Bunny Gulch 2-7-12

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Neither TubeBabe or I had been ice fishing this season. Lots of excuses...no good reasons. Figured today would be our best shot at maybe first and last ice trips of the year.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Air temp minus 14 as we went by Strawberry. TDC. It was a positive 14 at Bunny Gulch on Starvation. Dang near shorts weather. But we dressed up for our formal occasion. Lotsa layers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Edges looked like they have suffered a bit during warmer weather...but they were plenty solid for us to walk right onto the ice. You could look a bit to the north and see open water from the middle of the channel out to the open lake. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My Showdown earned its keep today. Before we drilled any holes I kept shooting through the ice to check for depth and fishies. Made several stops on the way to the channel edge...from 11', to 15', to 18' and 20'. Absolutely no bliperoonies in any of those test shoots.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Finally did a shoot in about 22 feet and the Showie lit up. Lots of lines. Turned on the electric auger and stealth drilled a couple of holes for TubeBabe to get started. Wouldn't you know it? Before I got my first holes drilled and filled she was bendo on a big bow. So much for courtesy waiting. Turned out to be our biggest steelie of the day...at 19". Put a nice on the Babe's face. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]And then, just as I was dropping my first jig down a hole she goes bendo again...on an 18" bow this time. Sheesh. After that I took the lures off her lines and began fishing. But bad karma. All I could entice were dinkster perchies. And she didn't catch any more trout for the rest of the day either.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]We both caught at least a grundle and a half of perch under 9". Kept about a dozen between us for some scampi perch on noodles. Yum.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]We had to make a short day of it so we were planning to leave not long after noon. Howsomever, the bendo dieties d upon me about 12:30 and I brung in a 17" bowski. Bent my stick and stretched my sting it did. [/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I might mention that the fishing died off in our first spot late in the morning. So I picked up the trust showdown and my jug of warm water and went on a perch search. Dribbled and shot through the ice clear out to over 40 feet deep. No perch and no detectable trout at mid depth. Gradually worked around in a big circle through many depths and bottom contours. Like a desert on the bottom. Finally found some flickers on the sonar in a spot about 19 feet deep...not too far from where we had set up our first ice station. Moved everything over to the second spot and abused some more perchlets. I actually went back to the first spot to catch the only rainbow I got for the day.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Coming off the ice was okay but the shallow edges were thin enough that we broke through ankle deep. A few warmer days and it is either plank or swim. Air temp was up to 36 as we packed up. Drove up on the hill to shoot down on the open water. See last pic.[/#0000ff]
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[fsh4fun05]

Thanks for the report and the pic of the lake. Open water at starvation = John being very happy [].
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[wyoguy]

Looks like the open water has increased a couple hundred yards since last Sat. Glad to hear you at least got on the ice this year.
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[Kent]

Inquiring minds want to know whether or not the [#0000ff]"Perch Jerker" [/#0000ff]saw any action?
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[CoyoteSpinner]

Glad ya got out on the hardeck - while there IS some hardeck left! Whew- if all that thin ice at shore had opened up enough - ya'll mighta gone floating away! They you could get out the trolling/dragging gear, instead of the jiggin!

Good on you 'letting' the Mrs hook up the first one. Some purdy chunky looking steelies there -nice colors. No perch pix? I'm having perch withdrawals this ice season! None of the footlong thunks from out there this time? - sounds like there's been lots - lots of little ones.

Caught your radio broadcast - they've got it online now. Short-n-sweet, good info. Just reading a mag on spring bassing, and thinnin' maybe I won't get to Pineview's ice, but jump on first ice off!!!

Thanks for the report. Looks like a good day out.

[flashyfish2]

[fishin]Dude, what is this showdown? I have a fish finder but I have to cut a hole to get the transducer in to find depth and the fishies. I've got a camera also, it's fun. But this showdown sounds great. What is it? And how do you use it? thanks
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[TopH2O]

Yea, but did you get any hot perch chowder on the ice? We concentrated on the perch and did pretty good on 8-9 inchers. Only caught one RBT and she was a very ripe 18 incher that swims still. Maybe we can hook up next week for some hookin and grinin'.

Did run into Pikeman and some of his friends. Rich caught a real nice brown and I took a couple of photos for him. Thanks for the use of the auger guys, I appreciate it!

[url "http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/RichwithbrownStarvation02072012.jpg"]http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc127/topwater52/RichwithbrownStarvation02072012.jpg[/url]

Mike
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[fish_fear_me2]

Glad you finally got out. I am surprised with all the open water you didnt launch the tube from the nearest ice berg. Nice looking trout. I too was curious to hear if you did any field testing of the perch jerker. The wobble jig is becoming one of my favorites too. Glad you got out and found a fisht to play with.
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[TubeDude]

[quote fsh4fun05] Thanks for the report and the pic of the lake. Open water at starvation = John being very happy [].[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Okay now, just calm down and breathe through your nose. No need to race to the ramp just yet, unless you are a big trout fan. Always great iceout action for nice browns and bows. But the smallies and wallies will not likely show up in numbers until May or June. Could be some good prespawn action on the walleye if you can find them.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[quote kentofnsl]Inquiring minds want to know whether or not the [#0000ff]"Perch Jerker" [/#0000ff]saw any action?[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Nope. That was not a high priority on my list. I did want to try it but not on dink perch. If there were more bigger fish...and the bite was a little more active...I may have unleashed it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Almost all the fish we caught were on the rods we were holding...and working. We had to drop the jigs to the bottom and then either shake them right on the bottom or an inch or so up...or do a slow "shiver lift" to a couple of feet off the bottom. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It was almost useless to even use a second rod. Once the jigs were motionless in the holders they received only an occasional light inquiry. I doubt the fish were taking them in their mouths or that the "jerker" would have hooked many. On the other hand we got some pretty good whacks on the jigs we worked just the right way...even if the fish were small. As TubeBabe has been known to say after bringing up a dinkster through the hole..."He hit bigger than he was."[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Only got a few on worm-baited jigs. By far the greatest attention was on the "PPP"...processed perch pieces. All three of the trout we caught were on perch meat. Usually worms work better.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I am going to be experimenting with a couple of new trigger mechanism designs for the mechanical hooker during the off ice season. But even if I get it down "Pat" I doubt I will ever treat them as more than a novelty. I still get more enjoyment out of working the rod and finessing the fish...and feeling the hit and setting the hook my own self.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

"No perch pix?"

[cool][#0000ff]Nope. Didn't even take any pics of those dinksters wearing some of my new bling. Embarassing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]You will have to settle for a pic from last year.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[quote flashyfish2][fishin]Dude, what is this showdown? I have a fish finder but I have to cut a hole to get the transducer in to find depth and the fishies. I've got a camera also, it's fun. But this showdown sounds great. What is it? And how do you use it? thanks[/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]Actually, most sonars will shoot through good clear ice to divulge what is below. The secret is to dribble some water on the surface of the ice to create a good connection without air between the ducer and the ice.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The Showdown is especially good at this, with the ice ducer shown in the one trout pic. It has a flat bottom. I just walk across the ice, dribbling water on bare clean ice and then lowering the 'ducer onto the wet spot.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In the above picture you can see the 'ducer and the Showdown display. It shows the water column as a vertical thing...rather than on a circle. If there are fish present you will see lines on that display wherever the fish are...and you can see your jig in real time so you can raise or lower it to the fish. As my buddy TopH20 says, it is like playing a video game.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]In the two years I have been using the ice shooting function my Showie has never lied to me. If it says there are fish...and I drill a hole...I find fish. It has really saved me a lot of drilling.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff][url "http://www.marcumtech.com/Products/tabid/92/CategoryID/10/List/0/Level/a/ProductID/40/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName%2cProductName"]SHOWDOWN WEBSITE[/url][/#0000ff]
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[Wasatch801]

We absolutely whacked the trout at Starvation on Friday! Having never caught a trout out of Starvie before, it sure was a bonus. I am definitely stoked to catch such hot, healthy trout! The three of us landed 30-plus trout (including one about 4 pounds and a skinny 23.5 inch brown). We were fishing in Rabbit Gulch. The most productive depth was over 30-32 ft. of water anywhere from 6 ft. down to the bottom. Almost any jig tipped with waxies, mealies, or even crappie nibbles seemed to work. However I had my best luck on a glow cutter bug and a chartreuse and red YUM tube. The perch were non-stop dinks, sometimes coming up 12-15 ft. off the bottom to grab a bait. We only kept the ones that wouldn't go back down. Would've been nice to see a wallie on my line, but can't complain about the fat slime rockets! Hopefully, the ice lasts a little longer so I can make one more trip out there!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Sorry I missed the Perch Posse festivities. But as I explained, we wanted just a "hit and run" session on Bunny Gulch...since it was closer.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I will probably be putting up my ice gear and hitting the soft water now. Got a target for Friday and a couple for next week.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I think the warm weather forecast for the next few days are going to be more favorable for the soft water crowd than the hard deckers.[/#0000ff]
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[Wasatch801]

Pat, is your showdown the single or dual beam model?

Kevin
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[TubeDude]

"The wobble jig is becoming one of my favorites too."

[cool][#0000ff]Since I got my first wobble jig mold a couple of years ago (now have two) TubeBabe and I are really sold on them. She always starts with one at Starvation and has scored lots of nice fish on them...especially the fire tiger color. I use the pale perch mostly...and now the new model with the little spinner blade on it. That caught most of my fish yesterday.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are several other BFTers who have discovered the charms of the wobbles. The fish at Da Berry go nuts over the fluttering fall of a wobble jig with a piece of meat on the hook.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]If ya need more, I know the guy who makes them. And they have discontinued making and selling the molds...literally.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Glad you discovered the enjoys of those Starvation steelies. Man, they have sure added to the experience of a whole lot of trips for us in the past couple of years. No matter how good or bad the fishing for other species you can usually rely on getting some love from the slimers.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]My Showdown is the 5.6...dual beam. It will shoot either an 8 degree or a 20 degree beam. The narrower beam is good for fishing deeper water but in shallower water the 20 degree has a bigger footprint and shows more fish. You can easily toggle back and forth by following the simple instructions. That is one of the advantages of the 5.6 over the "ice troller". Plus it has the zoom feature for closer watch on the bottom...or any middepth zone.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have a plan to rerig my Showdown for vertical jigging from my tube this summer. Making a PVC arm (what else) with a noodle floatie on the end for hanging the ducer out away from the tube. Then I can use a short rod and drop straight down. I'm thinking it will be great for working over those perch in open water.[/#0000ff]
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[AFFamily]

I kneel before the master! LOL Great posts as always and thanks for the report!
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[Wasatch801]

That definitely sounds like a plan, my man!

I'm in need of a machine that will not cause interference with my buddy's Bird Ice45. The Showdown dual beam is on my short list along with a Marcum LX-5. I'm thinkin' that narrow beam is a necessity for waters over 25-30 ft.

Btw, it's killin' me to not see any jumbo perchies coming out of Starvation lately!!!! I sure do hope this is not a bad omen for the summer season!
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Don't jump off your tackle box yet. Starvation is healthy and so is the perch population. Always several year classes available. There has been high water and good spawning for each of the past few years and there are grundles of perch of all sizes.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The problem with finding and catching the jumbos is plain and simple...the law of attrition. The smaller the perch the more of them there are. But by the time they have lived five or six years the numbers are whittled down. With more and more fishing pressure more and more "keepable" nine inchers are going home for the table. That reduces the number that will live another couple of years to become the footlongs.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Most dedicated perch jerkers I know subscribe to the theory that if all you are catching are dinks you need to keep moving until you find bigger fish. They do tend to associate by size at times. But it is rare to find huge schools of bigguns. More likely just an area where there are singles and doubles with not many schooled up. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Thankfully, we do get into good numbers of toads on occasion and it really makes you appreciate those rare times. But more commonly we only catch the odd porker while fighting off the hordes of their grandkids.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are areas around the lake that perch jerkers have come to know as being better than others for finding larger perch. But because the lake is so susceptible to water fluctuations you gotta know which spots are best at the different water levels. Last week's honey hole may be too shallow for the fish a week later and they move around.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]It also helps to know the annual spawning, feeding and migration habits of your favorite quarry. The guys who fish the same spots...the same way...on every trip throughout the year are just not going to have a lot of success. Maybe a good haul for a couple of trips but not so much after the fish move to other areas.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Fun fun.[/#0000ff]
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