Ice 2022-2023

While they are fun to catch, they don't put food on the table.
Now that all gear has had a shakedown, tomorrow is a different game plan.

First trip for 2023. Probably going to be awhile again as the weather doesn't look promising for ice.
Plan is to chase rabbits this weekend.
Tonight it's what's for dinner here on the homestead.

great report Rich keep them coming.

We get a huge sucker run in a tributary of the Hudson behind my house early May.
As a kid I'd go there just mainly to watch them ( and some shenanigans).
Some folks would come with buckets and a net. They'd net them in mid air as they tried to jump the dam and leave with buckets full.

Well, tonight was an incredible dinner of stuffed striper with diced clams and perch.
We also broiled a backstrap chunk ( didn't make the picture)
Nothing like eating foods that came by our own hands.

I gotta take next weekend off from the hardwater to do some family obligation.
After then, I'll be on some big waters after Lakers. So far I've been out every weekend just before the new year.

Ps.
I'm booked for the SR again opening trout day. I got some irons in the fire up there and as always on that time, I'll visit Jack's secret spot.

The days of solid ice are getting shorter as sunlight is getting longer .
I've only been out 8 times so far,. A far cry from a normal 20 weeks and 40 trips.
This season I wanted to limit travel and focus more on fishing for substance.
I blame Dan Quayle for the local bust with that option.
No matter, I'm heading north for 3 Days starting Friday . It's going to be a recreational trip after lake trout.
Hopefully not my last adventure walking on water but unless I put miles on the tires not looking promising.

Steelhead might come sooner than later although I'd venture to guess that's getting plenty pressure given the weather.

The northern trip was pretty awesome. Catching fish was a bonus.
The weather or ice conditions couldn't have been more perfect. There was anywhere from 8-10 inches of ice on a very large lake that only froze 4 weeks ago.
I was fishing over 50 - 75 fow.
Saturday I drilled 4 holes total and only fished 2 of them jigging. Iced 5 lake trout and lost 4 others from 7am - 5pm. My friend iced 3. We didn't catch anything huge but fun to play with on the short pole.
Only 1 was kept.
Sunday we hit a different spot on the lake and had a tough time locating them- depth.
Drilled probably 40 holes and didn't catch a fish. Yesterday it was all about the sunshine.

My friend wants to make 1 more trip this weekend and call his season. Pretty sure I'm on the same page as I don't see local ice coming back. Be a good idea to get the Jon boat ready and get my panfish fill .

It was a great weekend and I'm going to miss the view.
Today I put my gear to bed until next season. Far to short of a season but time to move on.
Until 2023-2024..