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I hit Echo today with three of my friends. We fished the south end and stayed within 250 ft of shore. The ice was a solid 4-5" for the first 150 ft out and then it started to taper down. The thinnest ice I walked out to and drilled was 3", didn't want to go farther. We also didn't check the ice on the dam end.
We iced about 15 rainbows between the 4 of us, not a banner day, but worth the trip. No perch on the ice, but I had a few "perchy" bites and lost a couple fast while fishing right on bottom. We fished in Depths of 10-24 FOW.
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Thanks for the report. If we continue this cold spell Ice should be forming pretty fast. I need to get up there soon.
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Love the Drill pattern in the picture, shows a lot of early ice wisdom!!! Going to be a great Ice year, really cold spell with no snow to make it look like safe Ice.
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Thanks for posting the info and picture.
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Thanks. Gotta be safe! One man drill team for the first few holes. Buddy waiting on shore to assist if needed. Also gotta follow protocol when fishing in a group on early ice, 10 ft away from each other at all times. Want to get something from your buddy? Auger, ice scoop, fishing rod, bait etc.... Have him put it on the ice and step back before you walk over to pick it up. Never stand together in a group if the ice is 3" or less. If you feel the ice starting to sag underneath you get flat and spread out your weight, crawl back to safer ice that you have already checked.... all good things to keep in mind.
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Thanks for the report
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Cowboy Up!
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Good safety tips! How big were you bows!
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[quote barbs78]Good safety tips! How big were you bows![/quote]
The bows were on the smaller side, 12-15". Not the biggest I've caught out of there, but they were healthy.
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Great tips...some I hadn't thought of or heard before but then again, I try to stay off of ice that is < 5 inches thick. Again, great safety tips....thanks.
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Great report - wondering if it costs any $$ to park and walk out where you were ?
Thanks for the info!
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[quote Lundman]Great report - wondering if it costs any $$ to park and walk out where you were ?
Thanks for the info![/quote]
I have never been asked to pay during the winter when the marina is closed.
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