My buddy Eric and I met up and got on the ice around 7:30-8am this morning. We fished a lake in Waukesha County that was new for the both of us.
The weather out there was a little different than predicted. Temps were low and winds were gusting. All in all we had a decent morning. 6 or so flags total, with 3 northerns to hand. Eric was on fire today, I missed my chance at a real nice pike we saw on the camera. Biggest pike of the day was 25". Just shy of the 26" slot. I guess the pickle jar will just have to wait.
Happy feeding pike today
Smaller one
Eric was on fire today, I missed my chance at a real nice pike we saw on the camera. Biggest pike of the day was 25". Just shy of the 26" slot. I guess the pickle jar will just have to wait.
The bluegills were in 15-20 fow and did not want to commit. They would come off the bottom, follow the jig up 3 ft and drop back out. I did manage to hook into one, but it never saw the hole. I think the northern pike in the area might have had something to do with these wary bluegills.
You're brave handling these guys without gloves. With pickerel it can be deceiving of who is actually bleeding in the pics.
ReplyDeleteI was reluctant to put up photos of a bleeding fish. Unfortunately due to DNR regs we were forced to release this fish. Seems a shame to me at only 1" shy of the slot. We did our best to revive her in the hole. She kicked away swimming strong, but who knows if she truly survived.
DeleteAs for our hands, I'm not sure if the bite of the gusting wind was worse!
the high blue skies and cold front seemed to shut the pannies down for me too
ReplyDeletenice pikes
For sure Blake. It hasn't failed yet this year. These lows have been moving in like clockwork and always manage to push in the mornings I fish.
ReplyDeleteWhen we first arrived I found pannies a few inches off the bottom, by the time we set boards out and got settled into the shelter, the skies were blue, the winds were up and the fish had either moved out of locked onto the bottom.
Oh well, thats fishing!
I had the same troubles with the gills. They would come up look at the jig and just go back down. I think the weather had a huge roll in it, but on the bright side the pike fishing made up for it. Always fun to try new waters as well.
ReplyDeleteIndeed! The weather had to be the culprit that day. Lots of lookers, very few takers.
ReplyDeletePike are a little less fickle, thankfully, and will tend to feed even with a high sun and clear skies.
Hopefully this weekend is more productive for all of us.
Good luck out there, and be safe.