[Frank_NK28]

With the temps starting to finally get back into bearable range I hit the ice this morning for the first time in 16 days. It felt more like 16 years waiting to get after them again. This cold snap really produced some ice. I cut a measured 36" of ice compared to last trip at 22" but the Strikemaster ate through it like a hot knife through butter.
Things started off quiet after setting up the tent and lines. As the sun got higher I was able to see on the aquaview and shortly had a nice brookie followed a few seconds later by a rainbow cruise by. Fish cruised in and out of my camera view for about 5 minutes when I heard the jawjacker outside the tent spring loose. I jumped out the door and was rewarded with a rod tip bending down headed towards the water. A couple minutes later I had a small but chunky 1lb-13oz rainbow on the ice.
I reset the line and headed back to the tent to dry and warm my hands. Nothing happened for another 1 1/2 hrs except a bunch of fish cruising in to check out my minnow on the jigging jawjacker but they kept turning away. I moved the outside line to deeper water based on the direction of travel I was seeing the fish coming from and 1/2 hour later that line fired again. As I ran the rod bent over fully and drag started screaming. I thought I was into a decent rainbow. After a few short runs I had an 18" 3lb-8oz brookie on the ice, my PB to date!
I reset the line and again went back to the tent to dry my hands. After watching another couple trout come at the minnow then turn off of I decided to change to the wiggle wheel and use a mealworm. I sat back and waited. A few minutes later a chunky brookie swam up and went right on by, I reached down and turned on the jigging base and at the little tiny movement the brookie did a 180 coming in taking the jig and mealworm without hesitating and I enjoyed the show watching the trout get hit by the rod releasing. Two or three minutes later I had my third and final trout on the ice for a limit. A nice chunky beautifully coloured 17" 2lb-15oz brookie!
I wasn't even out long enough to eat my lunch! I packed up and headed home, ate my lunch on the drive home and cleaned my fish when I got home.