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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,831 Likes: 11
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,831 Likes: 11 |
We did okay, at least the ice was pretty good from this cold spell after the warm weather we've been having. Gill, some Crappie and some pretty good sized Perch came up through the ice. But it only lasted a couple days, got warm again. Made it out this past Monday and by the time we came in, the ice was like walking on a trampoline and I was hoping I wouldn't be field testing my flotation suit! I managed enough fish for a nice fish fry (working on pictures) but it looks like the ice fishing "season" is over around here for now, 40° and rain takes care of ice pretty fast.
It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!
NRA life member
Illinois State Rifle Association member
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Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,813 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 3,813 Likes: 2 |
Just let my 550 fan RMK go. Super sled, the guy is very happy with it.
Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 485
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 485 |
Been pretty dry for me here in southern Wi but I was able to get this pike yesterday and made some tacos.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,377 Likes: 35
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 61,377 Likes: 35 |
How thick is the ice Paul?
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o "May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509 |
I got out on Sunday with my buddy. We were targeting cisco in an 80' basin where we occasionally pick up a walleye. We both caught a bunch of cisco and he got a 22" walleye, while I lost a really nice walleye in the 26-28 inch range at the hole after bringinghim up from around75' down. What a heart breaker.
4 out of 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Bummer Scott, but a good day, on the cisco !
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,071
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 3,071 |
Season is over here... this winter has been freakishly warm. Local ice was all completely gone by the end of last week, and it has been in the 50s every day since Friday. ☹️
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,831 Likes: 11
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 5,831 Likes: 11 |
Last Saturday we had some Wisconsin surf n turf for dinner. Grilled up some venison back straps and a nice Northern we puled up through the ice in the Sturgeon Bay, WI area (sorry, no pictures, was too busy eatin!). No more ice here in NE IL, as zcm82 said, been warm, windy and rainy.
It isn't what happens to you that defines you, it's what you DO about what happens to you that defines you!
NRA life member
Illinois State Rifle Association member
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Got after them again, Saturday. Joe & I only, so limit was 20. Way slower than last week, 20 took 4 hours. Largest crappie was 13.5". 2 Bonus perch & 1 walleye.
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,766 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,766 Likes: 1 |
I about got blowed off of Clark canyon resivoir in my otter lodge.
Only caught one burbot.
I saw a bunch of “ bugs” in the water.
A person next to my house caught 4 rainbows during the day.
He said 17 swam by
He claims the more you jig/ flash/ colors the more the fish scurry away.
6 pound test, plain hook, 1/4 a night crawler, no weight, no swivel.
Just leave it be.
I better bring a book to read if I go again.
Just think how small your tackle box could become?
"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509 |
Sunday was supposed to be the calmer of the 2 days over the past weekend. I determined that was a lie, but went out on my local lake anyway. Gusts of 30+ made it rough to set up my hub, but the sunshine and 40⁰F temps made it more bearable. I didn't find any walleye or crappie, but did get a couple pike, including a PB that I failed to get pictures of before I released it. I did get a fun picture of a pike staring at my underwater camera and another colorful pic of a smaller pike that got a mouthful of Rippin'Rap.
4 out of 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan.
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Yeah, it was windy !!!
About 3 hours in, I was ruing the decision to not put the sleigh tent up !!
In my defense, I figured we'd be done in 2 hours, like last weekend !
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 42,187 Likes: 12 |
Joe, Doug & I headed out on Eagle lake, on Saturday, & we got 12 walleye (3 person limit); Joe & I got 20 crappie (2 person limit), 3 walleye & a perch, on Sunday; Tempura battered crappie;
Paul.
"Kids who grow up hunting, fishing & trapping, do not mug little old Ladies"
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509 |
Walleye and pike season ended last Wednesday, but my buddy and I hate to let go of a good thing, so we were out again today, chasing cisco. They're considered bait/forage fish by the state and trash by many fishermen, but we have a blast fishing for them, and they're not bad eating, being in the whitefish family.
Today I was trying out my first self-built custom rod, and I was happy to catch a bunch of fish on it. It handled the fish well, and it was fun to catch fish on the equivalent to a successful hunt with a gun or ammo you built yourself.
The short winter fishing season is winding down, but I think another trip or 2 can still be had, then it's time for the long rods.
4 out of 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan.
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 228
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 228 |
Always fun catching fish on stuff you make. Even the small ones. Looks like the weather is holding out to still have ice for ya. No ice in my neck of the woods it was warmer last month for us. Just starting to get the gear ready for opening day of trout then to Muskie.
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 19,509 |
Always fun catching fish on stuff you make. Even the small ones. Looks like the weather is holding out to still have ice for ya. No ice in my neck of the woods it was warmer last month for us. Just starting to get the gear ready for opening day of trout then to Muskie. What region are you in SL? I've never really targeted muskie, but I guess I should. There's plenty of opportunity around me for catching them. We might get 1 more weekend on the ice, which is good, because I need to get some Sta-bil in the tank of my snowmobile and get it sloshed around before putting it away for the year. I was hoping to do that today, but the wind is even worse today than it was yesterday. Hopefully I can get out next weekend and run the machine around a bit and maybe see if I can find the small population of crappie that inhabit this lake. That would put the icing on the 2022/2023 ice season.
4 out of 5 Great Lakes prefer Michigan.
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