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Call us ignorant, elietist, maybe even clueless, but we (Mrs, W2D has once again taken her "just say no to ice fishing" stance) just don't get the fascination with fishing through a glacier. We fish the 'Berry from the boat and the 'toons all spring/summer/fall but have yet to understand the obsessive and compulsive behavior of you Ice-Freaks.
Colder than hell, wind at 50 knots, staring at a hole in the frozen wasteland, and the Crown Royal was gone an hour ago...
Where are the positives in this particular pursuit?!?!
This is a serious question - we really don't understand the "draw of the drill".
W2D
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LOL.. .
Well with your scenario it does sound rather depressing, especially the crown being gone.
But, the fact is that fishing can down right be AWESOME through the ice. I have ice fished the berry for years and have NEVER been skunked. In fact, most times, we catch between 20-30 per person before noon. (It does seem to slow down there after noon.) And when you are nailing nice fish consistantly like that you don't have time to get cold.
So I guess my answer to your question is, If you know how to ice fish, and you have success, it is every bit as rewarding as regualr fishing. Even when the crown is gone.
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[font "Impact"][#ff4040][size 3]Hey just get her to try it once. I bet she would be hooked. Get her going on something that always bite, like perch. Then you can move on to the bigger fishies.[/size][/#ff4040][/font]
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There is nothing better in the winter than getting out of the smog of the city, getting up to the berry, watching the mountains dusted with snow, and talking with friends. Catching huge fish doesn't hurt either. What else you going to do in the winter. I have to admit, I wondered what the draw was. Just go try it and catch a few. Its a blast. Obviously, its not as fun if it is windy and cold as crap. But on a nice day, the fresh air is great.
tuber
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Colder than hell, wind at 50 knots, staring at a hole in the frozen wasteland, and the Crown Royal was gone an hour ago... [/reply]
Yep that about sums it up. A perfect day away from the rat race and a chance at one of these dont hurt a feller's feelings either..
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[cool]Just go when the sun is out and no storms are predicted. If you bundle up well in layers, you don't get cold. But, if you are a wuss[  ], then get you and your sweetheart an ice shelter (or borrow one from a friend), a portable heater, TWO bottles of Crown Royal (though you may need a designated driver on the way home) and you'll be all set. It REALLY is a blast and a different, but SPECIAL kind of thrill to see your strike indicator start dancing while knowing that there's a hungry fiesty trout down in the abyss under that icecap messing with your jig. It's an awesome feeling that's a little different but just as cool (if not cooler) than summertime softwater fishing. Personally I LOVE it and can't wait to ice fish Scofield right around Turkey Day (Strawberry doesn't start freezing in the bays til a couple of weeks later).
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[cool]Good point, tuber. I forgot about escaping the crappy inversion that we get every January that sticks around for 2-3 weeks and getting up onto the ice covered sunny lakes, with the cool, clean, crisp mountain air. That is another HUGE advantage of ice fishing.
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[font "Impact"][#ff4040][size 3]You said it O4T. Can't wait for scofield. Always the first stop on the ice fishing calendar.[/size][/#ff4040][/font]
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My ice fishing started because being in the golf industry I've got a lot more free time on my hand s in the winter than in the summer, but once I got into it I really got hooked. Another bonus is that I've been relatively shore bound or close to shore bound in a toon my whole life and winter is the only time of the year that the boaters and nonboater are on an even playing field, the fish are equally accessible to everyone and I am able to fish locals that I wouldn't dream of taking my toon to in the summertime.
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One thing I enjoy about ice fishing is the social side of it. Because everyone is fishing straight down a hole people can fish much closer together without crowding each other. Combine this with not having to tend to anything else, such as controlling a boat or paddling or kicking it can be extremely relaxing and provide an opportunity to chat and laugh with each other. That said -- I still prefer fishing from my boat, because I can easily reach the places I enjoy fishing, and I can quickly move to other locations or troll if I choose. If I owned a snowmobile, ice fishing would be just that much more enjoyable.
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All I can say is something I think I heard on a TV commercial a long time ago. TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT!!
Pick a nice day, go somewhere that the BFT posts have said is hot. Walk out on the ice to the first person you come to & ask for suggestions. Betcha you'll get a buncha help & within an hour or two you'll be hooked on hardwater fishing.
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Choose the days you fish carefully and dress appropriately and you'll hardly even notice that it is cold outside. Once your nose hairs freeze you don't even notice the snot running down your face and freezing to it. [shocked] LOL It isn't until your friend starts pointing to you and laughing that your realize what he is laughing at because its all over his face too! I love ice fishing because you can get a fishing fix all year long, get out of the inversion, spend time with friends, drink slushy Dr. Pepper, the mountains are beautiful and peaceful during the winter, and you can catch a ton of really nice fish. The snot face is just an added bonus!
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O MAN HAVE YOU BEEN MISSING OUT!!!! ITS NOT JUST STAIRING AT A HOLE. ITS SOMETIMES SO FAST YOU CANT GET IT BACK IN QUICK ENOUGH. EVERY DROP BANG FISH ON. ITS MOORE FUN THAT THE ICE OFF BITE EVER WAS. FIRST ICE IS MY FAVORITE TIME. 2 3 INCHES. YA IM A SKINNY S O B. AND A LITLE SYCO BUT THATS WHAT LIVING IS FOR. DIEING JUST DOESNT SCARE ME, IT WILL BE MY RETURN TO INNOSENCE. DONT NOT TRY IT FROM PRECONCEPTIONS. DO IT AND YOU WILL LOVE IT!!! I PROMISE.
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Wades2Deep - Listen to those guys; they know what they're talking about. The ice is so much fun, WHEN YOU DO IT RIGHT. So perhaps you can hook up with someone with all the bells and whistles early this season, and go see what the good times are really like.
Watching fish come into the "cone" of a 3-color fish finder, warm in your shelter because Mr. Heater is close by, chatting with your buds on the short-wave radio, listening to the snow pelting down . . .
And the scenery is just like no other!
Better do it!
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I like to just go numb and I don't even drink. I just stare at the hole, and my strike indicator, and my fish finder, and my aqua-view etc...If the wind gets bad I go in the ice house otherwise I just love the natural tanning or burning affect of the snow. I also love hearing the ice pop. The fishing is always better in the winter and it levels the playing field with the boaters. If you have legs and energy you can find spots away from the crowd or you can make it a social event and hang out near the parking lots.
Try It.
Windriver
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[#505000]A lot of the days on the ice you can't get your pole back in the water fast enough. I've had hot days on the soft water, but never anything near as hot as a normal day ice fishing.[/#505000]
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HOOOONNNEEEYYYY......
Come read this.
I know, I know - everybody has a bigger fish next to their name than me.
No, they're not all nuts.
And quit critiquing everyone's grammar and spelling!
Ok, I think I've got her talked into one more try at this. We ice-fishing once several years ago (in the conditions previously described) and all we caught was a bunch of minnow-esque 4" perch at Pineview. That's when she swore off hardwater angling, as well as any fishing where the prime bait is the eyeball's of the intended quarry's cousins.
However, the prospect of catching more trout like the ones she hooked in to at the 'Berry this summer is sparking here interest just a bit.
So, If you see some poor beast of burden - that would be me - dragging a sledload of crap across Strawberry Bay (Dear, it's a day trip - not an arctic expedition) this winter followed by a redhead carrying a woefully small, hand-me-down, 6" manual blue auger...
PLEASE DEAR GOD, don't just stand there pointing and laughing - aim us in the right direction!!!
Thanks guys,
W2D
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[cool]Hey, wades2deep, you reminded me of my favorite Stones song "Beast of Burden."
Anyhooters, there's SEVERAL guys on this site that are really good on the ice at Strawberry, and I'd be happy to take you guys out there if you want. I haven't been skunked on the ice there in a few years (since I was first learning how to do it). There's safe ice in a few of the bays by early to mid-December (but don't tell the others my secret, as they usually wait till mid-January to venture out there-SHHHH, don't tell the others...[ ]).
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don't just stand there pointing and laughing - aim us in the right direction!!!
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[cool]Count on it! I'm Happy to help.
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