Southern ice

[WayneChristie]

I wasn't going to fish today just do a few test holes but the bay has a good 5 to 6 inches and I ended up setting up the tent near shore in maybe 5 feet of milky water. no fish yet but I just set up and really, Im ice fishing almost a month earlier than last year so fish would be just a bonus today!!

[AK47]

What kind if fish you are expecting if 10 inch holes are not enough and you need doubles🤔?

[WayneChristie]

big ones my best pike barely squeezed thru a 10 inch hole. I find with doubles if I lead the pikes head to the edge of the hole they usually swim right up into the tent with me a lot of times, I can just twist my hook out and slide it back after I measure it. Ive also caught several fish that came right up into the iceholes to grab my bait when I was reeling it in. I will take any advantage I can find!

[anthony5]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

big ones my best pike barely squeezed thru a 10 inch hole. I find with doubles if I lead the pikes head to the edge of the hole they usually swim right up into the tent with me a lot of times, I can just twist my hook out and slide it back after I measure it. Ive also caught several fish that came right up into the iceholes to grab my bait when I was reeling it in. I will take any advantage I can find!

You catch big ones, who'da thunk it.

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by anthony5

You catch big ones, who'da thunk it.

I think its mostly accidental
good to see you are still around!

[WayneChristie]

I also only use 1 single hook now so its easier to land a big fish with a double hole, you dont have to drag them up through the ice and risk pulling your hook out they usually hit the surface on their own when you lift their head. and easier to see down the holes in clear shallow water. got all sorts of excuses but I just prefer them especially on thick ice. if a fish comes off the hook and gets away because the holes big oh well, all part of the fun of it. colorful language included I dont expect to land every fish I hook, its more exciting to lose the odd decent fish and try and figure out what I did wrong. I also point my camera down the hole to watch my bait so I can hook the fish as soon as it has the bait right. that way I just lift it out of the way and nothing for a big fish to tangle on. lost several that way too! Im not too smert, so i have to mess up a few times to figure it out

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

Im not too smert, so i have to mess up a few times to figure it out

Sounds like you got it figured out to me. I may have to come down for some tips from Sensei. But then I might have to touch a pike....

[MaxxiD]

Dalemead is about 9" of decent ice. Marking pike all day but no takers

[AK47]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

big ones my best pike barely squeezed thru a 10 inch hole. :

I am jealous. I never had any pike big enough not to fit in 8 inch hole yet. Now burbot on the other hand I lost one which was barely fitting inside the 8 hole. Touched it but of course it was too slick for me to grab it when the line broke and it went down the hole to grow even bigger

[WayneChristie]

I had that happen with a 9 inch hole, caught a pike at Clear lake that got jammed in the hole. buddy said why didn't you jam your arm down and drag it out. I might not be too bright some days but no way I'd put anything important in a big toothy mouth!

[TROLLER]

Originally Posted by MaxxiD

Dalemead is about 9" of decent ice. Marking pike all day but no takers

Not surprising. After the covid lock down t he lake was swamped with newby ice fisherman. And with guys posting on u tube showing maps on where best to fish the lake was over run.

Biggest problem was they never looked closely at the regs if they would have they would have known no fish under 63cm. I mentioned to a lot of newby fisher people that they were keeping an illegal fish and most did not belive or did not care.

Hope all those people have had to return to work instead of pretending to be working from the ice lakes.

[Poppa]

thanks for the updates, WC! I'm not on those lakes for the pike, as you know, so I'm thinking the PP a little further north is going to be my first stop this season, and then once it's frozen up, I'll transition over to "that other lake" to try and find out where Walter lives this year...

[ORV]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

I had that happen with a 9 inch hole, caught a pike at Clear lake that got jammed in the hole. buddy said why didn't you jam your arm down and drag it out. I might not be too bright some days but no way I'd put anything important in a big toothy mouth!

C,mon Wayne That is what your ice scooper is for.

Slide the handle down its mouth,use the hook end to hook the gill plate
& use the big round end to hold on to when you pull it up the Hole!
Oops forgot you dont keep them. How are you doing bud? lol

[MaxxiD]

Originally Posted by TROLLER

Not surprising. After the covid lock down t he lake was swamped with newby ice fisherman. And with guys posting on u tube showing maps on where best to fish the lake was over run.

Biggest problem was they never looked closely at the regs if they would have they would have known no fish under 63cm. I mentioned to a lot of newby fisher people that they were keeping an illegal fish and most did not belive or did not care.

Hope all those people have had to return to work instead of pretending to be working from the ice lakes.

If that's the case, maybe I'll give it a break this year

[MaxxiD]

Gonna go check out Chain this weekend. I'll report my findings

[calgarygringo]

We got out for our first time this week and did not disappoint. Was a couple hours east and ....of Cowtown and had 7 inches of ice. Had action all day long and brought a few home for fish n chips to boot so was a great day. No tiny hammer handles either though no moby dicks so had some fun times.

[salmonfan]

Originally Posted by MaxxiD

Gonna go check out Chain this weekend. I'll report my findings

Please do report back, I'm eager to hit Chain...

[pikeman06]

Originally Posted by MaxxiD

If that's the case, maybe I'll give it a break this year

Bahaha. Yup better just quit altogether. Every lake is dead. Winterkill and summerkill. Bad year for that. Bahaha.

[pikeman06]

200 dollars worth of fuel to throw everything you catch back, don't expect someone to draw you a map buds.

[anthony5]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

I think its mostly accidental
good to see you are still around!

40 lbrs are still there, not giving up just yet

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by anthony5

40 lbrs are still there, not giving up just yet

I never did hear even a rumour about the pike friends and I saw in 1 lake. Id bet a paycheck it was over 40.
Im lucky I have trophy pike (and walleye) in a lot of lakes less than an hours drive. maybe this winter! Then again some of the most exciting fish have been a long ways from trophy size so its all great!

[WayneChristie]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

I never did hear even a rumour about the pike friends and I saw in 1 lake. Id bet a paycheck it was over 40.
Im lucky I have trophy pike (and walleye) in a lot of lakes less than an hours drive. maybe this winter! Then again some of the most exciting fish have been a long ways from trophy size so its all great!

I cant believe I'm the only person fishing this whole bay! Ice is noisy and hard as iron, the drill is definitely coming out next time. warm Temps during the day next week but the ice should hold on ok.
I will say what I do every winter, Newell always has bad areas so do your own checking don't take someone else's word for it. same with all the local lakes especially this early. be safe and have an awesome season!

[WayneChristie]

judging by the train going by down the main lake I hope anyone fishing around Kinbrook brought an extra pair of shorts

[Remps17]

Originally Posted by WayneChristie

judging by the train going by down the main lake I hope anyone fishing around Kinbrook brought an extra pair of shorts

What the ice thickness on Newell Wayne?

[WayneChristie]

7 inches where I am and very noisy

[MaxxiD]

Twas 8 inched at the north end today. 3-4 groups out fishing