12poundbass's annual winter thread

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

That can't be cheap. I saw an episode of Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe where they removed a truck that had fallen through. Pretty interesting how the guy did it. 

Last two were pretty shallow.  Pulled it out with a big tow truck.  That's cheap compared to the fines from EPA, DEC, and various other government organizations.

[slonezp]

3 hours ago, J Francho said:

Every couple of years, someone's truck falls through the ice on Irondequoit Bay, up here.

A few years back they were having a winter festival on Lake Geneva which is about an hour and 45 minutes north of me. Someone had a brilliant idea of using the ice as a parking lot.

 

https://fox6now.com/2016/02/06/breaking-several-cars-fall-through-ice-at-lake-genevas-winterfest/

 

 

[12poundbass]

1 hour ago, slonezp said:

A few years back they were having a winter festival on Lake Geneva which is about an hour and 45 minutes north of me. Someone had a brilliant idea of using the ice as a parking lot.

 

https://fox6now.com/2016/02/06/breaking-several-cars-fall-through-ice-at-lake-genevas-winterfest/

 

 

The same thing happened on Saginaw Bay or Lake Erie years ago where a bunch of ice anglers were ice fishing and a big chunk broke free and it seemed like 15 anglers had to be rescued by the Coast Guard and had to leave their gear, 4-wheelers, and side by sides on the chunk of ice that was floating away. 

[J Francho]

Outstanding examples of foolery on the ice, though I think in the Erie case, it had to do with a fissure letting go, and not that it wasn't deemed "safe ice."  Clearly, no ice is really safe.

[12poundbass]

27 minutes ago, J Francho said:

no ice is really safe.

Exactly! 

 

Even when I'm walking on 10" of ice like we have now and it shifts or cracks I still get the pucker effect going. 

[soflabasser]

You Northerners have a very unique opportunity to ice fish yet many in this forum seem to not like it. I would consider trading a peacock bass fishing trip (even a shark fishing trip) with someone that would 100% guarantee me an ice fishing trip that I would catch lots of muskie, pike, or lake trout. 

[slonezp]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

You Northerners have a very unique opportunity to ice fish yet many in this forum seem to not like it. I would consider trading a peacock bass fishing trip (even a shark fishing trip) with someone that would 100% guarantee me an ice fishing trip that I would catch lots of muskie, pike, or lake trout. 

Easier to catch them at ice out. Musky, pike, and trout all spawn during 50-55* water temps. Same as walleye and perch. They'll be way more aggressive and easier to target from a boat. Otherwise, if you really want to ice fish for them, I'm not sure about Michigan but, Wisconsin would be the place to go. They catch browns and lakers thru the ice in Milwaukee/Racine/Kenosha harbors, and you can get pike on tip ups and live bait most anywhere in WI.

[12poundbass]

2 hours ago, soflabasser said:

100% guarantee me an ice fishing trip that I would catch lots of muskie, pike, or lake trout. 

I think that's why a lot of us don't care for it, because fish catches can be and often are few and far between. IF you can find a school it can be fun. 

 

I have a 45.5" 25lb pike hanging on my wall that my brother in law caught on a tip up, that would have been a blast to catch. All I've caught are 2 hammer handles. 

[Arcs&sparks]

@soflabasser  I like ice fishing but love open water fishing.  It’s more productive and the fish fight harder.  Not really sure why anyone would come up from down south just to ice fish?  You don’t find many ice fisherman here since it’s bass forum, ‘nough said. ?  

 

Theres lakes up here that offer very productive lake trout fishing but it’s because they are overrun and the average size is rather small for the species -5lb.  Although most of the real giants are caught through the ice,  it’s typically not fast fishing.  Unless your targeting panfish.

[soflabasser]

51 minutes ago, slonezp said:

Easier to catch them at ice out. Musky, pike, and trout all spawn during 50-55* water temps. Same as walleye and perch. They'll be way more aggressive and easier to target from a boat. Otherwise, if you really want to ice fish for them, I'm not sure about Michigan but, Wisconsin would be the place to go. They catch browns and lakers thru the ice in Milwaukee/Racine/Kenosha harbors, and you can get pike on tip ups and live bait most anywhere in WI.

Have caught all my northern fish in the early Spring and late Fall so I know from experience those are great times to fish in northern states. Have not ice fished before so its worth a try at least once. I will gladly use live bait if it means I will have a good time ice fishing.

[soflabasser]

52 minutes ago, 12poundbass said:

I think that's why a lot of us don't care for it, because fish catches can be and often are few and far between. IF you can find a school it can be fun. 

 

I have a 45.5" 25lb pike hanging on my wall that my brother in law caught on a tip up, that would have been a blast to catch. All I've caught are 2 hammer handles. 

That is why I said 100% guarantee since I do not have time to waste on my vacations. So far I have had 100% success rate in catching nice fish in my vacations up north with my better half. I do very well in South Florida and can give a 100% guarantee that I can take someone fishing me and they will catch lots of fish such as peacock bass, snook, various species of shark, and other fish that people pay hundreds of dollars to guides to catch. Would not be fair to ice fish and not catch much while I take someone fishing with me and they break new PB's for various species of fish so I expect a very good ice fishing trip in return. That 45.5 inch pike must of been fun to catch! I caught a similar sized muskie from public waters on my first trip up north and it is an experience I will always remember.

51 minutes ago, Arcs&sparks said:

@soflabasser  I like ice fishing but love open water fishing.  It’s more productive and the fish fight harder.  Not really sure why anyone would come up from down south just to ice fish?  You don’t find many ice fisherman here since it’s bass forum, ‘nough said. ?  

 

Theres lakes up here that offer very productive lake trout fishing but it’s because they are overrun and the average size is rather small for the species -5lb.  Although most of the real giants are caught through the ice,  it’s typically not fast fishing.  Unless your targeting panfish.

 

I am sure open water fishing is much more fun just like snook fishing is more fun than bass fishing but it is always good to try new types of fishing. It makes you a more well rounded fisherman than someone who only fishes for bass. I enjoy challenges and ice fishing has been on my bucket list for many years now so I will do it for sure in a future vacation. This is a bass forum but many bass fishermen also do multi species fishing I am sure there are plenty of bass fishermen that enjoy ice fishing for other species of fish.

[Arcs&sparks]

@soflabasser I understand. Hope you get to do it soon.  From reading your posts, I’m sure you’ll find a good lake and guide to go with to pursue your goal.  Perhaps in Canada? To make it clear,  I wasn’t jabbing bass fisherman. Most ice guys set tip ups and wait for a flag, (yes you can be much more tactical and hands-on)  which could easily be compared to worm and bobber, or carp/cat fishing,  which it seems a lot of guys on here would rather clean their reels ?  and I get it, kinda...I’ll be on the lake anyway.

[soflabasser]

1 hour ago, Arcs&sparks said:

@soflabasser I understand. Hope you get to do it soon.  From reading your posts, I’m sure you’ll find a good lake and guide to go with to pursue your goal.  Perhaps in Canada? To make it clear,  I wasn’t jabbing bass fisherman. Most ice guys set tip ups and wait for a flag, (yes you can be much more tactical and hands-on)  which could easily be compared to worm and bobber, or carp/cat fishing,  which it seems a lot of guys on here would rather clean their reels ?  and I get it, kinda...I’ll be on the lake anyway.

I will not hire a guide for any freshwater fish in North America but would hire one for fishing the Amazon. Will consider trading fishing trips through. Have done my research and found several places where I should have a good time ice fishing. Several of those places are in the USA. I have no problem with tip ups and will gladly fish that way if it means I will catch a big fish. I understand where you are coming from when it comes to cleaning reels compared to ice fishing, that is how I feel about bass under 5 pounds in South Florida. I won't leave my house for any largemouth bass under 5 pounds, I only care for bass 5 pounds and up at this moment in time and rather fish for little cichlids than catch a bass under 5 pounds. Snook fishing is another thing I rather do and catching big snook is far more fun than catching a regular sized largemouth bass.

[12poundbass]

Round 2 of the ice today. It's raining now temps hovering around freezing. Temps around 5 pm 48 and at midnight tonight 17 and windy! There's already close to a half inch of ice on the trees. Trees and lines down all over. Not pretty. 

[MN Fisher]

We had 3"-4" earlier in the week. One day off and last night it started up again. Already have a couple more inches with more expected to accumulate. Dropping below zero tonight and not climbing back into the positive until Saturday.

 

Winter is never going to end.

[J Francho]

We had freezing rain this morning.  Temps will be at their highest at midnight, in the 50s.  Then back into the teens.  It's crazay!

[Log Catcher]

We had a record high temp today. Old record 67 in 1925. Today 72. Supposed to be down in the mid 20s tonight with snow flurries. High tomorrow mid 30s if we're lucky.

[NorcalBassin]

Just got power back after 3 days in the dark due to snow covered trees falling like flies on all the power lines around here and it's starting back up tomorrow night with another foot or two of snow in the local forecast for the weekend. 5+ feet coming for the high country... appear to be headed towards an excellent water year out here.

[12poundbass]

Absolutely miserable here! Freezing rain Wednesday. Rain and freezing rain yesterday. At 8 pm last night the temp was 46 at 2 am this morning it was 15 and wind gusts close to 45 mph. Over 150k without power due to the freezing rain destroying trees. The power company is saying Monday before everyone has power again. In the last 3 weeks (15 days of school possible) my son has had 4 days where it wasn’t canceled. 

 

Thankfully we we have power at our house. The windchill is -5, the wind is going to die down tonight and the weather is going to stabilize for at least the next week. 

[MN Fisher]

Well, the forecast for the Twin Cities has been updated

2"-4" tomorrow - one day to dig out then Monday night through Tuesday, another 5"-11"

 

We're getting buried.

[Glenn]

Sooo.....  Last Sunday, we got hit by winter, to the tune of 11" of snow. Then the temps stayed well below freezing, so it didn't melt.

 

Then yesterday (Friday), we got hit again, but harder.  13+ inches of snow at my house, with 50mph winds.  The storm was so big, it hit the entire state. National WX Service declared a blizzard in the eastern part (that's extremely rare). Many interstates and airports are shut down.

 

Another 3" are predicted for tomorrow.  Followed by another, big storm coming in on Monday/Tuesday that's predicted to be bigger than Friday's.  Followed another big one next Thursday. 

 

Daytime temps will struggle to break above freezing, if at all....for at least the next 2 weeks.

[MN Fisher]

3 minutes ago, Glenn said:

Another 3" are predicted for tomorrow.  Followed by another, big storm coming in on Monday/Tuesday that's predicted to be bigger than Friday's.  Followed another big one next Thursday.

You're just a bundle of good news, aren't you. All that will hit us 4-6 days after it hits you. (sighs)

[12poundbass]

10 hours ago, Glenn said:

Sooo.....  Last Sunday, we got hit by winter, to the tune of 11" of snow. Then the temps stayed well below freezing, so it didn't melt.

 

Then yesterday (Friday), we got hit again, but harder.  13+ inches of snow at my house, with 50mph winds.  The storm was so big, it hit the entire state. National WX Service declared a blizzard in the eastern part (that's extremely rare). Many interstates and airports are shut down.

 

Another 3" are predicted for tomorrow.  Followed by another, big storm coming in on Monday/Tuesday that's predicted to be bigger than Friday's.  Followed another big one next Thursday. 

 

Daytime temps will struggle to break above freezing, if at all....for at least the next 2 weeks.

Is this kind of weather normal for you? I imagine the heavy snowfall isn’t but everything else?

[Glenn]

No.  A typical February has normal highs in the 40's with a lot of rain.  A typical winter has occasional days with temps below freezing, but not consistent for more than a week, and not too much below freezing (woke up to 11 degrees this morning).  Usually when it freezes, it's dry (no snow), but maybe there's a few days here and there with 1-5" of snow, which quickly melts within a day or two.

 

[slonezp]

10 day forecast shows another 10-15" of snow this week