03-07-2016, 03:48 PM
First an ice report: Arrived at Strawberry at 6:10 and the ice was perfect, solid edges and 20-22 inches of ice. When we left the ice at 11:00 the temperature was 45 degrees and the ice was still completely solid, little to no slush. in the worst spots we may have sunk about 2 inches into the top layer of snow.
Myself and 2 buddies made the long hike (on foot) from the marina across the bay to Haws Point (Just west of Haws point actually). The hike was worth it. After setting up the tent (about 7:00) we were catching fish at regular intervals. We ended up with 15 fish between the 3 of us before leaving at 10:30. Some may not consider this to be a great day, but I do.
We were fishing in 22 feet of water and marking fish right on the bottom, with an occasional fish 14 feet down. It didn't seem to matter what the jigs were tipped with, they just needed to be tipped. We used wax worms, meal worms, and shiner meat. The jigs did need to be white, or close to white. Most fish came on a 1.5 inch white tube, a few on pearl tubes, a few on white ratfinkee's, and a few on a 1/8 ounce marabou jig (which got destroyed on the second fish).
The bites were pretty solid, not real hard but noticeable, and did require a pretty quick hook set. Most bite came after a slow 1-2 foot lift and fall while the jig was sitting still at the bottom of the jigging stroke. Many came a complete dead stick as well. We did notice that a least one person had to be jigging at all times to attract the fish to our location.
All fish caught were cutthroats ranging from an ESTIMATED 16 to 21 inches. I didn't take any pictures because there are the same fish everyone catches up there, but my buddies took a few, so if they want to post pictures they can later.
Best part of the trip was that both of my buddies caught there first fish on Strawberry. Strawberry had been cursed to both of them for a long time, and they were ready to give up on it, but I convinced them to give it another chance. Now they finally see why I get so excited to fish there. Even if they are cutthroat, a 20 inch fish is still a blast to pull through the hole.
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Myself and 2 buddies made the long hike (on foot) from the marina across the bay to Haws Point (Just west of Haws point actually). The hike was worth it. After setting up the tent (about 7:00) we were catching fish at regular intervals. We ended up with 15 fish between the 3 of us before leaving at 10:30. Some may not consider this to be a great day, but I do.
We were fishing in 22 feet of water and marking fish right on the bottom, with an occasional fish 14 feet down. It didn't seem to matter what the jigs were tipped with, they just needed to be tipped. We used wax worms, meal worms, and shiner meat. The jigs did need to be white, or close to white. Most fish came on a 1.5 inch white tube, a few on pearl tubes, a few on white ratfinkee's, and a few on a 1/8 ounce marabou jig (which got destroyed on the second fish).
The bites were pretty solid, not real hard but noticeable, and did require a pretty quick hook set. Most bite came after a slow 1-2 foot lift and fall while the jig was sitting still at the bottom of the jigging stroke. Many came a complete dead stick as well. We did notice that a least one person had to be jigging at all times to attract the fish to our location.
All fish caught were cutthroats ranging from an ESTIMATED 16 to 21 inches. I didn't take any pictures because there are the same fish everyone catches up there, but my buddies took a few, so if they want to post pictures they can later.
Best part of the trip was that both of my buddies caught there first fish on Strawberry. Strawberry had been cursed to both of them for a long time, and they were ready to give up on it, but I convinced them to give it another chance. Now they finally see why I get so excited to fish there. Even if they are cutthroat, a 20 inch fish is still a blast to pull through the hole.
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