Happy Holidays

[Garry B]

To all the spoonpluggers, happy holidays.

[MuskyAddict]

Ditto! May your stockings be filled with Spoonplugs.

Ken

[Hal Standish]

Merry Christmas ! Just a thought for those that Ice fish... I do not and will not be standing on frozen water, but I was wondering is there any thing to be learned about a lake that could be used during the open water part of the year?
I do not think there is any thing in the Green book or Home study that covers Ice fishing.

Merry Muskie Christmas.jpg (11.69 KiB) Viewed 206828 times

hal

[joseph radunz]

Hal,

Much can be learned in winter, as much in that season as any of the others- if a person wants to learn.

If I had to break it down to the two biggest lessons I would say patience and precision.
During open water with one cast we can cover 25-30 yards of water. During an average day think about how many casts a guy makes- 50,75,100? Now sit on ice and drill an 8” hole, check your speeds, give it 5 minutes and move on to check the next 8 inches of water. It can take a painstakingly long time to cover any amount of water. Patience.

Now think precision- if you’re only covering 8-10” of water at a time you better make damn sure those holes your drilling are were you want them. Do you know where contact points are? Could you drive across a lake and stop and point your finger at your feet and say to yourself- “ this is where they are” with any confidence?

Depth and speed are broken down to microcosm- you are limited to either live bait or at its basics- a jump bait. Anything as slow as a dead minnow up to a a jigging motion that makes a froth on the water.

People around me go nuts for “first ice”, which is up until about the first of the year, sad thing is , guys could have been catching fish in those same areas since back in November before the ice got a hold of the lake. After that it’s deep holes and sporadic movements until March.

Anyway- yeah there’s a ton you can learn in winter that you can use in open water. It’s probably the last piece of the puzzle for a complete season of knowledge- one that most don’t explore. It’s a lot more work and a ton more time to get the answers but in the big picture necessary if you want to learn the whole ball of wax.

I could go on and on but I won’t bore you. Hope you’re staying warm and have a great holiday season!!

Good water and weather to all,

Joe

[Hal Standish]

Thanks for the imput. I got this idea watching a few Wisconsin guys hooking Muskies thru the ice. Videos are interesting but not a lot of solid information as to how to.
On most of the open water lakes I fish, I have shore sightings for the structures and contact points that hold fish in open water apart of the season and would think I begin with that Once the Ice is there I will give it a go They are all good Pike lakes So that will give me something to work toward.
Thanks for the info I'll report back once I get on the ice
Merry Christmas

Hal

[John Bales]

For 50 years I watch the average spoonplugger keep the boat in the garage till we get some 90 degree temps and then they come out of the closet when they can now catch their share of northern pike. Do you know how much they miss in the way of fishing knowledge on seasonal fish movements and what it takes to catch them? They put their boats away when it starts getting cold too so add another three months of what they are missing out on. 7 months of not fishing and not learning. Take 7 months times 50 years! Some are faster learners than others but you get my drift on how much more can be learned, if a person has a desire to do so. Nuf said. John

[Jerry Borst]

I got out this morning till 1pm and caught 7 lakers and a big fat brown. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a great New Year!

[John Bales]

Good job Jerry. Beautiful pics. We still have a few lakes open but a shoulder that's healing and a back that went out a week or so ago is keeping me off the water. I feel a little old and I hate it. I have to stop acting like I am 45 and think before I act. Nice to see you are on the water. John

[Steve Craig]

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you here!
I pray for peace and safety and good health for all this year.
Also just wanted to let you all know that Kyle Hall just caught an 18.82 pound LM out of O.H. Ivie on the 23rd! Lone Star Bass!
Again,
Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!
Steve

[Team9nine]

Also just wanted to let you all know that Kyle Hall just caught an 18.82 pound LM out of O.H. Ivie on the 23rd! Lone Star Bass!

Merry Christmas, all! That 18.82 was a typo some site posted a few days back. Kyle’s caught a 15.82, along with two other SAL fish including a 16. An 18.82 would have been a new state record.

[Steve Craig]

I apologize for the mistake.
I got to see Kyle catch it this morning, and it was a 15.82. Still........15+ Bass is awesome! I got to see a mounted 17+ when i was at Ivie last May.
Been doing some rewiring my Boat electronics due to low voltage issues. Waiting on a new Dakota Lithium 135 AH Starter/Deep Cycle to get here. Motor is ready for an oil change and Lower unit oil change. Then Ill be hitting it hard this winter.
Planning another trip to O.H. Ivie again, and also going to hit J.B. Thomas as well. Some HUGE bass coming out of it as well.Plus it has White Sandy water color!
I love those areas of Texas and could see living there. But, Ill stay here in AZ.
Hope you all have a great New Year and tight lines!

[Jerry Borst]

Just curious Steve, have you been to J.B.? When I was there it looked closer to a red color. So bad I wished I had a boat and 3 little little spoonplugs, lol! By far the best water color I have ever observed!

[Steve Craig]

Jerry,
Yes, I drove past it in November on my way to Austin to see my new Great Grandson! Josh also fished it last August and caught a pile of 7 to 12 pounders with his Friend Larry. I too wished i had taken my boat, then, but time didnt allow me to do that.
3 Little Spoonplugs!!! LOL!
I think it could be a better lake than Ivie, as it appears to be far less trees there too!
Cant wait! Im trying to talk Turbo Jim into meeting me there too!

[Jerry Borst]

Steve,
I big huge congratulations to you and your family with the addition. Very exciting!
I too can announce that Toni and I recently received word that John my oldest, who you know and his wife are expecting. Ryan, my #2 and his wife have a due date in early February. Aaron, #3 boy and his wife had a cute little girl and is now 8 months. These 4 boys are falling like domino's, just need to get Austin the youngest a friend, lol!

JB isn't a lake that I would imagine gets hit all that hard because of where it's located but it's definitely one worth fishing. But then again if your friend Josh is putting it on the map, who knows...
I got back out to the Milwaukee harbor yesterday and even though the "weather peoples" had a small craft advisory in effect there had to be at least a dozen boats out chasing perch. The wind and waves never materialize as predicted and was very manageable. I was even able to get out into the lake a couple miles to a large series of humps. However, the lake trout were tough to come by, only landing a couple. May get back there again on Wednesday. Happy New to all!

[Steve Craig]

Jerry,
Alright Grandpa!!
Please tell John I said hello and he will love being a dad! I really like John alot!
Sounds like things are moving along pretty good!
Also, still waiting on my Battery! Ugh!! Might just throw an old one in and go fishing anyway!
I pray that you have a great year ahead, both Spiritually and Physically!
Looks like you are wll on your way!
Happy New Year my friend!