Ice Fishing 23-24

[Ramjet159]

A burbot during spawn is kind of like an Aussie on holiday.

Jeez I sometimes get embarrassed watching some Aussies on vacation . More so younger blokes who think our at times bogan behaviour is understood around the world .
Wears a bin thin at times and I don’t blame countries like Indonesia in some locations more or less putting our young dickheads on notice . The last gen or two are probably the worst with this sense of entitlement attitude .

 

[Amarok]

Jeez I sometimes get embarrassed watching some Aussies on vacation

So how's your pectoral muscle healing up? 😉

 

[Amarok]

20 days left in the season and 7 trips to match my total of 50 from last winter. Weather looks like it's going to cooperate.
Car's mostly loaded, batteries are charged for trip 44 tomorrow.

 

[Amarok]

Oh shit . Just saw yesterday's post. I forgot that today was trip 44.
Guess what the clicker read at day's end? Yup, 44 burbot caught on trip 44.

The first two hours were wild, and then it slowed down, but it was rare to go too long without some action. They were smaller and more aggressive today than last trip, for the most part. It's interesting to watch their behavior change as the spawn progresses.

Definitely have enough burbot meat in the freezer. I may pop back one more time for fun, but I'm thinking now it's slough shark time.

Edit: can somebody skin and clean these 2 burb I brought home? I sat down for a quick supper and now have zero energy or ambition.

 

[Ramjet159]

So how's your pectoral muscle healing up? 😉

You bastard 😂😂😂
That was a cheap shot but I like it .
Hey I behave myself overseas . I only embarrassed myself and not the whole nation that night .
The pec is fine thanks mate . I know you genuinely care 🤣

 

[Amarok]

That was a cheap shot but I like it .

You kinda forced me to do that. As a proper bastard, I could not allow such a perfect set-up to go unused.

 

[Ramjet159]

You kinda forced me to do that. As a proper bastard, I could not allow such a perfect set-up to go unused.

I will rise again
Like a Cobra I will sit quietly and wait
Then when the opportunity presents
I will probable still be asleep and have to wait all over again .
Amarok : 1 Ram : still pending

 

[Amarok]

Gotta admit, I'm ready to put the ice gear away. The lack of snow, mushy ice meaning it's drag-on instead of drive on, and the post-spawn let-down have me pining for the river.

Got out today for a few hours in the afternoon. No tent or cam, just hole-hopping in the warm afternoon sun. Got two right away, one decent size, and then it slowed down. Moved a couple hundred yards and got a few more. Had a quick-strike rig with a wiener on the deadstick, hoping for a big'un. It got taken once, but no hook-up.

Almost got to play Punt the Pug when the only other people to show up decided to drive within 20 feet of me, park within 30 or so yards, and let their two little shit factories run unsupervised. At least 5 times they were all around me and my bait and hooks. One looked like it was going to piss on my gear and that was when the punt party came to mind. Instead I just tried to mentally summon coyotes.

 

[Bullfrog]

Gotta admit, I'm ready to put the ice gear away. The lack of snow, mushy ice meaning it's drag-on instead of drive on, and the post-spawn let-down have me pining for the river.

Got out today for a few hours in the afternoon. No tent or cam, just hole-hopping in the warm afternoon sun. Got two right away, one decent size, and then it slowed down. Moved a couple hundred yards and got a few more. Had a quick-strike rig with a wiener on the deadstick, hoping for a big'un. It got taken once, but no hook-up.

Almost got to play Punt the Pug when the only other people to show up decided to drive within 20 feet of me, park within 30 or so yards, and let their two little shit factories run unsupervised. At least 5 times they were all around me and my bait and hooks. One looked like it was going to piss on my gear and that was when the punt party came to mind. Instead I just tried to mentally summon coyotes.

Dogs are so annoying on the ice. Hell, I think they're annoying all the time, but nothing worse than having to pay attention to somebody else's dog when you're trying to have a productive fishing trip.

Years ago a coworker talked me into going ice fishing with him and he brought his dog. Every time a flag went off the dog would get tangled in the line. It would constantly try and eat the minnows we had for bait even the ones on our hooks. Just one big pain in the ass. Never went out fishing with that guy ever again.

 

[Ramjet159]

Dogs are so annoying on the ice. Hell, I think they're annoying all the time, but nothing worse than having to pay attention to somebody else's dog when you're trying to have a productive fishing trip.

Years ago a coworker talked me into going ice fishing with him and he brought his dog. Every time a flag went off the dog would get tangled in the line. It would constantly try and eat the minnows we had for bait even the ones on our hooks. Just one big pain in the ass. Never went out fishing with that guy ever again.

Two types of dog owners
Responsible and inconsiderate irresponsible owners . I can’t stand dogs that jump up on you either looking for a pat right in your face while the idiot owner who failed to train the dog as a pup looks on thinking it’s ok .
I love animals so I refrain from what I’d like to do and that’s kick the dog in the head . Instead I should be kicking the owner in the head .
I don’t care what elaborate fancy expensive breed dog you own , if it’s not trained then to me it’s a shit dog .
Footnote : @Amarok dont you go diggin more dirt on me on this one . One strike a week is more than adequate . That is all ………. For now

 

[Bullfrog]

Two types of dog owners
Responsible and inconsiderate irresponsible owners . I can’t stand dogs that jump up on you either looking for a pat right in your face while the idiot owner who failed to train the dog as a pup looks on thinking it’s ok .
I love animals so I refrain from what I’d like to do and that’s kick the dog in the head . Instead I should be kicking the owner in the head .
I don’t care what elaborate fancy expensive breed dog you own , if it’s not trained then to me it’s a shit dog .
Footnote : @Amarok dont you go diggin more dirt on me on this one . One strike a week is more than adequate . That is all ………. For now

I don't blame the animal, they only do what comes natural.

I go off trail a lot. I've encountered way too many dogs with no owner in site. These are the issues I have problem with. Owners usually defend their dog, try and put me in the wrong. Also don't like being rushed by dogs. My mothers dog used to rush me. Took a few boots in the face before she cured herself of that. She'd run nose first right into the bottom of my boot. The absolute worse thing is stepping in a pile of shit.

I love animals too but I'm 100% not a pet person.

 

[Amarok]

I love animals so I refrain from what I’d like to do and that’s kick the dog in the head . Instead I should be kicking the owner in the head .

Absolutely. It isn't the pet's fault, but it's the pet that is pissing on my gear, or eating my bait, or messing with my lure boxes, or acting threatening toward me, so the conflict usually starts there.
Yesterday I was really fighting my temper, because once I go off I don't stop until there is resolution(I only recently realized/accepted the extent of my temper). I yelled at the dogs to fuck off, but not full on bull-bellow. Finally I showed my fangs and growled at them and they got freaked out and stayed away.

I love animals too but I'm 100% not a pet person.

Me too. I feel more a part of the animal world than the human one most days. I certainly have more respect for most animals than for most people(except for squirrels and magpies. Fuck squirrels and magpies!) I love animals but have no desire to own any (beyond bait species).

 

[Bullfrog]

Absolutely. It isn't the pet's fault, but it's the pet that is pissing on my gear, or eating my bait, or messing with my lure boxes, or acting threatening toward me, so the conflict usually starts there.
Yesterday I was really fighting my temper, because once I go off I don't stop until there is resolution(I only recently realized/accepted the extent of my temper). I yelled at the dogs to fuck off, but not full on bull-bellow. Finally I showed my fangs and growled at them and they got freaked out and stayed away.

Me too. I feel more a part of the animal world than the human one most days. I certainly have more respect for most animals than for most people(except for squirrels and magpies. Fuck squirrels and magpies!) I love animals but have no desire to own any (beyond bait species).

I've snorted at dogs before when they knew I was there but didn't know exactly where. Both times sent them hightailing back to their owners. Would've been kinda fun if I hadn't been in one of my grow spots surrounded by big girls.

I don't mind black and grey squirrels, but the little reds are horrible. Noisy, mean little fucks. I have one around my house I want to put an end to so bad, but I know the neighbors feed it, wouldn't feel right. Besides I guess the little dude should be able to live his life too. Just wish he'd shut the fuck up and stop digging everything I put in the ground back up.

 

[Ramjet159]

I've snorted at dogs before when they knew I was there but didn't know exactly where. Both times sent them hightailing back to their owners. Would've been kinda fun if I hadn't been in one of my grow spots surrounded by big girls.

I don't mind black and grey squirrels, but the little reds are horrible. Noisy, mean little fucks. I have one around my house I want to put an end to so bad, but I know the neighbors feed it, wouldn't feel right. Besides I guess the little dude should be able to live his life too. Just wish he'd shut the fuck up and stop digging everything I put in the ground back up.

That’s what the Blackbirds do every single day in my yard . My wife and I are constantly backfilling and repairing garden beds these birds dig holes into looking for food .
I’m over it . I don’t really want to put mesh all over the place as it looks ugly and although I’m not a fan either but would tolerate the right breed the wife’s not keen on a cat in the yard .
I don’t mind Burmese’s . We grew up with one and it was so chilled it was more like a dog .

 

[Amarok]

Just wish he'd shut the fuck up and stop digging everything I put in the ground back up.

That’s what the Blackbirds do every single day in my yard . My wife and I are constantly backfilling and repairing garden beds these birds dig holes into looking for food .

That's why you need smarter critter friends.
I posted last year about the young crows pulling up my new caraganas. I noticed and replanted them, while looking at the crows and telling them I wasn't impressed.
The crows watched and "listened" and never did it again.

+15 tomorrow and 13 Monday before dropping down to some perfect ice-fishing weather to finish off the season. It will be cold enough to keep it from getting too sloppy while still warm enough to travel light.

 

[Amarok]

It's 15C, a warm and sunny Spring day. I've been puttering outside and loving it.

Cloudy and -3 with a bit of a breeze tomorrow(and below 0 for the next week ). Going to do a lazy day at the nearest lake to me and try for multi-species. There will still be lots of ice thickness, but ice quality becomes an issue at this time of year, especially close to shore, so I'm going somewhere I won't have far to haul if I don't want to drive on.

Thinking I'll go perch hunting for the trip after that. Might as well try to hit 50 again. My wanting winter to be over won't make it so, and this is perfect ice fishing weather. Going to be a while before open water happens so cutting ice season short due to Spring Fever is only prolonging my suffering.

(Woke up this morning stiff and sore from my hike yesterday. Much better now, but going 5+ miles in not-great shoes after being a slug all winter definitely extracted a price. 😅)

 

[Amarok]

Only spent a few hours on the ice today. The wind was biting but the fish weren't. The water was discolored and murky and I just wasn't feeling it. When another vehicle showed up and the people therein decided to set up 30 yards away, that was the beginning of the end. I started packing up soon after. Managed 3 pike, so at least I wasn't skunked.

That was trip 46. There are 11 days left in the season.

 

[Amarok]

This is why you always stake down at least one corner before setting up the tent in the wind.
(not my vid)


-11 right now and I am so fucking over winter.

 

[Bullfrog]

This is why you always stake down at least one corner before setting up the tent in the wind.
(not my vid)


-11 right now and I am so fucking over winter.

Haha, reminds me of the story my crazy Uncle told me about the last time he ever went ice fishing. I could never tell it like him but basically, he was inside his portable when it took off like this. Had the Mr buddy going and everything. Broke all his equipment, burned himself and he gave up ice fishing afterwards.

One time I didn't check the weather report, fished till dark and was going to go back out first light so I thought I'd leave my portable out there. Wind picked up big time overnight. Woke up to 50-60 mph winds and a freaking blizzard. Had to go check on my shanty. Got to the lake and all I could see was white. Luckily I had it on gps, got close and no shack. It was tied down so I know it was there. Wind flattened it, bent all the poles, pretty much trashed it. Took me 3 hours to get out there and get that shanty off the ice, brutal conditions. Got home and the wife's dad called wanting a ride to work. Told her not to go cause you couldn't see anything. She went anyway and totaled out her car, luckily nobody was hurt. Haven't had a storm like that one in quite a few years. Thinking back, kinda grateful for the easier winters.

 

[Amarok]

Next time your SO says you aren't romantic, you can offer this video in your defense.

Tell her that at least she didn't spend Valentines Day camping in an ice fishing tent with a third wheel.
(the pike in the thumbnail is 46-1/2")