Posts: 1,013
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
We hit Chicken Creek East early this morning. The new snow made getting out there difficult. We brought snow shoes and I will never leave home without them from now on. They were a life saver for my out of shape body.
The morning was slow fishing in 16' to 22' of water. I left my fish finder home and my son's battery was too cold to run his. One of the other guys with us had his finder working and he promptly kicked our butts. We had two newbies to the Berry with us and they each picked up a couple of nice cutts which made their day. I only iced two myself today. We were all using paddle bugs tipped with minnow. After no hits for several hours, I switched to a Renegade that I tied on a jig head and picked up my first cutt.
Every one around us had about the same success.
Thanks FairwayPhilly for lending us the socket today. It was good to see you guys ice some nice fish up there.
The good thing was that it still beat working today! DKS.
[signature]
Posts: 4,139
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]How were the roads, DKS? I'm headed up tomorrow. How deep is the snow on the ice? Just wondering. I'm taking the snowmobile but wonder how the snow is.[/size][/black][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 1,013
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
The road was plowed and parking at Chicken East was great. The snow was about 12" deep on the ice but deeper from the parking area to the ice. I don't mind the $4.00 pass when the roads are like they were today. You will have no problem getting your snowmobile on the ice. You may have to back down to the South East parking area if you are pulling a trailer. Not a lot of room to turn around there. You may also want to go a lot farther to the South and get away from where it has been pounded for 2 weeks. Good luck tomorrow DKS.
[signature]
Posts: 4,139
Threads: 0
Joined: May 2002
Reputation:
0
[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]We're going to try and get away from the crowds and hopefully into some fish. No snow and clear roads are my hope. I've got close to a three hour drive tomorrow morning. Thanks for the update![/size][/black][/font]
[signature]
Posts: 15,600
Threads: 1,324
Joined: Feb 2002
Reputation:
15
Ok who has signed on as BLM -- it can't be him he never fishes Strawberrry!
[signature]
Posts: 767
Threads: 0
Joined: Apr 2004
Reputation:
0
Had to at least make an appearance at work this morning so I didn't get to chicken creek until almost 11:00. I knew that was a little late for hot action, but at least I got out fishing on a thursday. My friend from work and I pulled into the parking lot just as dksrenegade was calling out to all BFT'ers on the radio. We got the heads up on the slow fishing, but the sun was shining and no W so we suited up. About the time I got my boots on DKS put in a call for some tools and I added them to my sled and headed out to ford the snow and slush. DKS returned the favor and offered us some minnows to tip with instead of mealies and it seemed to be the ticket. Only caught 2 fish, both came within 5 minutes of each other on crickets tipped with dks's minnows. I left just before 5:00 and Chris had iced four fish and three of them had come in the last hour. It was a beautiful day even though the fishing was slow and the slush was deep. It was good to meet another BFTer, my list of members I've met is starting to get pretty big and every single member that I've met so far friendly and open with info. Definately the kind of people I would like to spend a day on the water with. This was my first ice fishing trip to strawberry and I definately want a return engagement.
[signature]
Posts: 3,669
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2003
Reputation:
0
[cool]Hey Phil, it's good to hear you finally made it out on the ice at Strawberry. There's definitely more size on those fish than the ones currently at Schofield, eh? We'll have to go out fishin' again sometime. How's that new auger treatin' ya?
[signature]
Posts: 705
Threads: 0
Joined: Dec 2002
Reputation:
0
Question - the paddlebugs I've picked up at Hooked in Kaysville are rather small with an equally small hook. If you are using the same size, how do you tip them with a minnow? Pretty tiny minnow, I would imagine. Or are you using larger paddlebugs? Or am I completely missing the whole thing - toss in a picture of a paddlebug, if possible.
[signature]
Posts: 159
Threads: 0
Joined: Feb 2004
Reputation:
0
I went up with DKS and he shared all of his tips with me. I was using, as well as others, pieces of minnows. I would cut it up enough to to fit on th hook, but be carefull not to put too much, you want to leave room to hook 'em. As far as I know the paddle bug was normal size, I haven't seen any variations in size. Sorry I don't have any pictures.
Thanks fairwayphilly, my auger was the one that crapped out.
[signature]
Posts: 1,774
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
Mr.Lipripper, Hawkez is right. Hooked's whatta crickets or boogers are what I use. [Green or white with matching heads] Keep the cut piece of shinner small and change it after about 30 minutes of use in the water, to keep the scent fresh. I will also add smelly jelly at times to inhance the smell. Also for some reason the tail piece of shinner catches more fish than the body section. I guess it is because it looks like a natural tail on the jig.
Because they are only 1/16oz jig heads, it takes a while for the jig to get to the bottom of the water. Don't add any other weight though ,or you will not get the sensitivity that you need to see or feel the bite.
DKSRenegade.
[signature]
Posts: 1,051
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2004
Reputation:
0
I use normal size paddlebugs (1/16 oz). I have been using red sided shiners that I got at sportsmans. They are about 2 1/2 inches long and I have just been using the whole thing and sticking the hook through the bottom of the jaw and out the top of the head. I make sure the barbed section of the hook is sticking out far enough to get the hook set. In the water it looks like it is swimming behind my jig. It seems to work pretty well.
DKS and Hawkez- what size minnows were you using. Are they bigger than 2 1/2 inches? Did you cut them in half (like a head section and a tail section) or like in 1/3rd or what. Are you using red sided shiners or chubs or something different? Just curious.
[signature]
Posts: 1,774
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2005
Reputation:
0
I look for small shinner about 1 1/2" and cut it into thirds. I have not tried using a whole one. I think that I would do that on a bare hook jig. DKSRenegade
[signature]
