Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Fished strawberry yesterday from 7-11:30 AM. Snowed the whole time with about 3 inches accumulating in the morning. Not very cold though and no w... There is about a foot of powder and about 4-6 inches of slush so traveling is difficult. We had snowshoes so it was not bad at all staying on top of the powder and not reaching the slush layer. Snowmobiles were doing fine but I think a wheeler would have some real difficulty. Hopefully it will get nice and cold again and freeze it all up again. With the powder, slush, and ice thickness it is a lot of work to drill holes by hand. All together it is about 3 feet to drill through and gives you a good work out. We caught 15 fish total. 14 of them were slot cutts and I caught one rainbow (about 16 inches) for dinner. We fished depths from 16-24 feet deep and did best at 21 feet. We were too tired of drilling holes to try deeper water but I think we may have done better in 30-35 feet deep. I drilled 3 holes to find the fish at 21 feet and I wasn't going to drill anymore. I usually drill a second hole for my fishfinder (fishing buddy) but not yesterday. I need to find a way to using my fishing buddy finder in the same hole I am fishing in.... (any ideas?). We used paddlebugs, foxee's, and finkys all tipped with mealys or waxys. Forgot the minnows at home or I would have tried them when things got slow. It was certainly not fast and furious but another fun day.
[signature]
Posts: 5,856
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2003
Reputation:
0
I feel your pain on drilling through the thick ice by hand. Sometime I use my finder in the same hole I am fishing becuase of thick ice. I just have to reach down and pull it out. I've probably lost a few fish because of that reason, but oh well.
Thanks for the report, and good luck on your next trip out.
[signature]
Posts: 1,774
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
Hi Bigcat.
I have a sled with high sides, and I clamp the finder bracket to the side of the sled. I then put the fishin buddy as close to the edge of the hole as it will go. I do have to pull it back out of the water if I have a very big fish on, but I have never lost a fish because of that. I also will attach the bracket to the outside of a plastic bucket and put some weight inside the bucket then I use the finder the same way as with the sled. I hope this helps, DKS.
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Tubedude-
Yep still plenty of drilling at the Berry. Speaking of Physical Therapy I think this therapist needs to put himslef on an advanced rotator cuff strengthening program..... Or just go fishing more often at Strawberry and drill more holes. Why be in training for the real thing when you can do the real thing! I am not ready for the ice to come off yet as I have sensed from others on the board. But I have been thinking more and more about getting the tube out and looking forward to ice off to catch some large cutts on a big ol black bugger. Speaking of tubing I better start the pre-season quad strengthening program..... Note to self.... Begin quad strengthening program.[cool]
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
DKS-
Great minds must think alike. I was trying to solve my finder problem last night and came across the same solution as you mention. I attached the clamp to the side of the sled. I am wondering if the handle (where the batteries are stored) gets in the way when you are jigging or hook setting. Those of you who have fished with me have seen my modified jump hook hook that could rip the lips off of a hippopotomos. Anyway I digress. I was also wondering if having the transducer hugging the side of the hole like that interferes with the sonar signal especially if the ice is cloudy? Do you usually extend the sonar down to the bottom edge of the hole when using it in the same hole you are fishing or does it seem to matter. I don't mind having to remove the finder from the clamp to land a big fish as long as I get a few big fish to land!!!! Thanks for the help DKS!
[signature]
Posts: 1,013
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
I only extend the transducer to the bottom of the ice. When I am after perch, I can normally leave the the finder in the hole. I also turn the handle to the side a bit so that it is not in the way.
After last monday, I may be in the market for a new finder for the ice. My son has a unit that shows the perch moving to the jig and taking the hit. He gave us a play by play report and then he would set the hook and have a fish on every time. I was jealous as he caught about 10 to 1 more fish than I did. DKS.
[signature]
Posts: 771
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2004
Reputation:
0
Bigcat, I fish my fishin' buddy exactly the same way that DKS does. It does take some getting used to, but it is worth it to find the fish. I too would love to find another fish finder for ice fishing. They sure have come a long way since I bought mine 7 or 8 years ago. Maybe by next year!! Jake
We have rented snowmobiles for this sat to take out on the Berry. I am a little worried about the slush?! What do you guys think? I love to fish it now, but I don't want to spend the whole day digging sleds out.
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
DKS-
What kind of sonar did your son have? I know there are a lot better finders than the fishing buddy with better technology. I'm keeping my eye out for a new one but probably don't see one happening in the real near future. I guess a fishing buddy is better than fishing blind though for now.
Silverslinger-
I feel your concern about the slush. It was pretty ugly on tuesday. It was much tolerable with snowshoes. The sleds were not having too much trouble. Hopefully it has gotten pretty cold at night and firmed things up. The website said it got to 20 last night but with a foot of snow on top to insulate it you never know. I'm planning on going again on saturday and walking away from the crowds and hopefully find some fish. Give me a holler on the radio on channel 12.
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Just talked to my brother who fished Strawberry this morning. Said it was very cold when they got there this morning. He used the snowshoes on the way to the fishing spot but said he didn't need them and didn't wear them in the way back to the car. All of the slush has frozen and the powder has crusted over enough to walk on without breaking through. So snowmobiles should have no problem and walking is much easier. Don't know about wheelers but I would guess they would do Ok. They fished the same place today as we did on Tuesday with the exact same results (15 fish total all in the slot).
[signature]
Posts: 1,013
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Hi Bigcat.
The finder that my son uses is an Eagle Fishmark 320.
It is not very expensive. He got it at Sportsman's, for under $200.00. My Buddy is in that price range.
There are a lot of finders that are better and cost a lot more, but this one does the job, and the price is right.
He paid $40.00 more for a battery and to have everything mounted to a box for ice fishing. DKS.
[signature]
Posts: 682
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2003
Reputation:
0
Bigcat-
I traded in my Fishin Buddy for a Humminbird 565 this year for $200. The thing is amazing from a techno-geek perspective and has all the features of an expensive unit plus some in my opinion.
The real time sonar, 640 vertical pixels, dual sonar beams are just a few of the features you will have a hard time matching or finding for that price. The real time sonar works like a vex and is stinking super sensitive and very, very quick to return the signal. It's practically instant and will track my swivel, my jig and anything I put down the hole. Has the vertical accuracy of a vex as well at 2".
Just my 2 cents. I researched units until my teeth fell out and for the money, I couldn't find a better unit.
F4F
[signature]
Posts: 771
Threads: 1
Joined: Dec 2004
Reputation:
0
Bigcat, thanx for the response. We also called up to the marina today and they said that we should not have any problems getting out. I appreciate the help. I will have my radio as well, Jake
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
Fishin4fun,
Thanks for the info on your new finder. I closely watched your posts back 4-6 weeks ago when you were seeking advise and then finally bought one. It sounds like an impressive unit with some great features like the real time sonar. I even went so far as to bookmark your thread back then so when it came time to buy one (when I have some extra money) I could refer back to it again. Thanks again.
Silverslinger-
I've give you a shout tomorrow on the radio on channel 12-0. We are headed to the marina but are planning on walking for awhile to get away from the noise and people. What part of the lake are you headed to? If I had sleds I would head to the meadows. I don't know if my radios will reach that far (only 2 mile range). Good luck tomorrow.
[signature]
