Posted by Richie from netra.panasonicfa.com on January 25, 1999 at 11:52:44:
In Reply to: Re: 1/21 on the Chain. posted by Ed on January 22, 1999 at 13:49:47:
:
: : Hey Dave -
: : Sounds like a great day of fishing. :-) If I am able to go out and catch only half of your production, I would call the day a success.
: : Did the time of day matter for you catching any particular type of fish?
: : I am attempting a trip out this weekend but I only have few hours allowed away from the house. I figure I need to take advantage of whatever time I can get on the ice.
: : Did you have to move holes every 10 minutes or did the school of fish stay put for a "extended" period of time?
: : Do you know what time Pink Harrison's opens to allow parking of your vehicle?
: : Thanks for the great report and Happy Fishing.
: : Doug
: -------------------
: Doug,
: I'm not sure if Dave will make it back in time to answer your questions.
: I thought I would do my best in case you don't have access at home and need to know before leaving work. I left dave out on the ice :-) ............
: I just stopped home and WAS on my way to the airport to pick up my wife, who just called to say she is still at the airport in Cleveland! AARRRGGGG
: I coulda still been fishin'! ;-)
: Anyway,
: Dave told me there was a nig slow down between about 11am and 2pm.
: Last week when we were there the whites hit soradically throughout the day but morning and later afternoon were best and this is usually the case with the crappies also. He had the same type of deal we had last year as far as the crappies. A few from a whole and then they quit or moved. Sometimes you may see on the flasher that there is a column of fish as much as 10 feet thick. The active biters are usually at the top of the that column. Time spent in each hole may be anywhere from a couple minutes to maybe 10-15. As far as parking you can park there as early as you want.
: Hope this helps.
: Man, I wish I was still out there instead of waiting for a call that will send me rushing off to Midway!! ;-)
I was out there yesterday (1/24) and the whole scenario sounds about right. I say "sounds about right" because I watched a guy catching crappie one after another in the morning suspended at 10-12 feet. Sometimes they seemed to be stacked up, and would drift in and out. He caught about 25 from one hole. A few catfish in there as well, also suspended, but the white bass were small and on the bottom. I guess the bite pretty much slowed down at 11 a.m., I really couldn't tell personally since I didn't get a single bite all %$#!@! day from 8:00 to 2:30. Apparently a flasher really helps (I don't have one), but skill in using it looked to be most important. That's because everyone I saw had a flasher, but only the one guy (I didn't get his name) was catching any amount of fish. He tried to help me out (told me what he was using, color, depth, etc.) to no avail! I know I'm pretty new to ice fishing, but that was a lesson in humility. I'll get 'em next time.
There was a small skift of snow on the ice and walking wasn't bad at all. Given the current warming trend, how long would the 10 inches of ice on Pistakee remain safe? Unfishable by this weekend?
I very much enjoy this site and think it is hands-down the most useful source of current information for this area. Ed should expect a subscription check from me soon.