Gonna Build a Little Pond

[Amarok]

I'm getting my coworkers trained. I have one that lives right by a couple lakes and I gave him shit early in the week for not having checked ice thickness yet.
Saw him today. He went Tuesday night and measured close to three inches. Good lad.

With four more cold nights between then and Saturday morning, I'm confident there'll be plenty of ice for trip 1.

 

[Amarok]

I'm confident there'll be plenty of ice for trip 1.

...but WTF do I know?

There was just shy of 3 inches. 30 years ago that was enough, but these days I need a little more than that to relax enough to enjoy it.

There is zero snow on the lake, so I was able to see through the ice and know I was deep enough not to dull the auger but shallow enough to be safe if I did go though. It did feel good to walk on water again.
My new ice cleats worked great and the little sled box pulled beautifully, but that was all I was able to test.

I was about to leave when a couple of moose hunters pulled up, so we shot the shit and exchanged some info for a few minutes. The stuff you learn in those random boots-on-the-ground encounters is often very useful, and once again, I left knowing more than I started with.

No fishing done, but still a fun and educational outing.

 

[belleswell]

Never leave home with out a pair of these in your pocket. The ones on the left I made from a broken post hole digger and some number 16 nails sharpened up on the business end. I made a few pair of these and gave them to some of my ice fishing friends. I covered the sharp end with some cork from a wine bottles. That was almost 40 years ago. The pair on the right is commercially made and the pointy ends have a spot where they slide into the handle of the other one. If you look closely you can see the hole in the bottom of the handles where the pointy end would go.

It's better to have them and not need them, then it is to need them and not have them.

 

[Amarok]

Basement pond is doing well, seems to be fairly well established about a month in. There's lots of rosie red minnows of various sizes from the outside pond(I just realized I'd completely mixed up their name in my head sometime over the last year or so) that are doing great, and the plants seem to be doing well too.

I considered trying to trap a wild fish or two, a tiny perch or walleye or pike, or even just a couple spot-tail shiners, but some local issues outside my control restricted my access until it was too late in the season.
I would like some variety, but with temps in the basement being about 15C, it's tough to find aquarium store fish that are suitable.

I'm enjoying sitting down there and watching life and greenery when it's snowy and dark outside.

 

[Kanzeon]

Basement pond is doing well, seems to be fairly well established about a month in. There's lots of rosie red minnows of various sizes from the outside pond(I just realized I'd completely mixed up their name in my head sometime over the last year or so) that are doing great, and the plants seem to be doing well too.

I considered trying to trap a wild fish or two, a tiny perch or walleye or pike, or even just a couple spot-tail shiners, but some local issues outside my control restricted my access until it was too late in the season.
I would like some variety, but with temps in the basement being about 15C, it's tough to find aquarium store fish that are suitable.

I'm enjoying sitting down there and watching life and greenery when it's snowy and dark outside.

I would love to keep fish. My cats, however, would love it even more.

 

[Psychobilly]

Basement pond is doing well, seems to be fairly well established about a month in. There's lots of rosie red minnows of various sizes from the outside pond(I just realized I'd completely mixed up their name in my head sometime over the last year or so) that are doing great, and the plants seem to be doing well too.

I considered trying to trap a wild fish or two, a tiny perch or walleye or pike, or even just a couple spot-tail shiners, but some local issues outside my control restricted my access until it was too late in the season.
I would like some variety, but with temps in the basement being about 15C, it's tough to find aquarium store fish that are suitable.

Ever heard of a Madtom ? It's a tiny species of Catfish that we have here, and they don't get very big, so they seem like a decent idea to add in, and, being from here, they can't handle cold water pretty well too.

I would love to keep fish. My cats, however, would love it even more.

It's doable, but not exactly easy. When I had the Red Tail, the main concern was the Cat putting a paw in and getting yanked into the tank, but now, it's mostly just making sure they stay away from both tanks. We recently got a Bumble Bee Catfish for the tiny aquarium, since they don't really get more than a few inches, and they're super cute. You see the article from Brazil where they found them climbing up a rock wall ??? LOL they wiggled their way up it.

 

[belleswell]

Those Rosy Reds are great for perch, crappies, and walleyes. I've landed some walleyes in the 10 lb class in the Saginaw river, but
I always give them to whom ever I'm with if they want them. The Saginaw river is a little too polluted for my tastes. Tip a set rod with a horizontal jig with two Rosy Reds, and then about 3 feet from the set rod, a jigging rapala tipped with some minnows to bring them in.
They often hit the stationary rod over the one I'm jigging. They have ice fishing contests on that river when the ice gets safe.

 

[Amarok]

^^Can't use rosy reds for bait here, can't use live minnows for bait here.



Finally got the first ice fishing trip of the season in today. As predicted, there was a little over 6 inches of clear, solid ice, so I was able to relax. I still wore my self-inflating life jacket and my spikes but I felt completely comfortable about my safety.

It was -20 this morning. Everything was covered with super thick hoar frost and looked amazing. I was half way to the lake when I realized I didn't have my phone, so no pics.
I drilled my way out to a little sweet spot in about 16-18 fow and started setting up. I was excited about trying out the new Eagle Eye 9 for the very first time. Then I realized the transducer was in my living room.

Oh well. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and I had the lake to myself, so not all bad. As long as it was calm, it wasn't too cold. Every now and then a light breeze would start up and that made it chilly so I knew it wouldn't be a long trip. I had my tent and heater, but didn't feel like using them.

I fished for maybe an hour. Caught 3 eater size pike in the high teens-low twenties to kick off the season before packing up.

Supposed to be -22 tonight. I'll decide in the morning if I want to try again.

 

[Bullfrog]

^^Can't use rosy reds for bait here, can't use live minnows for bait here.



Finally got the first ice fishing trip of the season in today. As predicted, there was a little over 6 inches of clear, solid ice, so I was able to relax. I still wore my self-inflating life jacket and my spikes but I felt completely comfortable about my safety.

It was -20 this morning. Everything was covered with super thick hoar frost and looked amazing. I was half way to the lake when I realized I didn't have my phone, so no pics.
I drilled my way out to a little sweet spot in about 16-18 fow and started setting up. I was excited about trying out the new Eagle Eye 9 for the very first time. Then I realized the transducer was in my living room.

Oh well. It was a gorgeous, sunny day and I had the lake to myself, so not all bad. As long as it was calm, it wasn't too cold. Every now and then a light breeze would start up and that made it chilly so I knew it wouldn't be a long trip. I had my tent and heater, but didn't feel like using them.

I fished for maybe an hour. Caught 3 eater size pike in the high teens-low twenties to kick off the season before packing up.

Supposed to be -22 tonight. I'll decide in the morning if I want to try again.

17' of water was always my go too for walleyes in one of the big local lakes. Once got a tagged walleye that had traveled a long way. It was tagged in a town called Alpena on Lake Huron. Made it's way north to the Cheboygan river through the locks there, into Mullett lake which is a pretty big lake. Then into another river the Indian before making it into Burt Lake where it became dinner. That's quite the trek.

Good to see someone fishing. I had a dream I was fishing a few nights ago. Need to get out when the ice happens here. Won't be long on the small lakes if it stays below freezing like it's been for a few days now. Might have to wait until the new year though. Not buying a license in December. It would be good till March but I can buy one in January that will be good until March 2027 for the same price.

 

[Amarok]

17' of water was always my go too for walleyes in one of the big local lakes.

If I'm somewhere new, 14 fow is where I start looking for walleye, and 12ish for pike, then adjust as needed. That usually puts me in the ballpark though, in the lakes I fish.

The lake I was at today has some really steep drop-offs and I was targeting a little flat spot on the side of a hill. It goes from 6 to 50+ in a very short distance, so those little anomalies are usually holding fish.

I knew about that spot, but I was hoping to identify a few more with the forward facing sonar.

Good to see someone fishing. I had a dream I was fishing a few nights ago. Need to get out when the ice happens here.

I'd been shut down for way too long, so I can relate. Hope you get a chance to wet a line soon.


I've taken Daniel river fishing in the summer and that was a lot of fun, but it would be cool to see how you southern boys respond to a northern Alberta ice fishing trip.

The one that would amuse me the most would be if we got @Ramjet159 out there.
I picture it like this, but with a kangaroo.

 

[Bullfrog]

If I'm somewhere new, 14 fow is where I start looking for walleye, and 12ish for pike, then adjust as needed. That usually puts me in the ballpark though, in the lakes I fish.

The lake I was at today has some really steep drop-offs and I was targeting a little flat spot on the side of a hill. It goes from 6 to 50+ in a very short distance, so those little anomalies are usually holding fish.

I knew about that spot, but I was hoping to identify a few more with the forward facing sonar.


I'd been shut down for way too long, so I can relate. Hope you get a chance to wet a line soon.


I've taken Daniel river fishing in the summer and that was a lot of fun, but it would be cool to see how you southern boys respond to a northern Alberta ice fishing trip.

The one that would amuse me the most would be if we got @Ramjet159 out there.
I picture it like this, but with a kangaroo.

I've been out a few times in the cold, cold. Where you can see the moisture sparkle in the air and every step sounds like a creak from hell. I freakin hate zippers, broke more than I know in the cold. One night fishing trip was really awesome because there was a giant full moon and it was about -15F according to the weather man, it was really eerie. There was low clouds kinda like fog but it glistened, things just looked and sounded a little different. I'd guess it was a tab bit colder on the ice, you know how that is. Big difference standing on shore as opposed to being on the frozen lake.

I grew up on the ice, all us kids did. Dad was only allowed 2 lines alone, 8 with us kids. Christmas break was the start of ice fishing, every weekend until April. I fished regular up until about 10 years ago. I do have to admit two years ago when I went my hands didn't do so well. They've been broken and abused so badly when they get cold, they just don't want to move. Bad hip makes walking in big boots lousy too. Then again after a few frequent trips I'd probably get used to the elements. I remember the first couple trips were the coldest more I went the easier it was. Just like anything. Practice and repetition.

Main reason I don't go much anymore is because I don't drive and nobody I know that does wants to go. It's too cold and too much work. People are pussies. When I was a kid there'd be hundreds of permanent shanties on all the lakes. There's none now. Lucky to see a few pop ups in those same spots on the weekend. People are different now, seems we'd rather sit in place and be entertained than actually go live in the real world.

 

[Amarok]

I've been out a few times in the cold, cold. Where you can see the moisture sparkle in the air and every step sounds like a creak from hell.

I've done full days on the ice at -35 for certain. Can't recall any specific outings much colder than that. Usually those trips are accidental, where I leave home and it's -20something and there is an unexpected cold front at the lake.

I sleep in tents on the ice in -25 with no heat. I always have a heater but I'm far more scared of CO than the cold so it gets turned off at bedtime.

With the proper gear, anywhere in the -20s is not too bad, especially if you are with someone else so you have backup in case of trouble. -30 is when everything starts breaking or failing. I'm getting a little long in the tooth for that kind of "fun".

-24 here this morning, on the way to a forecasted -8 later. Still deciding if I'm fishing today or being a grownup and doing laundry and assorted domestic tasks.

 

[belleswell]

Fishing is not just a matter of life and death. It's much more important than that.

At least that's what is printed on one of my T-shirts.

 

[Amarok]

Fishing is not just a matter of life and death. It's much more important than that.

It is a vital part of maintaining my connection to sanity, such as it is.

It isn't as marked now that I'm in the country as it was in the city, but both my mood and my willingness to tolerate humans drop the longer I go without wetting a line. It's my version of meditation.


__________

The guy that owns the company I work for has a recreational property with a house a few yards away from a popular local lake less than 1/2 an hour from my place. Last week, unprompted, he gave me the code to the locks and told me I was welcome to make use of the house, property and the lake access. I don't know if I will, as I don't like to feel obligated, but the offer was appreciated.
There are some really nice walleye and perch holes close by, so I will need some willpower to resist.
___________
I found a good deal on some winter tires for my truck, picking them up tomorrow. Still waiting to hear about a set of rims for them(I hate swapping tires seasonally, rather have a whole set of tires on rims for each season). Stupid old Ford has 7 lugs, and 7 hole rims are kind of a PITA to find anywhere but junkyards.
Once my winter steed has appropriate footwear, I'll be able to reach a bunch of new places, both on hew water and on lakes I've been fishing.

 

[belleswell]

I love ice fishing in all temps, although the bitter cold days don't bother me as much as it does the fish.
I don't know how a fish popsicle in water that's close to freezing knows what the ambient temperature
is, but they do. They do not bite nearly as well when it's bitter cold. I do fine by keeping my head and feet warm
with the proper clothing and boots.

Here are some items that make the day successful. Always bring some mean green with you fishing and don't forget
a lighter to fire it up. Oh yeah, that reminds me of this mean green as well.



This very short rod was cobbled together from a broken one. I once caught a 6 lb walleye on this rig with 1 lb test.
Thank the Lord for a good drag that I could back off on the tension.


Mousies and Spikes, or as my wife calls them, maggots. Make sure the cottage cheese containers in the frig with a 1000 of each
have the lids on tight after grabbing some for a day on the lake, as any escapees will no doubt get me a lecture on how yucky maggots are, and how a few loose ones in the frig are met with stern disapproval.


One of my fave baits for perch are mayfly larva also called wigglers at the bait store. Hooked through the collar with a
small hook, their swimming action will entice them to bite.







Here is a Dave Genz ice fishing box for flashers. I still have my original FL-8 which still does what it suppose to.
Here is an added twist. Many times when ice fishing for bluegills, I will find them suspended. Once while fishing in
30 fow, I found them stacked from 18 feet down to 25 feet. As I dropped my presentation down to them, I
started picking off the ones closest to the surface at 18 feet. As I thinned the herd, the numbers of them dwindled a
little I found that those left that I was marking with the sonar were much more reluctant to bite. I had already picked off
a half a dozen of them.

What I did was grab the shaft at the top that the transducer was attached to, and slowly rotated it 360 degrees in the hole.
This works best when the ice is 6 inches or less as it allows the transducer to be angled off the to the side of the hole.

When I did this, I would often find that large suspended school of fish with the sonar angled off to the side of the hole
again. I would walk about 10 feet away from the first hole and drill another in the direction the sonar told me they were at,
and the new hole had the same suspended school of fish, which also became easy targets. All it took was slowly rotating
the transducer in the top of the first hole to tell me which direction they went. As the fish are popsicles this time of year with a
the metabolism of an ice cube, they did not go far from where I first found them in the original hole. When I moved
10 feet from the first hole, and then drilled another, I was on them again. Thank you Dave Genz










Dream Theather influenced. With my Firefox browswer on my pc, these soundcloud linked songs can take up to a minute finally start playing after hitting the play button.

 

[Frimpong]

I love ice fishing in all temps, although the bitter cold days don't bother me as much as it does the fish.
I don't know how a fish popsicle in water that's close to freezing knows what the ambient temperature
is, but they do. They do not bite nearly as well when it's bitter cold. I do fine by keeping my head and feet warm
with the proper clothing and boots.

Here are some items that make the day successful. Always bring some mean green with you fishing and don't forget
a lighter to fire it up. Oh yeah, that reminds me of this mean green as well.
View attachment 235397


This very short rod was cobbled together from a broken one. I once caught a 6 lb walleye on this rig with 1 lb test.
Thank the Lord for a good drag that I could back off on the tension.
View attachment 235398

Mousies and Spikes, or as my wife calls them, maggots. Make sure the cottage cheese containers in the frig with a 1000 of each
have the lids on tight after grabbing some for a day on the lake, as any escapees will no doubt get me a lecture on how yucky maggots are, and how a few loose ones in the frig are met with stern disapproval.
View attachment 235399

One of my fave baits for perch are mayfly larva also called wigglers at the bait store. Hooked through the collar with a
small hook, their swimming action will entice them to bite.
View attachment 235400

View attachment 235401

View attachment 235402


Here is a Dave Genz ice fishing box for flashers. I still have my original FL-8 which still does what it suppose to.
Here is an added twist. Many times when ice fishing for bluegills, I will find them suspended. Once while fishing in
30 fow, I found them stacked from 18 feet down to 25 feet. As I dropped my presentation down to them, I
started picking off the ones closest to the surface at 18 feet. As I thinned the herd, the numbers of them dwindled a
little I found that those left that I was marking with the sonar were much more reluctant to bite. I had already picked off
a half a dozen of them.

What I did was grab the shaft at the top that the transducer was attached to, and slowly rotated it 360 degrees in the hole.
This works best when the ice is 6 inches or less as it allows the transducer to be angled off the to the side of the hole.

When I did this, I would often find that large suspended school of fish with the sonar angled off to the side of the hole
again. I would walk about 10 feet away from the first hole and drill another in the direction the sonar told me they were at,
and the new hole had the same suspended school of fish, which also became easy targets. All it took was slowly rotating
the transducer in the top of the first hole to tell me which direction they went. As the fish are popsicles this time of year with a
the metabolism of an ice cube, they did not go far from where I first found them in the original hole. When I moved
10 feet from the first hole, and then drilled another, I was on them again. Thank you Dave Genz

View attachment 235403


View attachment 235404


View attachment 235405


Dream Theather influenced. With my Firefox browswer on my pc, these soundcloud linked songs can take up to a minute finally start playing after hitting the play button.

I don't know where to start , so freaking cool . Love the rod man and great pics !!

 

[belleswell]

Love the rod man and great pics

The shorter the rod, the easier it is to have a precise jigging cadence. I usually start just above the closest fish to the surface and with quarter to half inch pulses I create with the rod, I slowly swim the jig up and away from the closest fish. As they follow the presentation,
I continue with the light pulsing swimming action. Many times they will follow the jig for a few feet before biting. When the bite action is hot a couple times a day, then the jigging action is not as crucial in getting them to bite. But the large portion of the day is when the fish are going off the bite and going neutral which makes them more difficult to bite. The smaller jigging movements created by the rod can pay off in a big way if done with small jigging movements. I have jigged for all of my life for bluegills and their mood determines how much jigging action is needed to elicit a bite. With normal ice fishing rods of a foot and a half to three feet in length, it becomes much harder to keep the jigging movements small when they are neutral.

Another plus to the very short rod in a portable shanty, is having hook setting room. If I'm doing the small jigging action slowly swimming the jig up and away from a following fish, they sometimes bite when I have swam the jig slowly upward for 3 or 4 feet.
This has rod up toward the ceiling of my portable shanty. Often times with a normal length ice fish rod, I will have run out of room to set the hook when I finally get them to bite after slowly swimming the jig upward. No problem at all with the short rod I showed in the pic. There is always room to set the hook with it.


I have watched them following my presentation on the flasher for a few feet doing the small pulsing action up and away from them.
As they begin to follow, a sudden mistake by me created by too much jigging action with regular sized ice fish rods, can send them back down. I spooked them with too much jigging action.

It's much easier to control the jigging action with shorter rods, which when fish that have gone off the active bite and are now neutral, can be much tougher to get them to bite. When the bites on, any one can catch them. When they go neutral,
they can still be caught, but one must coax them to do so. When the fish go negative, forget about it. Nothing can be done to change their mind.

3 moods.

1 Active - Anyone can catch them - Solar tables has these as small periods twice a day. Usually around an hour for each period.
2 Neutral- They can still be caught, but with precise small jigging action - Most of the day
3 Negtive- Forget about it. Might as well be home playing guitar or watching TV - A few hours everyday when nothing will coax them.

 

[Bullfrog]

The shorter the rod, the easier it is to have a precise jigging cadence. I usually start just above the closest fish to the surface and with quarter to half inch pulses I create with the rod, I slowly swim the jig up and away from the closest fish. As they follow the presentation,
I continue with the light pulsing swimming action. Many times they will follow the jig for a few feet before biting. When the bite action is hot a couple times a day, then the jigging action is not as crucial in getting them to bite. But the large portion of the day is when the fish are going off the bite and going neutral which makes them more difficult to bite. The smaller jigging movements created by the rod can pay off in a big way if done with small jigging movements. I have jigged for all of my life for bluegills and their mood determines how much jigging action is needed to elicit a bite. With normal ice fishing rods of a foot and a half to three feet in length, it becomes much harder to keep the jigging movements small when they are neutral.

Another plus to the very short rod in a portable shanty, is having hook setting room. If I'm doing the small jigging action slowly swimming the jig up and away from a following fish, they sometimes bite when I have swam the jig slowly upward for 3 or 4 feet.
This has rod up toward the ceiling of my portable shanty. Often times with a normal length ice fish rod, I will have run out of room to set the hook when I finally get them to bite after slowly swimming the jig upward. No problem at all with the short rod I showed in the pic. There is always room to set the hook with it.


I have watched them following my presentation on the flasher for a few feet doing the small pulsing action up and away from them.
As they begin to follow, a sudden mistake by me created by too much jigging action with regular sized ice fish rods, can send them back down. I spooked them with too much jigging action.

It's much easier to control the jigging action with shorter rods, which when fish that have gone off the active bite and are now neutral, can be much tougher to get them to bite. When the bites on, any one can catch them. When they go neutral,
they can still be caught, but one must coax them to do so. When the fish go negative, forget about it. Nothing can be done to change their mind.

3 moods.

1 Active - Anyone can catch them - Solar tables has these as small periods twice a day. Usaully around an hour.
2 Neutral- They can still be caught, but with precise small jigging action - Most of the day
3 Negtive- Forget about it. Might as well be home playing guitar or watching TV - A few hours everyday when nothing will coax them.

You aint kidding about the 3 moods especially in February, sums it up perfect.

Love my palm rod and spring bobber. When nothing else is biting I can usually coax some bites with the palm rod on a teardrop tipped with maggot. Sometimes messing with smaller fish gets things going under the water too. Once was messing with a small school of 3-4 in perch, they were hitting it but not really biting it, when a 24-inch brown trout came in a slammed my jig. Only had 1# test line so it was a really nice fight to get it up the hole. I'm sure it was brought in by the commotion from the perch feeding. My dad got nothing that day fishing with minnows, I walked off with that nice brown a keeper walleye and a few perch all thanks to that palm rod and finesse jigging. Dad was pissed, he really didn't like being out fished but he always got over it.

 

[Bullfrog]

My palm rod isn’t home made but it’s pretty slick, been laughed at for using it until they see me in action with it.

I’ll hold it like so, drop the jig to the bottom slowly lift as I tap the rod using my index finger. That jig and maggot vibrate in the water and fish key right in on it. Even on tough days it’s pretty effective.

 

[Amarok]

I always get a kick out of seeing 1 lb test. There ain't no such thang up here. Lightest anybody stocks is 4 lb.

I have one of those old Marmish palm rods somewhere. It was fun for perch, but without panfish to target, it got tossed in a closet.

It would be fun to try for crappie and bluegill, but I can't see traveling the distances required to check that off the list. I can't even bring myself to do the climbing required for golden trout, to complete the set of game fish found in Alberta.


Currently watching the thermometer rise before doing an afternoon pike fishing trip. Making sure to have the damn transducer this time.