   Stihl 015, 16" bar, veggie oil for the bar.   :D   fire that sucker up and in a few minutes you have a hole any size you want.  Just cut the hole BEFORE you set the shanty up, otherwise it smells like 2 stroke in the shack all day. 

No ice here.  I wanted to put the pontoon in the water on Christmas day and go for a spin around the lake.  The girlie would have nothing to do with it!  I thought it would be hilarious.  Turn up the Christmas carols on the stereo and wave at all the folks unwrapping presents in their living rooms.  Maybe for New Years....   

The funniest one I ever saw was the guy with the big motor home out on the ice.  Drove right out there, cranked up the satelite on the roof, popped some corn in the microwave, pulled up the floor boards that were cut out and proceeded to fish and spear.  I fell asleep in the barca-lounger. 
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: crtreedude on December 27, 2006, 11:45:46 AM


I like Tom's ice fishing - I have done the other kind, but not anymore. My resistance to cold has plummeted faster than a one-legger in a ice fishing hole.

Why, just this morning it was so cold I couldn't wear sandals


Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Coon on December 27, 2006, 07:14:09 PM
I go ice fishing anytime I can.  There's already 15 inches of ice here but it's still not the safest.  With such a snow load and warm weather some of the lakes that have a current or beaver houses on them are having problems with the snow pushing the ice down and some water on the top.  You get that slush and sometimes the ice will start to rot with the warm weather.  The lake I normally go fishing at is alright where we go.  There isn't any beaver houses in sight.  The fish have been biting too so it makes it worthwhile to go out.  The only other problem is to get on the ice.  We have so much snow that you either have to snowshoe or snowmobile to your fishing spot.  The snow is over 3 feet deep on average.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: PineNut on December 27, 2006, 09:27:03 PM
I like Tom's approach to ice fishing so I do my ice fishing in the frozen food section at the market. If I was going to ice fish, I like the idea of the motor home.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Tim L on December 27, 2006, 09:43:57 PM
Up our way some folks have some pretty spanky bobhouses. It's like fishing in the living room .
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Brian Beauchamp on January 02, 2007, 02:06:10 PM
I met my girlfriend up in MN this last summer. I was talking to her a couple of weeks ago after I had gone fishing one late afternoon. When I told her that I had gone fishing, she responded by saying, "Oh, so you have a fishhouse?" She forgets that I live in OK where it doesn't usually get cold enough to freeze the lake around here...especially where I was fishing in SE OK. I think it was well over 70 degrees that day. It's going to be a big adjustment for her when she gets down here...she'll have to get used to being able to go outside most any time of the year without the possibility of freezing her tootles off.  ;D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: sprucebunny on January 15, 2007, 10:10:06 AM
For all you ice fishing fanatics :

http://www.yoopercrawler.com/

With a little ingenuity ( and maybe a bigger engine, ;D ) a person could grab a hitch of logs on the way home :D :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: sawguy21 on January 15, 2007, 10:17:16 AM
That is the ultimate fishing shack. Does it have a little boy's room too? :D :D :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Coon on January 15, 2007, 11:24:07 AM
It only looks big enough for one or maybe two people at the most.  Gotta have it bigger so the whole family can use it at the same time.  Heck need a couple of fold away bunk beds too and a cookstove. :D :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: beenthere on January 15, 2007, 12:00:11 PM
sawguy21
Little boys don't need a room. :)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: sawguy21 on January 15, 2007, 11:41:51 PM
They do when it's that cold. :D :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Mooseherder on January 16, 2007, 10:32:25 AM
http://www.bangordailynews.com/news/t/outdoors.aspx?articleid=145224&zoneid=28
Here is a recent article from my old country.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Gary_C on January 20, 2007, 12:25:54 AM
I think you guys are doing it wrong. I took this picture one morning this week on the way to the woods. This is from the Hwy 77 bridge over the St. Croix river right at the MN WI State line. If you can't see clearly, there is a boat with trolling motor, depth finder, and minnow bucket froze in the ice.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/11467/Ice-Fishing.jpg)

I am not sure of the story, but I think it goes something like this. Everyone knows there are huge sturgeon in the St. Croix River. Back when they built the I-94 bridge at Hudson, WI they sent divers down to check the bottom for the placement of the bridge piers and they saw sturgeon so big the divers refused to go back down. When the people in Hudson fish for Sturgeon, they use a chunk of beefsteak on a cable that is attached to the concrete bridge adbutments. They check the cable every morning and if the cable is as tight as a piano wire, they know they have caught a sturgeon. Then they slip a pulley over the wire and pull the sturgeon out with nothing smaller than a one ton truck.

Obviously this ice fisherman caught a sturgeon and it pulled him from open water into the ice, piling ice up ahead of the boat until the boat would not go any more. Then the poor ice fisherman was pulled right out of the boat under the ice and the sturgeon ATE HIM!!!

I swear that's true,    or    it's true I swear!!  One or the other.    ;D


OK if it isn't true, then make up your own story cause I don't really know what happened.   :)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: beenthere on January 20, 2007, 01:39:32 AM
Gary
That's a good story. Had me goin right along with you for a spell der. Ya shoul'nta added that last part about gettin et up.   :) 

In the pic, I see a tip-up sittin over a hole in da ice. Not sure how it got to be dat big fishin boat (beginnin to soak in tho).  :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: scgargoyle on January 21, 2007, 07:17:46 PM
I found out that ice fishing is illegal here in FL. :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Tom on January 21, 2007, 09:35:37 PM
I guess I was skating on thin ice.    I'll throw'em all back next time. (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=11235.msg155163#msg155163)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: farmerdoug on January 21, 2007, 09:47:28 PM
Tom,

Your lucky the evidence disappeared like it did. :D :D :D

Farmerdoug
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Ron Scott on January 29, 2007, 07:54:07 PM
Ice shanty palace.

http://www.richmichaels.com/Web%20Site%201-07/AnIcehutwithDetail.pps

Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Tim L on January 29, 2007, 08:19:14 PM
 Impressive !!! I've lived in places that weren't this nice .
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: fuzzybear on February 02, 2007, 02:30:34 AM
   I'm just getting ready to head out to Tattamin lake. We head out there evry year at this time to fish for the largest lake trout in the world.  Now I know it sounds like a fish tale, but we catch 40-60lb lake trout here.
   The lake is frozen around 24" thick so there is no problem driving the skidoo out on the surface. I am taking the camera with and I'll post some pictures when I get back. 
   
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: sawguy21 on February 02, 2007, 09:30:33 AM
What do you use to cut a hole big enough for those monsters? :o
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Minnesota_boy on February 02, 2007, 12:16:14 PM
I have a 6" hand auger that he can use to drill the holes.   :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: isawlogs on February 02, 2007, 06:11:06 PM
 I take the oil out of the chainsaw , run it for a few cuts to get the oil out and use it to cut the holes in the lake . I have a 18" bar , if the ice is too thick , I cut a hole two feet square , carve it out and step the hole down some and finish in a hurry before the hole fills up ... if not you got to use the peice of iron to finish cutting .
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: jon12345 on February 02, 2007, 11:19:35 PM
If motorized boats are allowed on the lake I wouldn't worry about a little oil out of a saw  :)

I think a 4" auger would have been big enough for anything I ever caught, but I think my mom had big goals for me when she got me an 8" for christmas a few years ago  :D


What is good bait for lakers  ???
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Burlkraft on February 03, 2007, 09:21:46 AM
Quote from: jon12345 on February 02, 2007, 11:19:35 PM
What is good bait for lakers  ???

Blue and silver 5 of diamonds spoons........ ;) ;)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: isawlogs on February 03, 2007, 05:31:22 PM
 A live minnow if the regulations let you use um .
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: CHARLIE on February 26, 2007, 04:17:10 PM
ICE FISHING ON UPPER RED LAKE -January 2007
This story is for you Southern Boys that have never walked on water.  ;D

Well, on the second week of January I went on a 3 day ice fishing trip with my son-in-law, Jerry, and his two friends, Terry and Al.  I never was much for ice fishing but these boys do it right so it's more tolerable. They are all very avid fishermen and have no qualms about sitting on a five gallon pail on a frozen lake staring down into a hole in the ice, but for this trip we go first class.  Or as first class as a guy can get 6 miles out on 2 feet thick ice.

We rented a 4 man ice house that was probably about 10 feet wide by 20 feet long. It had all the accommodations of home. Four bunk beds made of 2" X 4"s and plywood with a luxurious 2" or 3 " thick vinyl covered mattress that was probably 1970's vintage.  A 1950's vintage propane stove and oven, a propane furnace and propane lanterns hung on the wall. It had a plywood floor with eight trap doors that when opened revealed a hole drilled into the ice for fishing. Under one of the lower bunks, there was a card table that had seen it's better days about 10 years earlier.  An attempt had been made by someone to hold it together with electrical tape. It did OK though as long as we periodically pulled the legs back out so it wouldn't fold up as we used it.  There also were, four 1970's vintage folding chairs that had seen their sturdiest days many years prior. 

There was even an outhouse attached outside with a genuine toilet seat and a propane lantern for light. The outhouse was rather small and our knees would touch the door when we were sitting.  Its door had a spring on it, which had come loose, so we had to hold the door shut by pulling on the spring.  This outhouse was on the windy side of the ice shack, so keeping the door shut was paramount.  We kept the outhouse lantern lit all the time so it wouldn't be so cold.......it was still plenty cold though.  Not a place you'd want to sit and contemplate world problems while reading a Sears Roebuck catalog. 

We had had such good luck last year out on Upper Red Lake, found in the north part of northern Minnesota (that means....way up there!) that we decided to go back again.  Our ice shack was located about 6.2 miles out.  Roads are plowed and it is advised to pretty much stay on them or you risk breaking through.  There are always large cracks across the ice, but this year there were several pressure ridges too that were about 18 inches high.

We left about home and headed for Upper Red Lake at 5:30 a.m. and the temperature was
–10°.  The temperature kept dropping the further north we got until it read –24°.  Now normally that wouldn't be a problem in the warmth of an SUV, but a vent gasket was leaking and frigid air was coming in the passenger side and under the seat. My feet were dang near froze solid. We arrived at the little town (and I do mean little) of Waskish about noon after a 5 hour drive.  We stopped and ate lunch at a tavern and then headed for the bait shop. I'm not as avid a fisherman as the three I'm with, so I always find it amusing to watch them when they enter a bait shop.  A short description would be like watching three boys in a candy store. 

We then called the owner of the ice shacks and was told to head out on the ice for 2.3 miles to the first pressure ridge take a left at the "bridge" (a 4' X 8' sheet of plywood) and then a right at the little spruce tree and he'd be waiting for us in a blue Ford Ranger to take us to the house.  The owner is a jovial man about my age that has been doing this since he was in high school.  He or his son would periodically stop by to see how the fishing was and give us reports of how the other ice shacks were doing.  They'd also always offer to let us use any of the empty ice shacks out there if the fishing is poor in ours.  As it turned out, we were catching more than most. 

Before leaving home, I had prepared a cast iron Dutch oven full of my chili.  I had forgotten to do that last year and had to hear about it all year.  The boys seem to like my chili.  It is about 99% meat and very little beans, which is a good thing in this situation.  Jerry had prepared a big chicken pie and froze it.  He had even made the crust!  So we only had to buy groceries for breakfast and one dinner.  We had eggs, sausage and bacon, hashbrowns, toast and coffee for our breakfasts and steak with hashbrowns for one of the suppers. For lunch, if we were hungry, we'd just snack on venison sausage, cheese and crackers. 

We all settled into setting up our fishing gear. I always let the others pick their holes and I take what's left since I'm not as avid a fisherman.  The fish bit in spurts. Crappie might bite for about an hour and stop. Then we'd go several hours with nothing. Then walleye, and an occasional northern pike, would start biting for a short time.   I was doing pretty good this year and catching my fair share, but I must admit that when the fishing was slow I tended to get distracted. 

On the second day, during the late morning, we were into one of those very slow times, so I started organizing my tackle box. All of a sudden, I heard a racket going on by my left foot and looked down in time to see my rod, reel and my 99¢ rod holder going down the ice hole.  It was already too deep to do anything other than watch it sink away.  What could we do but laugh.  I hated to lose that rod because Jerry gave it to me for Christmas a couple of years ago.  I decided that must have been a huge northern pike that swam by, took the bait and just kept right on going.  I borrowed a spare rod and reel from Jerry and continued fishing and talking about that huge northern pike. I was also taking abuse for losing my gear and I was complaining about my borrowed fishing gear.

You women might not understand this but when men get together, there are no serious discussions about anything.  We complain about each other, pick on each other, make fun of each other and tell jokes and stories.  Then we complain about how bad the jokes and stories are.  That evening, the bobber in the hole by my right foot went down.  I set the hook and started reeling in.  All of a sudden, the bobber that had been on the rod and reel I had lost came popping up through the hole.  I grabbed it in jubilation and pulled up my lost rod and reel with about a 12 inch long walleye on the end of the line.  So much for my story of the huge northern pike taking it.  Anyway, I figure the fish was too small to drag the rod and reel away and had just hung around the bottom finally getting tangled into my other line.  I was happy to get the gear back but then spent the time complaining about losing my 99¢ rod holder.   

At nights, Terry would set up "rattle" reels and go to bed. Jerry would stay up all night fishing, which gave us ample opportunity to complain about the light and radio being on, and Al and I would just plain go to sleep.  The best I can describe a "rattle" reel is that it is a round disk shaped cage containing jingle bells.  The line is wrapped around the outside of the disk and it's hung above the ice hole. When a fish takes the line, the line spools off the disk, ringing the bells, which wakes up the fisherman.  Terry likes to put on a huge sucker minnow with hopes of landing a large northern pike. 

In the mornings, Terry and I took turns burning our breakfasts and then everyone else would compliment how good it was.......or complain about it being burnt while they scarfed it down.  Jerry's chicken pie was absolutely delicious.  Everyone got a quarter of a pie. We were stuffed and full of compliments to the chef, though we did complain while he baked it. 

Our last full day of fishing was pretty much the same as the previous day and I took on the chore of frying up the steaks and hashbrowns, which I must admit were done to perfection.  I was walking over to get a fork out of the plastic cookgear tub and kicked my other rod and reel into the ice hole.  I immediately dropped flat on my belly and jammed my arm down into the frigid water in time to grab the bobber as it was going down.  I reckon the bobber was about 18 inches deep when I grabbed it, but I was able to pull everything back up.  Then I had to listen to the boys make fun of how fast I moved. They had never seen me move that fast in years (I'm called "old man"). I have to admit, it surprised me too. 

Now, a little bit about the fish.  This was the first year fisherman could keep walleye on Upper Red Lake, but we could only keep two each.  The walleye had to be under 17 inches in length and we could keep one that was over 26 inches in length.  We caught a lot of 18 inch and 20 inch long walleye that we released.  We kept none that were over 16½ inches because the DNR (Dept of Natural Resource) agents tend to stretch them if they can so they can get a violation. The crappie in Upper Red Lake are huge and the ones we caught ran between 14 and 14½ inches in length. That is what's called a "slab" crappie up in these parts.  We caught one 5 pound northern pike we could keep and caught a much larger one that we had to release. We also caught some fair sized perch. If I remember right, our take was 13 crappie, 8 walleye,  l northern pike and 8 perch., a good time and good memories.  Included are some pictures I took during our escapade.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20011A.jpg)
Our ice shack. Home Sweet Home for 3 days and nights.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20018A.jpg)
Just a picture so you can see where we fished.  My rod holder, rod & reel and ice hole. When it got dark or late afternoon, we'd need lights to see down into the holes to watch the bobbers. The LED lights that clip onto the bill of your cap is very helpful.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20006A.jpg)
Me with one of my walleyes. This one measured 16 3/4 inches long. The only walleye we kept that was over 16 1/2 inches.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20017A.jpg)
Me and one of my 14 1/2 inch long slab crappies.  This is a huge crappie in Minnesota.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20025A.jpg)
Our total catch. Catch 'em, chunk out the door. The world was our freezer.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20030A.jpg)
I took this to try and show the size of the crappies we caught. That dot in the snow to the left of the fish's tail is a quarter.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20024A.jpg)
Sunrise over Upper Red Lake, Minnesota.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20008A.jpg)
An afternoon sky over Upper Red Lake.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20012A.jpg)
A late afternoon shot just to show how far out we were and how barren a frozen lake looks. I can't remember which picture, but you might see some other ice shacks in the distance.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20016A.jpg)
Just a neat evening sky picture.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10038/Ice%20Fishing%20Trip%20-%202007%20004A.jpg)
January sunset over Upper Red Lake. Temperature about -20°.

Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: crtreedude on February 26, 2007, 05:33:01 PM
I am sorry - but just the idea of ice fishing makes me want to go hang out in the hammock to warm up.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Tom on February 26, 2007, 05:36:51 PM
shoot, Charlie.  Southern Boys can walk on water.   I see them chasing boats on the river all of the time.
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: red on February 26, 2007, 05:41:46 PM
Wow

Upper Red Lake

sound like a high class place..... 8)

RED
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Tom on February 26, 2007, 05:44:18 PM
Probably some kin of yours, Red. :D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: thurlow on February 26, 2007, 06:01:08 PM
Great Story!!  Sounds to me like the days and nights are long in that part of the world and that.........maybe..........ice fishing is an acquired taste?   ;D  Surely you and Jerry could've come up with SOMEBODY  better to'ave shacked  up with (you did say it was a shack) rather than Terry and Al.  8)
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: CHARLIE on February 26, 2007, 06:33:37 PM
Thurlow, Al is pretty quiet and Terry takes my side when I'm harrassing my son-in-law. I'm not sure too many wimmenz would want to be out there......'specially since the outhouse is tiny and on the windy side......and it was WINDY!.....and the housekeeping wasn't what you'd call.....pristeen and no running water neither. ;D
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: Jeff on February 26, 2007, 09:13:34 PM
One place where running water is not appreciated is near a fish shack...
Title: Re: Ice Fishing?????
Post by: red on July 17, 2011, 08:24:56 PM
cold fish stories