Strawberry 3/17 - last time this ice season

[jjannie]

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Decided to make one last ice fishing trip to the Berry to tryout some new gear before packing it up for the season. Arrived at 7am - Air temp was a warm 34[size 2]0[/size] with calm winds if any at all. Ice fishing with the warm temps we’ve had seems almost crazy! But it was a beautiful day – glad we could make one last ice fishing run. Headed out from the Strawberry Bay boat ramp and over to Rainbow Point (had to cross one pressure ridge (off Haws Point) that had luckily re-froze). Ice here was 16 inches. We dropped our lines down once we got to about 35 FOW. Gizillas tipped with waxies was the meal of the day. Iced 18, 19-20 inch and fat, slot cutts and took home a 16 inch bow and just missed icing another larger one right at the hole. Fish came thru in waves about every 25 minutes sometimes giving us double and triple hook ups at a time. Fish were usually suspended between 15-25 FOW. The bite was very light and often you’d only get one chance to set the hook or you’d have to wait another ~25 minutes. Air temp at departure had climbed to a balmy 54[size 2]0[/size]
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Time now to summerize and pack up the ice gear and get the boat ready!
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[wiperhunter2]

Thanks for posting your report Jil, I'm surprise the ice is holding up so well with temp that warm(340* to 540*[]) at the Berry. Were there many other folks out fishing?
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[jjannie]

We talked with one guy (on foot) at the boat ramp, saw 2 other separate groups who passed by us - both were using 4 wheelers who ventured farther toward the Narrows than we had. The experiment of using snowmobiles along with an enclosed sleigh we got for taking Annie along all worked out well. We are now better set for the next ice season. Really couldn't have asked for better weather. When we left, only one truck with a horse trailer in it left.

The ice was pretty soft at the ramp when we left - and your feet would break through about 6 inches of ice to the harder layer below it within 10ft of edge at the ramp (but the snowmobiles never broke through it) so it won't be long before it starts receding too far to make access areas safe at all. So if anyone still wants to get out on it - better do it real soon.

Jil
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[wiperhunter2]

Enclosed sleigh, how big is it, got any pics of it? Does it fit on your snowmobile trailer?
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[jjannie]

It's an Arctic Cat Cutter Sleigh and it's large enough to hold 2-3 small kids with ample leg room. So for us it works perfectly for safely and securely carrying Annie along (she loves it) as well as some of our gear. It's towed behind the snowmobile and it'll fit on the trailer along with our snowmobiles. (I'll have to take her picture while in it sometime.)
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[wiperhunter2]

Wow, that is sweet, not sure I have ever seen one of those.
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[jjannie]

Its a 1970s vintage we were happy to have found one - it was just what we needed.
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[albinotrout]

[quote jjannie]Its a 1970s vintage we were happy to have found one - it was just what we needed.[/quote]

That exams the leopard pattern on the seat.
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[jjannie]

Yeah, pretty fun, eh? Annie very quickly claimed her place in it and was raring and ready to go - just as we had hoped she would.
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