Tuna, goes to show its never too late to inspire your children. Great job and great dad... oh yeah and nice lakers too !

Well db , the wife says I'm a bad influence on him . Lol. Really though it was tough when they were kids as I worked this rotating shift for 10 years I do now but life is and things come back around.

Those were just baby lakers 18 & 1/2" was smallest and 24" the largest. The biguns are yet to come :)
I took a lot of weekend vacation time along with my regular weekdays off to make outings with my weekend warrior friends this ice season . Hope some of you guys decide to give it a try as well.

Now that I met your wife Rich I know where your son gets his good looks
Man from those pictures it almost looks balmy out there on the ice,do you eat those Lakers? The one time I tried one from the big O I found them to be very fatty,but maybe it was the size difference and location.
Great to see the father/son thing,nothing beats that experience for both.

Jack, generally not so much.. I am usually a C&R fisher unless its panfish but I have eaten them and we did keep 2.. An 18 & 1/2 " that totally inhaled the lure (blood on the ice) and a 22 & 1/2' .. I filleted one and will bake the other.. They ain't bad ... My kid got a smoker for Christmas so I think we may keep a few more later on..
 
Monday it was pretty brutal with the wind so like said, I drilled 1 hole and it was a good one.. Tuesday it was 3 degs and stayed in the teens but NO wind so it did seem balmy ..lol
The snow is here now and it will make for some tired legs but as always , The Heat Will Be ON !!
Heading to Jumbo perch land sat   and back to Laker land monday and tues, may even through some traps in for Pike too..
 
P.S.
Rich W, that Menu looks OUTSTANDING, cant wait !!!

Hey RichW, I'll get in line for that, too. I gotta ski on the end of my name, I grew up on food like that. HT, I'll talk to you soon. That's a bunch of lakers!  Need advice on jigs and pound test to spool up. 6?  Is braid better for the less stretch  deep jigging?   Glad your out on hard water, instead of hard lime a good amount of the time.

I'm down for the ice outting!!! Keep me in the loop with dates

Golabki=good eats.

Hey Im down also got lots of ice gear myself and while Im not polish I am Italian and would bring some grub also..and beer.

Keep me in the loop also with the dates!   I think with all the menu talk, Polish - Italian etc, there may be some FRACKING going on the ICE!
There is a Great Polish Deli in Garfield, NJ,   Piast Meats and Provisions.  They are the Cabela's of Cabbage -  Kielbasa and Pierogies!
 

Hey guys that all sounds like great fun ..  I will have every weekend + a monday off until March so jut let me know what works .. Like said there are cheap motels (mom & pop) in the areas and some right on the lakes so no driving involved..
Nice weather days are certainly more pleasant the cold windy for hanging outside the Shanties but no worries, I have 4 and plenty of heat :)
Charlie:
I was actually fishing shallow (what I consider) water , 38-51 fow on Schroon but once LG freezes it's deep 60-120 fow..
I use 6 & 8 lb mono mostly due to less icing if that is a problem (outside the shanty).. Braid in 6lb is great for the deeper water as there is instant contact (no stretch) with your lure but braid (fire line) hates the cold.. It can be disastrous .. Id suggest 6lb mono as it's an all around line that will be good for pannies & trout.. I carry 5 rods..
Lures include buckshot and northland whistler spoons in 3/8 oz, Swedish pimples size 5-7 and 3/8 oz buck tail hair jigs..