A New Season Begins

It's here, early ice on Henry's Lake.  Fishing is always stellar just after the lake first caps, but it can be a bit sketchy with newly formed ice.  Today we trekked a fair distance to a secluded section of the lake, using a pick axe along the way to check the thickness.  The area we traversed and fished, as far as we could tell, was a uniform 3 to 4 inches thick.  However, there was an annoying 2 inches of slush/water on the ice where the fishing was good.  We ended the day with plenty fish brought to hand, and our boots full of water.  Didn't see that coming, fortunately it was a remarkably warm day.  We didn't even set up the Quickfish 6 until the afternoon, which we only did for a place to bask in extra comfort. 

All in all it was an awesome kick off to the ice fishing season.  The only bad part is that I have so little time to get away to fish it when it's hot.  I have a 7:45am chemistry class to thank for that. 

Cutties, hybrids, and brookies... oh my!

There is something about watching the fish and seeing the take that gets your adrenaline going.  I wish I had gotten it on video but I was a bit preoccupied.  We are pretty spoiled to have ice fishing shelters that are so easy to set up and portable.

 Nothing beats the pattern of a brookies back.  It's almost primal.

The sun setting to an excellent day.  I can't wait to get my 4yr old on the ice and hooked into some Henry's goodness.  It will be soon, I will MAKE time for it to happen, even if chemistry has to take the backseat for the day.

The Good Ugly

On my way home from school today I thought I would say hello to a couple friends.  I thought I would drop them a line.  Quite literally.  This time of year when I think of targeting angry spawning brown trout, words like "big" "nasty" and even sometimes "ugly" come to mind.  I'm not sure why, because I find these trout beautiful in their honey tones and proud black and red spots.  I suppose it has something to do with how aggressive they can be, or maybe its something I associate with those unfortunate fish that get sick because their immune systems are down.  Josh and I saw a few fuzzy fungified fish the other day on the South Fork, all of which would have aggressively bent a rod in their prime.

Ugly they may be in attitude, but for the healthy ones its a good ugly.  It's one to start up a symphony only I can hear in my mind, when they grab my fly and the fight begins.

 

There's something gratifying about setting into a beastly brown with your 3wt and feeling powerless.  It's one of those situations where you set the hook and the thought comes, "what now?"  Then you get to enjoy the ride.

Got a spunky bow in the mix.

I know God must be a fisherman, because fish seem to be one of those living canvases that he chose to spend a bit more time on.

 

This whitefish gets honorable mention, mostly because of how FAT he was.  I have caught some decent sized white fish, but the girth on this guy has to be a personal topper.