Cowboy, DA and myself launched early In The dark outta a launch on the northern part of the lake. There was 1/4”ice at the launch, and all 4 miles to our fishing grounds where the ice increased to a half inch in some spots.
https://youtube.com/shorts/OnxGtukoCys? ... vpkYepfjEE
We put about 8 miles on the boat making passes trying to break up the ice enough to set out lines on otter boards at 7am we put out a 6 rod spread that ran great for about a mile then was torn to shreds as we hit a sheet of ice we had not broken up enough:(
https://youtube.com/shorts/RHza690uPA8? ... 8fC78Gf4of
The next 4 hrs played out In This manner with Cowboy at the wheel trying to keep the boards from hitting the ice sheet so hard they rode on top! Dave and I continually reset the ravaged spread as it was torn apart and hooked by the ice flows. Our 1st fish came on a pole I had cleared off an ice sheet that dropped back into the lake long enough for a salmon to find it…
The bite as good but so was the ice coverage:)
We picked up the whole spread and did a few high speed runs thru the ice to clear trolling passes. By 10am we had better paths to run.
The counter itched upward, the grill got hot and we all got full telling stories eating and catching up…
At one point Dave reeled in a salmon that had a tangle with an eagle and barely came out alive.
The birds were all over the lake eating alewives flopping on the surface stunned from the temp change…
Good day and no need to drive south anymore:)
Fish on!!
