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Stupid human tricks and donations to the Fish gods
dpmule
Member Posts: 6,748 ✭✭✭✭
Ok, I am an avid highly addicted ice fisherman and over the years have donated many items to the Icefishing Gods. A pole here and there, couple ice spuds. The last being a really nice spud, donated by Grandson just minutes after telling him to make sure the lanyard was around his wrist while opening yesterday's holes. Note to self, a lanyard that works well on adult size wrists will easily slip of an 11 YO's.
So fast forward to yesterday 30 April. We ride snowmobiles 24 miles into a high country lake at 7,300' elevation and a population of Mackinaw Lake trout that can range up to 15/20 lbs.
On Thursday night this country had gotten a snow fall that went from around 6-8" at 6,500' to a smooth measured 20" at the lake. Down low there are some big meadows that on Friday and Saturday, several locals had took the opportunity to take their sleds and carve some late season powder and the trail was pretty rutted up from their antics. So Sunday morning @ 07:00 when we start up the trails the ruts are frozen hard, snow has a crust that the ski's don't even mark and I have a kid on my big Yamaha RS Venture pulling my big icefishing sleigh loaded with everything but the kitchen sink and it is literally throwing us all over, a real work out. Grandson on his Yamaha phazer was getting thrown around pretty good also.
We reach the lake, I shuck a lot of clothing as I am soaked with sweat. Putting my gloves, helmet and binoculars on snowmachine dash.
We assemble the auger and extensions and drill a set of five holes and commence fishing.
We start landing a few dinks in the 1-2 lbs class, so we drill another set of five in a little deeper water and still catching dinks.
I had gotten to boys set up on the new holes and had tied on a new jig when I spied some movement on the lake shore tree line to the West, turned out to be just a couple ravens, but we had cut several grizzly and wolf tracks on the way in on the prior weekend when we went up fishing, hence having the binoculars.
So, got movement identified as Ravens, put glasses back in dash and proceeded to drop fresh jig down Hole on a trial run before I moved out to one of the new holes. Promptly caught a dink. Got him to the top and had set my pole down on snowmobile seat and turned to unhook fish to release him when I heard a soft thump, then a loader thump on metal and turned just in time to see my Leupold 10x40'* the ice and bounce directly into the hole. I made a headlong dive running my arm clear into the shoulder, but alas, I just wasn't quick enough. They are gone.
I tied on a airplane jig that will circle when you jig it and a foot of leader with a #8 treble hook as a extension. I jigged hard for an hour to no avail and then reluctantly moved onto another hole, but I did jig that hole just a couple times as we were loading the sleigh to leave.
As Forrest Gump said " stupid is as stupid does. Guess I will either place my sled farther from a hole or better place my items that I take off.
Thank god it wasn't my Leica 10x42 Geovids that wife give me for Christmas a few years back. I would have never heard the end of that. I am sure the family will gaff me over this for awhile any way.
The trip out was much less of a work out as the snow had softened and we cut several grizzly tracks, moose, two black bear track crossing out morning tracks. Two of the grizzlies were Studs, they were big bears.
Well fellows, there is your chuckle for the day.
Mule
The previous weekend on 23 April. Ice just at 6', same intrepid fishing crew being corrupted bu Grandpa.
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So fast forward to yesterday 30 April. We ride snowmobiles 24 miles into a high country lake at 7,300' elevation and a population of Mackinaw Lake trout that can range up to 15/20 lbs.
On Thursday night this country had gotten a snow fall that went from around 6-8" at 6,500' to a smooth measured 20" at the lake. Down low there are some big meadows that on Friday and Saturday, several locals had took the opportunity to take their sleds and carve some late season powder and the trail was pretty rutted up from their antics. So Sunday morning @ 07:00 when we start up the trails the ruts are frozen hard, snow has a crust that the ski's don't even mark and I have a kid on my big Yamaha RS Venture pulling my big icefishing sleigh loaded with everything but the kitchen sink and it is literally throwing us all over, a real work out. Grandson on his Yamaha phazer was getting thrown around pretty good also.
We reach the lake, I shuck a lot of clothing as I am soaked with sweat. Putting my gloves, helmet and binoculars on snowmachine dash.
We assemble the auger and extensions and drill a set of five holes and commence fishing.
We start landing a few dinks in the 1-2 lbs class, so we drill another set of five in a little deeper water and still catching dinks.
I had gotten to boys set up on the new holes and had tied on a new jig when I spied some movement on the lake shore tree line to the West, turned out to be just a couple ravens, but we had cut several grizzly and wolf tracks on the way in on the prior weekend when we went up fishing, hence having the binoculars.
So, got movement identified as Ravens, put glasses back in dash and proceeded to drop fresh jig down Hole on a trial run before I moved out to one of the new holes. Promptly caught a dink. Got him to the top and had set my pole down on snowmobile seat and turned to unhook fish to release him when I heard a soft thump, then a loader thump on metal and turned just in time to see my Leupold 10x40'* the ice and bounce directly into the hole. I made a headlong dive running my arm clear into the shoulder, but alas, I just wasn't quick enough. They are gone.
I tied on a airplane jig that will circle when you jig it and a foot of leader with a #8 treble hook as a extension. I jigged hard for an hour to no avail and then reluctantly moved onto another hole, but I did jig that hole just a couple times as we were loading the sleigh to leave.
As Forrest Gump said " stupid is as stupid does. Guess I will either place my sled farther from a hole or better place my items that I take off.
Thank god it wasn't my Leica 10x42 Geovids that wife give me for Christmas a few years back. I would have never heard the end of that. I am sure the family will gaff me over this for awhile any way.
The trip out was much less of a work out as the snow had softened and we cut several grizzly tracks, moose, two black bear track crossing out morning tracks. Two of the grizzlies were Studs, they were big bears.
Well fellows, there is your chuckle for the day.
Mule
The previous weekend on 23 April. Ice just at 6', same intrepid fishing crew being corrupted bu Grandpa.
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Comments
Say you got a cell phone with GPS? Mark it and come back when the ice is water and bob for treasure. Or do like those "Magnet Fishermen".
Some "gods" take much offerings to appease.
Say you got a cell phone with GPS? Mark it and come back when the ice is water and bob for treasure. Or do like those "Magnet Fishermen".
I would have done that but what I lost into the river was my cell phone!!! And then a hat, and then one of my favorite fishing poles.
All on the same day. It was a bad day fishin', but it still beat bein' at work!
The Leica's go in, I would be hiring a diver to go look for them!
Looks like a great experience for all. I had an RS Venture for 12 years, that is one heavy beast!
Merc
That sounds like a blast! Where abouts is the lake. Don't worry, I won't steal your fishin' spot or go lookin' for your binos.
The Leica's go in, I would be hiring a diver to go look for them!
Looks like a great experience for all. I had an RS Venture for 12 years, that is one heavy beast!
NW Wyoming.
Guess I have had my RSV for 9 years, first thing I did when I got the heavy pig was put a set of Simmons Gen II ski's, they are 11" wide and they really help it float in deep slush. Can't tell you how it does in deep powder because I only use this sled for icefishing.
One of the lakes I fish is Jackson lake, North of Jackson Hole gets a lot of overflow and deep slush. These skis have kept me from getting stuck many times.
Mule
Won't the fish still be there when the ice melts?
Yes, but then the skeeters/deer flies will be out and the trails will be open and we will be riding our mules into other streams and lakes that don't see many people.
Dumb underfished fish make you think you are a better fisherman than you really are [:D]
Mule
Odf shape stuff tends to flutter as it sinks. Could be 4-6 feet off the hole by the time it hits bottom.
That' why I went with a airplane jig, it will make a large circle when jigged.
Just about everyday spent outdoors is a learning experience of some sort. Some good, some not so good, but always educational.
Mule
I am not sure why you would even go outdoors where there is 6 feet of ice. I am a fair weather outdoors man, nothing to prove at my age. That is why I live in the desert.
I have nothing to prove to anyone.
I love the solitude and quiet of beautiful days spent outdoors and during the winter to do that here where we live means I ice fish on various lakes of my choosing and catching some nice eating Macks are a bonus.
My Grandson is generally with me and I use every trip to try to teach him lessons in survival and general woodsmanship no matter if we are on snowmobiles, mules, or a foot.
How many people do you know would load up a 10 year old kid to take them into places where they got to see the tracks of several grizzlies recently emerged from their dens and then be able to show them a few weeks later the black bears starting to emerge?
He has gotten to see where the otter has slithered and played sliding down snow banks and where the wolf, wolverine, coyote and fox have hunted and dug mice and other morsels from under the snow. He has seen and can identify the Martin track from the weasel/ermine and the squirrel. All these things disappear with the snow. They can be seen on dry ground but with more difficulty.
My Grandson looks forward to each and every trip on dry ground or snow with a high degree of enthusiasm and always on the way to the trailhead, he is asking wonder if we will see certain animals/tracks in certain places since he has a history of seeing them there before.
I feel I am giving him an opportunity not afforded by many kids his age to see and experience the things he has. He has been riding the mountains a horseback with me since he was 5, so this will make the 10th summer this year and icefishing the deeper silent places since he was 10.
Very likely because of the places I have taken him, he has caught far far more trout be it open water or through the ice, than many adults twice or three times his age and seen parts of the backcountry that many will never see. This is our life.
This ice depth is around a foot deeper than normal for this lake this time of year, but we have other lakes that are now open water that we started fishing back in early November when they got 4" of clear ice.
I am sure if I lived in the desert, I wouldn't understand the allure of icefishing either, but I would likely compensate with riding my mules and exploring the silent places the desert has to offer.
Mule
Some of the most beautiful country around as far as I am concerned. Glad you take time to share and show your grandson what nature has to offer. It will stick with him forever and help him know what he wants to do in life!
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain
I am not sure why you would even go outdoors where there is 6 feet of ice. I am a fair weather outdoors man, nothing to prove at my age. That is why I live in the desert.
Well, you can dress for the cold, but once yer hot, there's only so many layers you can take off.
And fiery auto crashes
Some will die in hot pursuit
While sifting through my ashes
Some will fall in love with life
And drink it from a fountain
That is pouring like an avalanche
Coming down the mountain