Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

My cousin Adam shared a few photos with me this morning of some PNW Steelhead. This gorgeous fish weighed in at 16lbs and was just shy of 35 inches.

(I hope he doesn't  mind me sharing the photos)

Gorgeous scenery

I don't see a fin clip

Rosy Cheeks

Fishies beware....

I got a new boat this weekend (new to me at least) and I am pretty excited about it. I can't wait to explore new waters. I will be hitting the Milwaukee Harbor hard and I'm very excited to get out on some of the inland lakes I've been ice fishing this winter. 

I purchased it used, but seriously can't tell if it ever even got wet. It already comes with a couple of flush mount rod holders, as well as tons of storage. I will be adding a couple of forward mount rod holders and perhaps a fish locator in the future.

For now I am going to fish a couple times with just the basics. That way I can get a better idea of where and how I want things mounted/located. 

Fiberglass 4wt build

I recently wrapped up this little project I have been working on. I wanted to build an understated lightweight rod mainly for pan fishing. I think this rod would be just as happy on any small spring fed trout stream. It turned out just as I planned it to be. A few elegant details but over all a simple, no frills build. 

Here are some shots of the nearly finished product. (I still have to "sign" the blank...line weight, length etc..but my handwriting leaves much to be desired)

This 4wt was built on a 7'3" Fiberglass Rustic River blank

I love this down locking banded reel seats from RL Reelseats it pairs well with the cigar grip

 I am very excited about this Meisselbach Rainbow No.631

I think it compliments the build quite well. 

I can hear the click pawl scream while a slab gill slams my popper. 

Another day on ice

Me and the boys had some real fun today. Chasin' flags and jigging up some pannies for the dinner table. I always enjoy ice fishing with a handful of friends, it keeps things interesting and entertaining. Grilling out, enjoying the sun, it truly can't be beat.

  a-Couple-a Largemouth (CPR of course) Way to go guys!

You know I love me some Crappie

"Whatcha got there?" 

A few keepers today

A Crappie Weekend Up North

The family and I took a trip to the Northwoods this past weekend for some ice fishing and fresh air....and snow! The ride up was white knuckle driving all the way to Vilas County but we took our time and thankfully made it safe and sound to my Uncle's place despite the dozens of other drivers we saw spun off the road in the ditches. 

We arrived later than planned and even with the driving snow, were determined to get out for the evening bite. We unpacked the gear, re-set the truck for ice fishing mode and set out to our first destination. 

Before we left, I snapped this photo of a black squirrel, once I saw him, I knew it was going to be a good weekend.

 Allthough the evening bite was a small window, we managed some nice crappie. The bite really started picking up around 4PM and tapered off around 6PM. The biggest crappie of the evening was 11 inches. Way to go Mom!

Crappie were suspended off the bottom, feeding upward. I set up the shack and stayed quiet. Call me crazy but it actually seemed to help encourage the fish to bite more frequently. 

Sometimes you have to take a break from the fishing. When you do, order a cold one, or an Old Fashioned. (Brandy, sweet of course, with fruit).

Another day, another batch of keepers. Biggest one this day was every bit of 12 inches.

With one more weekend of game fishing season left, it's time to get out there. Ice on the lakes we fished was 24 to 30 inches. It snowed everyday we were there and even with 4WD, getting around on the lake was not easy. Bring a shovel, sand, a come along or some straps. 

Cheers!

Another weekend on ice

I enjoyed a relaxing day alone on the ice today. The weather was perfect for sitting out in the sun and doing some hole hopping.  Ice conditions on this Waukesha County lake were 14+ inches everywhere. The cordless power drill adapter for my hand auger was a great tool to have along.  It made finding fish much less taxing.

Right off the bat, my first hole produced a few small perch. As I worked out to deeper water I found more suspended schools of perch and crappie. The bite was slow today. A few negative biters swam right up with the bait, then kept swimming up making for difficult hook-sets and bite detection, even with electronics.

All in all it was a beautiful and peaceful day. For that, I am very thankful. You know even a bad day fishing is better than any good day at work. Everything caught is still swimming. I didn't find any fish that qualified for my own preference of "keeper" size. I guess you could make a perch sammich out of 6"ers. On the other hand, they might be keepers next year.

With that said, I'll leave you with a photo I took to sum up my day. PBR, homemade beef jerky and a lake all to myself. Seriously, does life get any better? 

Happy Valentines Day to me!

So my most awesome girlfriend left this on the table for my viewing pleasure last night (she had to work). It was a super V-day surprise, and kept me occupied for the evening. 

If you haven't checked it out yet, what are you waiting for?! Grab a copy. I was really excited when I first found out about the project a while back. You can view the trailer here. 

I am by no means a movie critic. I do however, admittedly own a fair share of fish porn. From my humble perspective and viewing experience, this is a top notch production with a great story. Although my travels to the Yucatan were less adventurous, roughneck and hard fought, I couldn't help but be brought back to my fond memories of the area, it's humble and friendly people and of course it's diverse wildlife.

I am excited for the next DVD in the series to be released.

Ahhh...memories

Super Bowl Sunday Ice Report

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.

Ice Report

Left work a little early today with my good friend to get a head start on the weekend fishing crowds.

We fished a Fond Du Lac county lake. Ice depth was 12".

Flurries blew in and out while we fished making for a beautiful afternoon. We had the ice all to ourselves. It was quiet, peaceful and relaxing. I love these kinds of outings.

We had about six flags in 3 hours time. This little guy got his photo taken before being released. Look at all that line! The little ones always run so much.

Some Crappies taken today. (The cutting board measures 11 inches). 

I will be out again tomorrow morning, not sure where yet. Reports to follow.

January heat wave

With the wind blowing, and water on the ice, we ventured out on a local Waukesha County lake today.  Temperatures have been in the high 30's up to the mid 40's for a few days now, yet the ice is stable, 8 inches or more everywhere we went. Finding deeper water was the challenge today. Everywhere we looked the weeds were thick and gown tall up to the ice. 

 We managed to punch a few holes around this massive flat and jig up small pan fish. Most were sent back to tell their friends of the perils they had just survived.

We also had a good handful of flags, with a few low 20 to mid 20 inch northern.

This northern was the biggest of the day. Unfortunately it wasn't quite 26" which is the slot for Waukesha County lakes. He would have been a great candidate for the pickle jar, but we respect the regs and released all of our undersized northern today.

Fishing was slow, but that never matters to us. When you are on the ice with friends, the beers are flowing, the grill is rolling and food is hot, you'd better be having a good time.

Cold temps and high winds are in the forecast. We should be making ice rapidly this upcoming week. 

Hard Water continued....

The fishing trip was a success. It was a great way to kick off the season and get me excited for a lot more ice fishing to come. With 6-8" of ice and temperatures well below freezing, there was plenty of safe fishing.
The pan fish made us work for them, but through patience and persistence, drilling lots of holes and probing the entire water column with my jigs, I was able to find a depth and bait combination that worked. I don't fish with electronics yet. Every time I go out,  I convince myself I am going to buy a flasher. I still haven't pulled the trigger on that investment. If I can find vegetation, take the time to fish the entire water column, it usually produces. Along with starting small, and eventually working my way up to the biggest bait fish willingly take.

We put  nice Bluegills, Crappie and Perch on the ice. Enough for a solid meal or two with the family.

Some of the Crappie were pushing 14 inches. Unfortunately the largest caught was lost at the hole, but it didn't matter. We got what we came for, and had a great time.

Hard Water

Well, I can't think of any better way to end the year and cap the holiday season off than an ice fishing trip with my Dad.

Tomorrow we will be headed North to Vilas County to do some much needed relaxing. Recent reports have us excited for Pike and Walleye on a strong bite as well as gills and crappie still feeding strong.

I have the tip ups ready to go, fresh line on my jigging rods, and plenty of new colors sizes and styles of jigs to try out. 

 A soldiers row of Beaver Dam tip ups ready for action.

My little box of new stuff. I assembled this one tonight.

The weather is looking pretty good for a long weekend on the ice. Reports to follow, and maybe some recipes too....

Resurrection

Things have been pretty dead here.  I've been working a lot and trying to get an m.Arch at the same time so needless to say fishing hasn't been possible.  I did get a new toy that finally arrived in late August after waiting for a few months (this was my pre-marriage final splurge).  Being limited on time and water availability due to this great drought, I hit up the Des Plaines to give it hell.  I quickly realized the Watermaster was the best fishing related purchase I've made next to a good jacket and pair of waders.  I did a solo float which meant I had to hike to get to the drop in so I would have my car where the pullout is.  Thankfully this boat fits in a large backpack and weights about 45lbs so I walked about 3 miles up river and put in.  The fishing sucked and the bass was all that I found but that has been par for the course this fall.

And I leave this post with some seagull dinner and a summation of the fall run.

Cheers

Low and Clear now available on DVD

I have been waiting for this for a long time. I ordered mine, you should too. More...

LOW & CLEAR Official

I almost missed this...

More news on the Estabrook Dam removal/repair issue....

http://milwaukeeriverkeeper.org/content/judge-rejects-countys-plan-repair-estabrook-dam