Rockport 1/02/21

[Dayfish]

Went to rockport yesterday arrived around 
9:00 went just off the boat ramp about 100
Yards ice was 3 inches at the most had a few
Bites no hook up only stayed for about one hour didn't Fincher off to far there was only about 10 small groups on the lake i will fill more safe next week to try more area's I was only in 15 feet of water but it was a nice day anyway 

I just got back from a trip to Rockport. I was on the west side and the ice is not consistent. I drilled a hole just off the bank and got around 2.5 inches. Went out a bit farther where there was snow on the ice and came up with just over 1 inch. Walked off carefully and went farther down the bank line. What I found was that the ice where the wind has cleaned off the snow was 4 inches. 2.5 inches of ice with 1.5 inches of frozen slush. I tried for a while in about 11 feet of water and only got one bite. I decided to weave around just walking only on the scoured areas and got out in 43 feet of water. I saw some trout at 15 feet and dropped a rig down and instantly had a nice one on. It was a brown about 18 inches long. Hurried up and dropped the line back down and had another nice one on, unfortunately it broke my tube jig off. I wasn't able to find the perch but wandering around on that ice was not something I wanted to do. Hopefully by the next weekend it will grow some more.

Was there yesterday as well. Did not turn out like I planned at all! BE VERY CAREFUL if you venture out on that ice--particularly as JeepNut stated on those snow patches. Started out from the ramp and drilled--only on the frosted ice, not the snow patches which was a BIG mistake--out to the river channel in 42' of water. Not much on the finder and 3.5" of ice everywhere I drilled. I then headed towards the rocky point and crossed one of those snowy patches. As I walked I heard slight cracking and thought it was just the top layer of snow/slush. WRONG! The bottom fell out and in I went. Lucky there was a guy about 30 yards away who came to my assistance. I didn't need any, thank God, but was encouraged that at least someone was near. I was benefited greatly by my Frabill ice coveralls and mickey mouse boots that kept me slightly afloat and able to easily flatten out as I tried to gain purchase on the disintegrating ice. Finally, after about six feet or so I was able to kick enough to gain solid ice and pulled myself out. That'll get your heart going! My heavy sled sat at the opposite edge of the large hole I had just created. Thank you, thank you to the kind gentleman that got behind my sled and pulled it back from the abyss. 

Lessons learned: fishing alone on first ice is not a good idea; did not check ice thickness on the snowy patches--that I should have; did not have a spud bar--that I should have; had my hand spikes in my pocket--instead of accessible  around my neck; did not have my sled strap around my body--that may have saved my life--need a longer sled strap; took the advice from previous posts about laying flat and and kicking my feet; glad for flotation coveralls--with Carharts or other cloth clothing that could have weighed me down and under--as it was, I really only went in to my waist and easily flattened out; was warned to be extremely careful out there and was not, obviously!

I was hesitant to post this because of all the stupid mistakes I made but---figured with the snow/rain and warm forecast this week, the snowy, and then avoidable, patches on Rockport would be covered and become very dangerous indeed. I hope it keeps someone else from going in. Again, thank you to the gentleman that came to my assistance!!  I'm glad it turned out that the only damage was to my pride and my old iPhone. Be careful out there!!