Deer Creek Dude Dunk 12-20-11

[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Stick a fork in me...I'M DONE...at least for tubing this year. All my lowland lakes are froze over so I hadda settle for Deer Creek. Glad I did...sorta.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Air temp 21 and water temp 38 at launch...just before 8 am. Touchy getting launched without doing my famous triple klutz. There was a 2' wide band of SLICK ice between the water and the dry part of the ramp. Made it interesting getting the tube loaded and launched without damage to myself or my gear.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Started a slow cruise under electric motor power, watching the sonar for perchkind on the screen. Figured they would be out in at least 45 feet of water. But...HEY...they was some bottom blips in the 30 foot zone. Put on the brakes and dropped down a tandem jig rig. GAME ON. Funny looking perch though. Slimy silver things with spots on them. But they was fun. Got several before moving on to deeper water.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Saw a few more blippers from 45 to 50 feet but still the only things that wanted to play were the widdle wainbows. Did get a few sixteen to 19 inchers. Kept a couple for my oven broiled trout specialty.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Started making big S turns... in water from 40 to 65 feet deep. Saw very few fish...no schools at all. Seems like the perch were all someplace else today. Worked over to the island and around the outside...out into the channel. Same story. Empty sonar screen. [/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Finally, about 11 am, I had resigned myself to going home perchless. Kicked the electric motor into high speed and started heading for the ramp. But HOLD ON...what were those marks on the screen out in about 50'? Apply brakes, send down a couple of high-low rigs on the two rods. YESSSSS. Jiggle jiggle, jerk jerk, set hook and reel in the first tiger fish of the day. Then do it again several more times in the next few minutes. Toss over a marker buoy to mark the area for close visual reference and keep working around it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There was not a big school but there were a few singles and doubles. And they decided to eat. I got fish on both rods when I went through a good spot. At one time I actually got a triple...one fish on the first rod and two fish on the second rod while I was landing the first one.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I was beginning to have hope for a basketful...when the dreaded W showed up. First a whisper and then quickly escalating into a bone-chilling cold breeze that made my style of touch fishing all but useless. I could not hold nor could I fish light jigs in the strengthening breeze.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Realizing that my game was over I pulled in the marker buoy and tried drifting a bit. Nada, zip, zilch. Just didn't work the same. Blown all over the place and could not keep the light jigs in the zone long enough to get any love. It was hard enough without the W. Poop.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Managed to keep about a dozen nice eater perch. The fish ranged from about 7" to almost 12". I released several that were all able to power back down to the bottom without floating.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Two boats out on the water with me today...both tin trout trollers. Both catching fish. Had to laugh. When one of the boats went by one of the guys in the boat hollered loud enough for me to hear..."Well we've caught five in less than an hour. That's pretty good." I had seen the finless Freddies they were pulling in. I would have been embarassed to admit I even caught one of those...but I guess they didn't think I was catching anything and wanted to give me a bad time. Oh yeah. I felt so bad.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I guess it is officially time to tuck my tube into its winter hibernation spot in the storage area and get out all the ice fishing gear. But if Deer Creek stays 38 degrees and we don't get some arctic blasts soon there ain't gonna be no hard deckin' on Deer Creek this year. It doesn't ALWAYS freeze over ya know.[/#0000ff]
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[LOAH]

Looks like fun, even though you kicked away from the trout.[:p]

It's a realization that the floating season is officially over. There's a slight chance I might get one last hoorah from mine on Friday, but we'll see how that goes.

Glad you got some lunchables.
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[SatanLBZ801]

Kudos to you for getting out there in the cold and catching some fish! You never fail to create a good read for those that can't get out as much as we'd like. So is that "No Name" lure going into your "Never leave home without" box now? Seems to be working well for you!

And I REALLY hope your wrong about DC freezes over! I prob don't speak alone when I say I would LOVE to get out on the hard deck up there.
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[flygoddess]

Right on, wish I was with ya on this one. Looks great.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Sorry sir, some of us enjoy trout but they are not our only passion. They are the fish of my youth in Idaho so they will always occupy a special spot in my angler's heart. Just so dang many other species that I have come to enjoy too.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Actually, I never left the trout. They followed me all over the lake...cruising at the 25 to 30 foot depth over deeper water. Whenever I kicked my electric motor in gear and my jigs rose up off the bottom the bows said "Thank you" and bent my stick.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Later in the morning, before the W came up, there were more fish working the top. I am sure any of the standard spinners or bubble and fly rigs would have accounted for more.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Had oven-broiled trout for dinner tonight and plan to have some Panko perchies Thursday.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Okay eagle-eye. There was a "no name" in a couple of the pics. But I actually caught most of the trout and several of the perch on a later generation model...with revolving spinner...on a wobble jig head. The original no-name lures just have a small spinner blade attached to the hook loop. It flutters but it does not spin. The later models all have blades that rotate VERY freely and that adds a lot to the appeal. The trout absolutely hammered it whenever I began reeling it in...either up from the bottom or laterally...or trolling from one spot to another. See pics.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I'm gonna have fun with those through the ice this year and watch out on Starvation next year.[/#0000ff]
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[Laroo]

What sort of wire are you twistin up for the ulta minnow? A wire leader material maybe? Or do ya have something you pick up at Home Depot just one isle over from the PVC[sly]
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[SatanLBZ801]

Those lures look awesome! I love how you're always coming up with new stuff. I never understood why stuff we find at the sporting good stores are so... What's the word, Plain and cheap! Cheap being quality, definitely not cheap money wise. I need to come visit you sometime.
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[Duckbutter]

Pat, good work. I took my brother up in our tubes a couple of weeks ago, and the pansy couldn't last over 90 minutes even though the fishing was great. Hung my tube up after that for the season. I love the fact thay you're busting through ice to get out there, and look forward to when I have more time to fish. Here, western colorado has a hard cap just about everywhere and the perching is great. Too bad I won't get out that often this winter....


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[FOD]

Thanks for the report.[fishin]
I love the wobblers, its all about presentation, and a little magic.
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[TubeDude]

[quote Laroo]What sort of wire are you twistin up for the ulta minnow? A wire leader material maybe? Or do ya have something you pick up at Home Depot just one isle over from the PVC[sly][/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]I work with wire...a lot. I make my own spinners, spinner baits, buzz baits and harness rigs. That has led to integrating it into a lot of new jig designs. I have recently began forming it to replace the hooks in some molds...and slightly modifying the hook eye holes in the molds to take the wire loops. That produces jigs with a piece of wire coming out the back...which I can use to make weight forward spinners, crawler harness rigs or simply add a small spinner and a bearing bead like I have with the lures previously pictured.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I keep a stock of wire in all sizes from .016 to .050. The sizes I use most for spinners are .024 or .026. You can buy it in small coils from several online suppliers...Barlows, Janns, etc. It is single strand stainless steel...used for leaders and for lure making.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]Here are a couple of pics to show how the wire is looped and bent to go into the hook molds...and how they come out to create the new lures.[/#0000ff]

[#0000ff]I do not use fancy wire bending tools. I use only a pair of round-nosed pliers and cutters. And I make loops that are as good as the high priced tools. I am happy to demonstrate any of that if you ever want to stop by for a looksee.[/#0000ff]
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[TubeDude]

[quote SatanLBZ801]Those lures look awesome! I love how you're always coming up with new stuff. I never understood why stuff we find at the sporting good stores are so... What's the word, Plain and cheap! Cheap being quality, definitely not cheap money wise. I need to come visit you sometime. [/quote]

[cool][#0000ff]You would be welcome to stop by...any time I ain't out fishing.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are plenty of good lures available through most tackle suppliers. But our choices are limited to the shapes, sizes and colors that the manufacturers think people will buy...not necessarily what will work best on specific local waters.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Quality is often sacrificed to mass production, cheap materials and "offshore" labor. Most anglers do not have the budget to be able to afford what quality and/or custom flies and lures actually cost to produce. Thus, the price lines of lures on most tackle shelves are the ones that move fastest. And it is often tough to find something special you might be looking for.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have been tying flies since I was a kid in Idaho. I have been making various spinners, hardbaits and leadhead jigs for about 4 decades. Initially I got into all that stuff just because I thought it was a hoot to catch fish on something I made myself. That evolved into experimenting with new designs and colors. Some of the new stuff even works.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I have helped train quite a few folks in "lurecraft" over the years...learning how to make their own stuff. I try to instill in them that the idea is not just to save money by making your own...but to be able to fashion things that will work better than what the local tackle shops tell you that you "need". Anybody who sees the amount of stuff I have accumulated in my tackletorium would never assume that I do it to save money.[/#0000ff]
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[Jackalope]

How do you rig up your tandem jigs? I've been thinking about trying a tandem rig this year ice fishing.
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I use either a small crane swivel or tie a blood knot dropper (see attached diagram).[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]One word of caution about using a tandem rig while ice fishing. The second hook/lure presents a risk for snagging on the underside of the ice when you are trying to get a fish up through the hole. At the very least it is a temporary delay as you free the snagged extra hook. At worst you might lose the fish of a lifetime because it breaks off or tears loose when that snag keeps you from bringing the fish through the hole.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Still, I enjoy using a larger jig on the bottom and a smaller and/or different type/color jig above it. This works fine for perch and crappies but when you hook a large active trout it can get "interesting".[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There are also different tactics and concepts rigging a dropper jig. If you are fishing for perch, on the bottom, the dropper needs to only be a few inches above the bottom jig. But, if you are targeting both perch and crappies...or other species that cruise well above the bottom...you should make the dropper a couple of feet above the bottom.[/#0000ff]
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[Jackalope]

Thanks, I'll give it a try. What about a 3-way swivle have you ever tried them??
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[Jazzperch1]

i hope it freezes so we can all get some of those biggins. if not i might have to take my tube out there for some perch action.

tightlines
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]They work...and they don't seem to spook the fish. But they stick in the tip top guide and if you are reeling hot and heavy they can snap a rod tip or break off your jig rig.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]I like a clean blood knot or a small crane swivel. The will reel into the tip top of your rod but you can feel them and stop reeling.[/#0000ff]
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[CoyoteSpinner]

[quote SatanLBZ801]Those lures look awesome! I love how you're always coming up with new stuff. I never understood why stuff we find at the sporting good stores are so... What's the word, Plain and cheap! Cheap being quality, definitely not cheap money wise. I need to come visit you sometime. [/quote]

That's what they say - all that flashy stuff catches fishermen. One thing I know if TDs pattern catch fish. I've taken note of the "themes" used - stripes, anything "perchy" - the green & orange with black.

If you go - prepare to be amazed by (drumroll please) the WALL OF PLANO boxes. The boy knowz how to get the lead out! And don't forget to sample some smoked carp! [pirate]

[SkinnyLynnie]

What about fishing from shore? Is that still possible or productive? How far out did you have to go from shore in your tube before you ran into fish?
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]I didn't even start fishing until I was quite a ways from the ramp. But I saw active fish hitting the top along several areas of shoreline. They were trout though, and I was targeting perch.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]There have been several reports lately of good success by casting lures from shore in several areas around the lake. Almost anywhere you can find steeply sloping shoreline with deep water close by you can find active fish cruising through.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Two good spots to try are either the steep banks below the Heber Creeper tracks...past the buoys above the dam...and the shoreline on either side of the ramps at Walsburg. Also had a good report from someone who walked around the south shoreline at Rainbow Bay.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]The only spots to freeze on Deer Creek so far are the little nooks and crannies that are shallower and protected from wind. That lake is deep and it takes a long time for the water temps to cool low enough to allow a cap to form. Over the years there have been a few in which it did not freeze enough for ice fishing at all.[/#0000ff]
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