02-18-2011, 09:59 PM
I haven't really needed the gps yet, most of the lakes I've been to have been small enough, and I usually stay close to shore, memory should suffice.
These perch were right next to some tree's in shallow water, small trees with lots of little branches. I'll definitely walk out from there to get to 12 feet. I have walked out in that general area, its a real gradual slope, I probably got as deep as 10 feet looking for bigger trout, got a couple of the smaller ones so didn't devote any more time there. Next year I hope to get to the deepest areas, maybe find a catfish.
My last trip a couple days ago was questionable. First off the wind was pretty warm and intense, but I had to see what was going on. I decided to go with a life vest and a good amount of rope with a lead weight at one end, thinking there could be a chance of someone in need of rescue. The vest was surprisingly comfortable and the pockets were handy, I might start using it more, plus it takes a lot off your mind so you can focus on fishing.
First time I was the only one on the ice. I went to the safest spot I could imagine, probably where I'd have gone anyway. Here the wind and sun would have the least effect, and it looked more consistent. There was some wave action under the ice, and some cracks that have channels of water in them, lots of puddles, but still perfectly safe overall. The fish were making me work hard, had to move a lot, nothing on still bait for the first half of the day, two smaller trout and one of the biggest of the year at two of the first spots, then I moved looking for more action. Still slow but better, I set up right next to a tree, where I was hoping I'd get a bass, I was running back and forth a lot, missing most bites but I finally got a medium bluegill!
Anyway, here's the fruit of my two days of labor, and what I think of as a possession limit : )
[inline IMG_1181.JPG]
These perch were right next to some tree's in shallow water, small trees with lots of little branches. I'll definitely walk out from there to get to 12 feet. I have walked out in that general area, its a real gradual slope, I probably got as deep as 10 feet looking for bigger trout, got a couple of the smaller ones so didn't devote any more time there. Next year I hope to get to the deepest areas, maybe find a catfish.
My last trip a couple days ago was questionable. First off the wind was pretty warm and intense, but I had to see what was going on. I decided to go with a life vest and a good amount of rope with a lead weight at one end, thinking there could be a chance of someone in need of rescue. The vest was surprisingly comfortable and the pockets were handy, I might start using it more, plus it takes a lot off your mind so you can focus on fishing.
First time I was the only one on the ice. I went to the safest spot I could imagine, probably where I'd have gone anyway. Here the wind and sun would have the least effect, and it looked more consistent. There was some wave action under the ice, and some cracks that have channels of water in them, lots of puddles, but still perfectly safe overall. The fish were making me work hard, had to move a lot, nothing on still bait for the first half of the day, two smaller trout and one of the biggest of the year at two of the first spots, then I moved looking for more action. Still slow but better, I set up right next to a tree, where I was hoping I'd get a bass, I was running back and forth a lot, missing most bites but I finally got a medium bluegill!
Anyway, here's the fruit of my two days of labor, and what I think of as a possession limit : )
[inline IMG_1181.JPG]