The ice has arrived

Well despite mother nature's best efforts, the cold has arrived and with it the ice fishing season. Now if I could only find time to get out more often. Thankfully, winter break is coming up which means two weeks break.

I did manage to get out for the first trip this season. I wasn't there for long due to the onset of darkness in the late afternoon. I unfortunately got to the lake late, and had to make two trips there, because the first trip I had forgot my auger and had no way to penetrate the six inches of ice.

On my second attempt that day, auger in hand, I fished for about an hour and a half and managed a small rainbow and a brook trout. The procured deli shrimp I use when fishing under the ice proved its effectiveness again.

Hopefully a more fruitful and lengthy day of fishing is in the near future. After all, its just the start of the hard water season.

The ice and the eagle.

The sun was shining, the air was crisp and the fish were calling. It had been far too long since I had gne fishing so I took the opportunity this morning to wet a line.
My destination was Cobb lake again, since I have been having success through the ice at this lake. Today was no different. I was only there for a couple of hours but managed a few rainbows and a nice brook trout. Bait of choice was once again pro cured shrimp dangled down a rather lengthy tunnel of ice into the depths below. I was only fishing in about 10 feet of water but the ice was nearly three feet thick!  My auger was only just long enough to drill through.
The action started with some small rainbows, switched to a bit bigger brookie and then finished off with another little rainbow. The sky was blue and the sun was bright and I had the lake to myself,  for most of the time. Until an noble guest decided to check out what I was doing. A healthy, large bald eagle turned up after I pulled out a fish and decided to bonk it. I decided to give the eagle the free meal it was looking for so I gutted the fish and took off the head wondering if I could get the bird to come down and pick it up on camera. Only problem was I only had my cell phone for a camera today as I left my gopro at home.
I propped my phone up in the snow and placed the fish entrails and head away from where I was fishing. The big eagle knew what I had and he wanted it. After setting my phone to record video I backed away and sat down to watch as I continued to fish. It didnt take long and the eagle swooped down and flew off with his free meal. I did end up getting some cool video but was cursing not having my gopro. Ah well, there's always next time.

Down the fish hole

With the weather holding in the negative, but not too negative, I decided to get in some ice fishing before Christmas.
On Saturday I made it out to Cobb lake to find plenty of ice. With the wife and kids in tow we trekked out on to the ice and drilled a couple of holes. It wasn't long and we had a small brook trout to hand. A quick picture and it was back down the hole to its friends. We stayed for a couple of hours, the kids played on the ice and I watched a few more fish sniff my bait, but no takers. One even tried to eat my swivel just below the ice right in front of my face.

Today I went back to Cobb to try my luck again. I drilled a hole, near to where I was two days before. After about twenty minutes i could see a brookie swirling around my bait. I twitched it a couple times and watched the fish slurp it in. It doesnt matter how many times I have seen it, I love watching fish taking my offering. I set the hook and after a quick fight I had the first fish landed. I quickly dealt with the fish and had my hook back in the hole. Within minutes, and out of no where a good size brookie shot out from under the ice, smashed my offering and took off with my bait. Line was instantly peeling off my reel and my rod had a good healthy bend. This fish had energy and went on a few good runs.
The day ended with me enticing a few more fish but they decided they weren't hungry, just sniffed it.

Both fish I landed today were hooked just inches under the ice, in about 6 feet of water, and the bait of choice was procured shrimp. I did pump the stomach of the fish and found lots of mayfly nymphs, some shrimp and a water boatman. These fish were well fed.

Can't wait to get out again, and neither can my youngest daughter.

First time fishing hard water.

Well the weather cooperated, the stars aligned, school reports are done so I went fishing. Ice fishing that is.
This was a new adventure and my first time ice fishing.
I had a late start and packed up all my gear to head to Cobb Lake. Through a snow filled back road and to the lake, I found two groups already on the ice. One guy was just landing a nice brookie and my hopes were high.
I carried all my gear out onto the ice and drilled my first hole. Easier than I thought it would be, I was expecting it to be harder. The ice was about 5-6" thick. I put on my bait, procured shrimp, and dropped it down the hole. With my bait in the water and the occasional lift to give it a bit of movement I took the opportunity to gaze around the lake. After all, there no need to watch into a hole in the ice all day. No sooner had i taken my eyes offthe hole, I felt a little tug, then another and then another. I set the hook and had a fish on. Now, I'd like to say it was a long hard battle but to be honest it was over pretty quick. My bait was probably only a foot under the ice and the little rainbow came in with ease. I pulled out my phone and quickly snapped a shot, but the fish must have been shy. It flipped out of my hand and back into the hole it went. It would have been nice to get a proper picture with my first ever ice fishing catch, but I was going to let it go anyway.

Unfortunately for me, I only had one other fish on all day which spat the hook before i realized it was on. In my books it was still a good day out, and I can't wait to try again soon.

On a side note, the thermometer read -15 degrees Celsius when I left this morning. Officially my coldest day of fishing.